<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class="">Good Day,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">1) Bill 66 Update </b>- It has been a long journey however, Section 10 of Bill 66 has finally been removed by the Standing Committee for General Government and we no longer have to worry about the provincial government using this draconian bill that so limited public notice and engagement while overriding key protections and so many essential Acts to “Open Ontario to Business”. Kudo’s again to so many different community groups who rallied, protested, delegated, sent letters, phoned, and undertook so many actions to persuade the government to abandon Section 10. It is unfortunate to see other concerning parts of Bill 66 still proceeding though.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">2) Other Provincial Protests </b>- it appears that Bill 66 was just setting the stage for many unfolding battles with the provincial government be it autism funding, education cuts, health care cuts, aggregates, the Growth Plan. and so many other issues. It is great to see the leadership being show by the so many community groups and organizations who are rallying in every way possible way. I encourage you to follow key organizing groups such as the Ontario Federation of Labour and their Power of Many campaign:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.oflevents.ca" class="">https://www.oflevents.ca</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">And the Waterloo Region Health Coalition who is helping to organize a massive Queen’s Park rally on April 30th:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca" class="">https://www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">3) Regional Review </b>- the provincial government’s review of regional and local governments which many fear will result in amalgamation or the creation of a mega-city overwhelming our rural areas as well as threatening our Countryside Line, Protected Countryside, farmland, and natural areas is well underway. You can learn more in the following article:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- CBC Article - <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/regional-government-municipal-review-consultations-1.5079938" class="">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/regional-government-municipal-review-consultations-1.5079938</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It is so important that local citizens speak up with ideas and concerns. You can present in person to Regional Councillors and Mayors at a Special Regional Council Meeting on April 17th:</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca" class="">https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">You can also present in person to the Provincial Advisors on Regional Reform on April 24th in Kitchener:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-regional-government-review" class="">https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-regional-government-review</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">You can also submit written comments to the province and complete the online survey at:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.ontario.ca/form/survey-regional-government-review" class="">https://www.ontario.ca/form/survey-regional-government-review</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please ensure that your voice is heard - we need to speak out for the sort of community and the things that we would like to see in the future. So much that has been essential to the success of our communities is at stake and the consequences of poorly considered and hap-hazard changes could be very far reaching.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><b class="">4) Our Water, Our Future </b>- join Theresa McClenaghan Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) and Bruce Davidson Vice-Chair of Concerned Walkerton Citizens to talk about the importance of safeguarding our water and potential future threats to our water supplies. The date of Wednesday, April 17th at 7:00pm is fast approaching. Please be sure to RSVP for this free event and If your group would like to have a table at this event at the First United Church in Waterloo please e-mail John Jackson of the Grand River Environmental Network at <a href="mailto:jjackson@web.ca" class="">jjackson@web.ca</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/our-water-our-future-tickets-58165251834" class="">https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/our-water-our-future-tickets-58165251834</a></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">5) Secret Aggregate Summit</b> - the Ford provincial government has continued its trend of secret industry consultations and invitation-only backroom meetings with a recent Aggregate Summit on March 29th in Caledon. Despite repeated requests to attend, more than 20 different community and environmental groups such as the Wellington Water Watchers, the Grand River Environmental Network, the Ontario Headwaters Institute, and Gravelwatch were denied access to the meeting. The article below describes demands of the Ontario Sand Stone and Gravel Association to be allowed to destroy protected areas such as the Greenbelt and Natural Heritage Areas for gravel pits:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/the-quarrying-industry-wants-back-in-to-ontarios-protected-land" class="">https://www.tvo.org/article/the-quarrying-industry-wants-back-in-to-ontarios-protected-land</a></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">6) Ontario Government to Air Ads Fighting Climate Change Action -</b> If the $30 million the Ford provincial government is wasting taking the federal government to court to fight the modest federal carbon tax isn’t bad enough, it has been revealed that on April 11th the government will be releasing a taxpayer funded advertising campaign against the federal carbon tax. It is very concerning to see the regressive actions of the provincial government and it fighting against essential action on climate change rather than leading with much needed climate change action.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">With the vast majority of Canadians expressing concern about climate change and stating that we need to be doing more, it is very disappointing to see our provincial government not only fighting climate action but now launching advertising campaigns against it. Please e-mail or call your MPP to voice concerns and you can learn more in the article below:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9249712-ford-plans-taxpayer-funded-tv-ad-blitz-opposing-trudeau-s-carbon-tax-/" class="">https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9249712-ford-plans-taxpayer-funded-tv-ad-blitz-opposing-trudeau-s-carbon-tax-/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">7) Final Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Report -</b> ECO Diane Saxe who headlined our January event, gave her final report last week before being terminated. It is an excellent report that can be found at the archived ECO website:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><a href="https://eco.auditor.on.ca/reports/2019-why-energy-conservation/" class="">https://eco.auditor.on.ca/reports/2019-why-energy-conservation/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I am providing a quote below from a local environmental leader:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">"<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="">I love section 4 of the Saxe report as it captures key messages from many ENGOs about the dangers of not smart growth and urban sprawl that only cause long term community vitality pains, ever increasing commuter gridlock, loss of rural landscapes including the food and diversity in our farmlands, forests, nature and water, together with higher taxes and hotter climates that only serve short term goals o</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="">f self-gain leaders and pirates."</span></div><div class=""><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><br class=""></span></div><div class=""><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="">"In a so-called provincial government for the people, it is just not happening in the constant deluge of smoke and mirrors thrown to distract us every day. What an insult this is to the normal intelligence of conscientious citizens who fear for the legacy we are leaving for our children. We must continue to demand and to require evidence-based useful facts not evidence-deficient fake news from our governments. We must stand up with our collective voice. Bullies will eventually back down when confronted with the hard cold reality of what the people want and knowing the people will not stand for less. Don't ever give up as strong community-based persistence will prevail. All major environmental gains in Ontario were won by grass roots leadership!" </div></div><div class=""><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div></div></body></html>