<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><base></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Good morning!<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Thanks again to the 40+ folks who were able to join on the call last night. It was great to see such enthusiasm and community support to defeat this draconian Bill 23, ensure the integrity of the Greenbelt, and to do everything possible for the success of our Regional Official Plans.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Despite the tight timelines and overwhelming/complex issues, a clear path forward was found during the call. We decided that we would set up a series of teams that would focus on specific, immediate tasks and I have started to assign people to groups based on their communications and offers. I urge you to reach out to the leaders of each activity and offer your services in the areas that interest you the most including:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>1) Draft a One Page Overview of the issues that can also be used as an e-mail to reach hundreds of thousands of local residents,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lead - Kae Elgie (Heritage Waterloo) - <a href="mailto:kaeelgie@yahoo.com" class="">kaeelgie@yahoo.com</a> - Volunteers so far - Kai Remier-Watts, </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>2) Create a website archive of resources, materials, and information for everyone to easily access,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lead - Sean Campbell (Hold The Line) - <a href="mailto:sean@seancampbell.ca" class="">sean@seancampbell.ca</a> - Volunteers so far - Steph Goertz, Sam Nabi, Alex S., Steve Bottoms, </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>3) Develop and run radio ads locally either based on provincial ads or created here,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lead - Henriette Thompson (Faith Climate Justice) <a href="mailto:henriette.thompson@gmail.com" class="">henriette.thompson@gmail.com</a> - Volunteers so far - Jeff Stager, Tanya Gevaert, </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>4) Create lawn signs that can be placed throughout the Grand River Watershed to raise awareness with a messaging that will be relevant immediately for Bill 23/Greenbelt/Official Plans as well as over the next three years,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lead - Mike Marcolongo (Greenbelt West) - <a href="mailto:lizandmichele@yahoo.ca" class="">lizandmichele@yahoo.ca</a> - Volunteers - Steve Bottoms, </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>5) Fundraising - figure out how best to pool our modest resources for a maximum impact appreciating that we can do a lot very economically,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lead - Kevin Thomason (GREN) - <a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" class="">kevinthomason@mac.com</a> - Volunteers - Greg Michalenko, </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>6) Continue to meet on Fridays at 5:30pm to share ideas, information and progress,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lead - Kevin Thomason (GREN) - Zoom - <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09" class="">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>7) Political Meetings - Meet with politicians both current and previous for support, resolutions and insights,</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lead - Hal Jaeger (Kitchener Development Group) - <a href="mailto:hzjaeger@gmail.com" class="">hzjaeger@gmail.com</a> - Volunteers - Deb Swidrovich, Steve Bottoms, Sandra Brae, </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>8) Protests and Events - already there are protests organized around our Grand River Watershed for November 16th, need additional activities as well</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lead - Mike Marcolongo (Greenbelt West) <a href="mailto:lizandmichele@yahoo.ca" class="">lizandmichele@yahoo.ca</a> - Volunteers - Mike Balkwill, Susan Koswan, </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>9) Provincial Liaison and Subject Matter Expertise - co-ordinate with other groups across the province and co-ordinate resources/efforts</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lead - Kevin Eby <a href="mailto:kevineby@rogers.com" class="">kevineby@rogers.com</a> - Volunteers - Barbara Schumacher, Steph Goertz, Sam Nabi, </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>10) Do everything we can to get the awareness and messaging into our communities and send strong feedback to the provincial government (e-mails, letters, calls, local protests, etc.).</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Everyone!</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">This isn’t an exhaustive list as we will have many other required activities however it is a good starting point.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please share any thoughts or ideas and lets see what we can accomplish!</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Cheers,</div><div class="">Kevin.</div><div class=""><div class="">
<meta charset="UTF-8" class=""><div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><br class="">-------------------------------------<br class=""><br class="">Kevin Thomason<br class=""><br class="">1115 Cedar Grove Road<br class="">Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2J 3Z4<br class=""><br class="">Phone: (519) 888-0519<br class="">Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648<br class="">Twitter: @kthomason<br class=""><a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" class="">E-mail: kevinthomason@mac.com</a><br class=""><br class="">-----------------------------------------</div></div></div></div>
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<div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Nov 11, 2022, at 2:18 PM, Kevin Thomason <<a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" class="">kevinthomason@mac.com</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" class=""><base class=""><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">A quick reminder of our Zoom call tonight (Friday) at 5:30pm to organize and co-ordinate a local response to Bill 23, opening up the Greenbelt, and the dismantling of Regional Official Plans.<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">While each of these are different actions of the provincial government that are quite intertwined, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Waterloo Region stands to be disproportionally impacted because of our reliance on our strong Region of Waterloo government. For example, while the removal of 7,400 acres from the Greenbelt is devastating, we potentially have almost 100,000 acres in our Regional Protected Countryside and Environmentally Sensitive Landscape designations that could be seriously impacted by provincial changes to our Regional structure. Things such as our unique Countryside Line concept could be removed completely.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I increasingly believe that our groups need to reach all 600,000 residents of Waterloo Region over the coming week to make them aware of the scope and magnitude of the changes that could be coming and inspire them to action. So much of what we have taken for granted for decades is in peril and the consequences will forever change our Region for the worse in the midst of a climate emergency.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">A proposed agenda for the Zoom call is as follows:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>1) Logging on and Welcome - 5 minutes</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>2) Recap of Primary Issues - 5 minutes</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>a) Bill 23</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>b) Greenbelt Take Out & Land Swaps</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>c) Regional Official Plan Cancellations and Regional Governance Changes</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>3) Discussion of Immediate Actions Required - 15 minutes</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>a) Community Outreach - groups, community leaders, elected officials (current/former)</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>b) E-mail to every citizen in Waterloo Region</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>c) Media coverage, Op-Eds, etc.</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>d) Letters, e-mails, calls to Premier, MPP’s, Cabinet</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>e) Protests at local Conservative MPP Offices</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>f) Radio Ads?</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>g) General Strike?</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>4) Next Steps - 5 minutes</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>5) Other - 5 minutes</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>6) Conclusion and Wrap Up</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Since the call is planned for 5:30pm on Friday when people will be anxious to eat their dinner, I hope to keep the call short and focussed - 30 to 45 minutes to come up with a co-ordinated plan for the days ahead. The Zoom dial-in link is (addition details below):</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81411109656?pwd=WU9sS3RRcFJBTjYxeTAxZS9OS3JHZz09" class="">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81411109656?pwd=WU9sS3RRcFJBTjYxeTAxZS9OS3JHZz09</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please share any questions or ideas, pass this invitation along to others, and I hope that you can join us at 5:30pm.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Cheers,</div><div class="">Kevin.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class="">-------------------------------------</div></div></div></div></div><div class=""><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Nov 10, 2022, at 10:46 PM, Kevin Thomason <<a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" class="">kevinthomason@mac.com</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" class=""><base class=""><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Good Day,<br class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The level of concerns and numbers of citizens reacting to Bill 23, the Greenbelt sell off, and the cancellation of Regional Official Plans continues to grow. Provincial groups continue to organize and there will be a number of continuing announcements by the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance, 50x30, Environmental Defence, Ontario Nature, Water Watchers, the Ontario Headwaters Institute, and many others.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">At the local level there will be a Zoom meeting on Friday, Nov 11th at 5:30pm to co-ordinate activities between our local groups and ensure consistent messaging. Zoom details are as follows if you would like to join the meeting. Please also feel free to invite others that you think would be interested:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Topic: Bill 23 Waterloo Region Planning Zoom Meeting</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Time: Nov 11, 2022 05:30 PM America/Toronto</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Join Zoom Meeting - <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81411109656?pwd=WU9sS3RRcFJBTjYxeTAxZS9OS3JHZz09" class="">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81411109656?pwd=WU9sS3RRcFJBTjYxeTAxZS9OS3JHZz09</a></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Meeting ID: 814 1110 9656</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Passcode: 310962</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>One tap mobile +17789072071,,81411109656#,,,,*310962# Canada</div></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">There are also rallies being organized at local Conservative MPP offices for the days ahead. Details are below.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Finally, below is also an excellent overview of Bill 23 issues and actions we each need to be taking provided by Hamilton 350. It is clear, concise, and easy to follow.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Please share any questions or ideas. </div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Almost all of our work of the past 25 years+ is in jeopardy - be it source water protection, Environmentally Sensitive Landscapes, the Countryside Line, the Greenbelt, our visionary Regional Official Plan, and so much more. We need to act immediately and speak up louder than ever. Please do all that you can.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Sincerely,</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Kevin.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">------------------------------------</div><div class="">Kevin Thomason<br class=""><br class="">1115 Cedar Grove Road<br class="">Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2J 3Z4<br class=""><br class="">Phone: (519) 888-0519<br class="">Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648<br class="">Twitter: @kthomason<br class=""><a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" class="">E-mail: kevinthomason@mac.com</a><br class=""></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br class=""></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br class=""></div></body></html>