<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><div class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Attached at the bottom of this e-mail is a detailed copy of the proposed amendments and changes to the Growth Plan.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please be sure to submit comments personally and from your groups on the Environmental Registry before Thursday’s deadline:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Amendment 1, Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe - <a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/013-4504" class="">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/013-4504</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">You can also sign an online petition at:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Environmental Defence Petition - <a class="m_-1768814591533298520m_-8056607008401799507moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/37992/action/1" target="_blank">https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/37992/action/1</a> </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">3) MPP Meetings -</b> Congratulations to members from our groups who continue to meet with area MPP’s to express concerns about Bill 66, our environment, the need for better planning, the Regional Review, and the need to ensure more community consultation. Meetings have been held recently with MPP Mike Harris Jr, MPP Amy Fee, and MPP Catherine Fife. Please continue to speak up and ensure our community is heard.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">4) Local Delegations -</b> Thanks to several of our groups who presented recently to Region of Waterloo on the Housing Supply Consultation and the Growth Plan Amendment. It is great to see community groups speaking up to express concerns with provincial changes and working to ensure our good local planning protecting farmland, green space and water prevails.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">5) Endangered Species Act Changes </b>- the provincial government is proposing some very concerning changes to the Endangered Species Act to “Open it for Business” . The deadline for comment ion the Environmental Registry is March 4th:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/013-4143" class="">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/013-4143</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">You can learn more, sign the Ontario Nature online petition, and automatically send letters to Minister Rod Phillips at:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://ontarionature.good.do/esa/support/" class="">https://ontarionature.good.do/esa/support/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">6) Local Planning Appeal Support Centre Elimination </b>- it was very disturbing to see Thursday’s announcement from the provincial government closing down the LPASC. This support centre was created to help citizens and municipalities better work with OMB and LPAT issues, planning issues, and legal challenges in communities across Ontario. I have attached below a stream of Tweets from Mark Cripps providing an overview of the likely impacts and how it is so against citizens and in favour of well resourced developers.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">7) Our Water, Our Future Event </b>- Our February 7th event was postponed due to weather challenges. We are pleased to announce that it will now be held on Wednesday, April 17th. Please save this date and more information will be available soon. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">8) Friday’s For The Future</b> - This coming Friday, March 1st at Waterloo City Hall, 100 Regina Street S. join the rapidly growing global movement of youth striking for the planet. Hosted by several of our groups you can learn more at:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1163394617169359/" class="">https://www.facebook.com/events/1163394617169359/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please share any thoughts or ideas and let's keep seeing how we can move things in the right direction!</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="">Cheers,</div><div class="">Kevin.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">-----------------------------------</div><div class=""><b class="">Letter to MMAH Minister Steve Clark regarding Bill 66, Section 10 removal:</b></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""></div></div></body></html>