<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 dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Thanks to everyone who joined our update Zoom call on Friday at 5:30pm. It’s fantastic to hear about so many activities across our region and province against Bill 23, standing up for the Greenbelt, and fighting the decimation of Regional Planning.</div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">It was good to hear from Mike Marcolongo about Bill 39, recent media coverage, all the rallies across Ontario, and upcoming events including:</div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><b class="">1) City of Waterloo Staff Report on Bill 23 </b>- there is an excellent Staff Report coming to the City of Waterloo Council on Monday December 12th about the anticipated impacts and costs of Bill 23 including a 10 point adaptation plan. I encourage people to delegate at the meeting and reach out to Staff/Council to show our support. The City of Waterloo continues to be leader on speaking up and expressing concerns about these actions of the provincial government. The Council Agenda and Staff Report are attached below or online you can find the<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color: blue;" class=""><a href="https://events.waterloo.ca/meetings/Detail/2022-12-12-1400-Council-Meeting/a65fe422-4f0a-439d-929d-af6600f44cff" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class="">10-point Adaptation Plan to the Bill here</a>.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><b class="">2) City of Kitchener Motions and Staff Report on Bill 23 -</b> There is not one but two motions against Bill 23 coming before Kitchener City Council on Monday in addition to a Staff Report about the long-term impacts of these provincial actions. We need to show support for these motions and report. Please delegate and/or reach out to Councillors if you can. The Council Agenda, Motions, and Staff Report are attached below and can also <span style="font-size: medium;" class="">can be </span><a href="https://pub-kitchener.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=7470" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class="">found here</span></a><span style="font-size: medium;" class="">. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0cm; font-size: medium;" class="">Depending on the City in which you reside, please consider delegating for 5 minutes via Zoom or in person in support of efforts by our municipal leaders to address the significant impacts of Bill 23.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: medium;"> </p><div style="margin: 0cm; font-size: medium;" class="">To register for Kitchener City Council, <a href="https://form.kitchener.ca/COR/LEG/Delegation-form" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class="">fill out the form here</span></a>; further details on how to delegate and staff contacts can be <a href="https://www.kitchener.ca/en/council-and-city-administration/appear-as-a-delegation.aspx#staff-contacts" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class="">found here</span></a>. You can also choose simply to watch the proceedings which will be livestreamed by visiting <a href="http://www.kitchener.ca/watchnow" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class="">www.kitchener.ca/watchnow</span></a>.</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: medium;"> </p><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><span style="font-size: medium;" class="">To register for Waterloo City Council, check</span><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://forms.waterloo.ca/Legislative-Services/Delegation-Registration?_ga=2.110701637.138314773.1670634972-229540377.1670634972" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class=""><span style="color: blue;" class="">guidelines for speaking at council</span></a><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;" class="">and steps to register as a delegation. You can view livestreams of Waterloo City Council meetings</span><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.waterloo.ca/en/government/council-meetings.aspx" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class="">here</a><span style="font-size: medium;" class="">.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">There are likely reports and motions coming before other Grand River Watershed Municipalities as well. Please check with your local municipality and share any information you learn.</div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><b class="">3) Events </b>- Rally's continue across the province with events in London, Muskoka, Belleville, Milton, Niagara Falls and Woodbridge this past weekend. There is interest in hosting more rally’s here in the Grand River Watershed. Please let me know if you would be able to help organize a PopUp Rally, canvassing, petition signing, or other event.</div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><b class="">4) Strong Media Coverage -</b> continues with articles this weekend including:</div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 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="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><div style="padding-left:40px;" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" data-en-clipboard="true" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="padding-left:40px;" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" data-en-clipboard="true" class="">City News - Ontario "More Homes, Built Faster Act" more likely to do the opposite: Eby - <a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/local-news/ontarios-more-homes-built-faster-act-more-likely-to-do-the-opposite-eby-6219303" rev="en_rl_none" class="">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/local-news/ontarios-more-homes-built-faster-act-more-likely-to-do-the-opposite-eby-6219303</a></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - How Far Are Ontarians Willing To Go To Protect the Greenbelt - <a href="https://www.therecord.com/ts/opinion/contributors/2022/12/11/how-far-are-ontarians-willing-to-go-to-protect-the-greenbelt.html" class="">https://www.therecord.com/ts/opinion/contributors/2022/12/11/how-far-are-ontarians-willing-to-go-to-protect-the-greenbelt.html</a></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC - <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/bill-23-protests-law-ontario-ottawa-housing-1.6677417" class="">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/bill-23-protests-law-ontario-ottawa-housing-1.6677417</a> which included this fantastic quote from a broad consortium of Professional Architects - <span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;" class="">"We firmly believe that this legislation will not achieve its stated intent," the architects wrote in the letter, which was posted Nov. 25. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;" class="">"Instead, it will inhibit the construction of affordable housing in our province; dismantle regional planning and urban design considerations; undermine heritage protection, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation; and limit public participation in how we build our communities."</span></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b class="">5) Overview </b><span style="font-weight: normal;" class="">- Environmental Defence has released an excellent article providing an overview many of the recent changes by the provincial government:</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;" class=""><br class=""></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;" class="">h</span><a href="ttps://environmentaldefence.ca/2022/12/09/important-things-you-should-know-about-the-ontario-governments-six-major-recent-attacks-on-farms-forests-wetlands-and-livable-communities/" class="">ttps://environmentaldefence.ca/2022/12/09/important-things-you-should-know-about-the-ontario-governments-six-major-recent-attacks-on-farms-forests-wetlands-and-livable-communities/</a></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b class="">6) Lawn Signs </b>- having distributed more than 3,000 signs we now have yet another 1,000 on order that should be available starting later this week. Please reach out to Mike Marcolongo or any of our sign captains for more information.</div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><div class=""><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Guelph Downtown - Anne Moore - <a href="mailto:amoore083@gmail.com" class="">amoore083@gmail.com</a></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Guelph South - Al Dejong - <a href="mailto:albert1dejong@gmail.com" class="">albert1dejong@gmail.com</a></div><div dir="ltr" class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Centre Wellington</span> - Peter Varty - <a href="mailto:pjvarty@gmail.com" class="">pjvarty@gmail.com</a></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Brantford - Joan Faux - <a href="mailto:mom2jnp@gmail.com" class="">mom2jnp@gmail.com</a></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Cambridge - Jenna Quinn - <a href="mailto:jenna.quinn@raresites.org" class="">jenna.quinn@raresites.org</a></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Glen Morris - Jeff Leader - <a href="mailto:geosynergy@yahoo.com" class="">geosynergy@yahoo.com</a> </div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Kitchener - Cathy Scott - <a href="mailto:cathy.scottfree@gmail.com" class="">cathy.scottfree@gmail.com</a></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Waterloo - David Lubell - <a href="mailto:dlubell@bell.net" class="">dlubell@bell.net</a></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Elmira - Sandra Bray - <a href="mailto:sandra@sandrabray.ca" class="">sandra@sandrabray.ca</a></div><div dir="ltr" class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Wilmot - Dorothy Wilson - <a href="mailto:ah_wilson@sympatico.ca" class="">ah_wilson@sympatico.ca</a></div><div dir="ltr" class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"> Wellesley - Linda Lackey - <a href="mailto:lindamclackey@gmail.com" class="">lindamclackey@gmail.com</a></div></div><div class=""><div class=""></div></div></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b class="">7)</b><b class=""> Radio Ads -</b> Our radio team continues to work hard with 5 different ads currently airing on CHYM 96.7, 570 News, and other area stations. Planning is underway to buy airtime and add additional stations including campus and community radio stations in the days ahead. There is also a 1 hour radio show on Bill 23 being planned for Monday, December 19th at 11:00am on CKMS that may air on other area stations too.</div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><div class="" style="margin: 0cm;"><o:p class=""><b class="">8) Alliance for a Liveable Ontario - ALO - </b><span class="">Every local group and individual is encouraged to join the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario, a big tent initiative to bring a wide variety of people and groups across Ontario together to fight Bill 23 and create the liveable communities we need over the long term. It is an impressive provincial collaborative that is coming together.</span></o:p></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm;"><o:p class=""><br class=""></o:p></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm;"><o:p class=""><span class="">Learn more and sign up at: <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHngEQ_HTlayZ-kbdOinbBWX4tdK8EvcUD0Oq0QOmreXveog/viewform" class="">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHngEQ_HTlayZ-kbdOinbBWX4tdK8EvcUD0Oq0QOmreXveog/viewform</a></span></o:p></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm;"><o:p class=""><br class=""></o:p></div></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Thanks for all the great efforts so far. Please share any questions or ideas.</div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><div id="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqtfd24641" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqt1303954863"><div class=""><br clear="none" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-style-span">Cheers,</span></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Kevin Thomason and Mike Marcolongo on behalf of all our community groups.</div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">-------------------------------</div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><b class="">Upcoming Events</b></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><b class=""><br class=""></b></div><div class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">Wednesday, January 4th - 11:59pm - Deadline for submissions to the Environmental Registry of Ontario for Region of Waterloo and Wellington County Official Plans:</span></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Region of Waterloo - <a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5952" class="">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5952</a></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>County of Wellington - <a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5635" class="">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5635</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">----------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><b class="">1) City of Waterloo Staff Report on Bill 23</b></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><b class=""><br class=""></b></div><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>