<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=""><div dir="auto" 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=""><div class="">Good Day!</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It’s fantastic to hear of all the ongoing actions to stand up for our local Planning, Greenbelt, Conservation Authorities, Green Development Standards, and so much of what we are going to need for the future that is currently under attack by Doug Ford and our Conservative MPPs.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It’s so encouraging to see the door-to-door canvassing, handing out flyers in supermarket parking lots, the hundreds of new lawn signs still going up, the radio ads appearing on new stations, and all the ongoing media coverage.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">1) Official Plan ERO Submissions - </b>we only have until 11:59pm on January 4th to get as many supportive submissions as possible into the Environmental Registry of Ontario to help encourage the government to approve the Region of Waterloo Official Plan and the County of Wellington Official Plan without any changes by the Minister such as the massive amounts of sprawl Minister Clark has forced in Halton and Hamilton’s Official Plans.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="" style="margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Region of Waterloo - <a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5952" class="">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-5952</a></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><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It’s an easy process to submit comments and you don’t need to be an expert - just a citizen of Ontario or group/organization. Please speak up and encourage others you know to submit comments supporting these Official Plans that have already been unanimously approved by our local municipalities.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">2) Detailed Waterloo ROP ERO Submission -</b> attached below please find a copy of the submission to the ERO prepared by Kevin Eby, Mark Reusser, and myself building the case for why our visionary Regional Official Plan should be approved intact and without any of the changes and urban sprawl that the province is forcing elsewhere in Ontario. Please feel free to leverage any of the information and concepts it contains in your own submissions to the ERO.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">3) Friends of GGH and ALO Newsletter -</b> attached below is the latest version of the Friends of the Greater Golden Horseshoe newsletter. This group of provincial experts lead by former Toronto Mayor David Crombie provides one of the best and succinct overviews of Bill 23 impacts that I have seen. It also contains good information on the new Alliance for a Liveable Ontario group that will be working on long-term initiatives and how you as well as your group can join.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">4) Recent media articles -</b> well written and informative articles, editorials and op-ed pieces continue in the media. Please continue to write and help to inform others:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/first-nation-ontario-housing-bill-greenbelt-1.6684127" class="">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/first-nation-ontario-housing-bill-greenbelt-1.6684127</a><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>https://kitchener.citynews.ca/local-news/waterloo-mayor-raises-concerns-over-more-homes-built-faster-act-6253990</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>https://www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/regional-councilor-calls-out-province-for-picking-favourites-6255639</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-developers-conservation-authorities/</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>https://torontosun.com/life/homes/dont-touch-the-greenbelt-advises-planning-group</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Finally a great overview of all of the actions that Ford is taking against the environment in Ontario - https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-environment-ford-explainer/</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">5) Corporations Against Bill 23 </b>- if you have a company or can sign on behalf of your company you have until Monday to sign a petition of Ontario businesses against Bill 23:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>https://blocalontario.com/initiatives/support-greenbelt</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">6) Greenbelt Guardians - “Do You See What I See?” -</b> a new action advocacy group is forming to take a very proactive stance against any construction or destructive activity in the Greenbelt. Join Isaiah Ritzmann and Kim Bradshaw this coming Tuesday, December 20th at 7:00pm online to learn more. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/do-you-see-what-i-see-do-you-hear-what-i-hear-tickets-491077184077?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">7) Festive Music Against Doug Ford -</b> As the holidays approach the great folks at Environmental Defence have created a way for you to advocate for a Greener Ontario and get into a festive vibe by singing along with the 12 Acts of Destruction Carol.</div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU_oR22Gapc" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU_oR22Gapc<br class=""></a><br class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>HOW TO PARTICIPATE<br class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>1. You can record yourself and/or your friends and family singing the song and post it on social media.<br class=""><br class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>2. You can attend in-person carolling at Old City Hall in Toronto on Wednesday December 21 at 5PM. <b class="">Join Environmental Defence, the Raging Grannies and other activists for a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>quick, fun sing-a-long. </b>Facebook Event: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/checkpoint/260950855804872/" class="">https://www.facebook.com/checkpoint/260950855804872/</a><br class=""><br class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>3. You can plan your own pop-up carolling and put it on our map. Just recording three or four people singing outside your local MPPs office for five minutes and posting it on social media is a quick and easy way to join in -- which could scale up if other decide to join you. Register your event here: <a href="https://tessa014321.typeform.com/to/L3NqnXrd?typeform-source=environmentaldefence.ca" class="">https://tessa014321.typeform.com/to/L3NqnXrd?typeform-source=environmentaldefence.ca</a><br clear="all" class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">8) Labor Uniting on January 28th </b>- looking towards the longer-term and with a provincial perspective, the Ontario Federation of Labour is going to be launching a new campaign - Enough is Enough on January 28th - learn more (information below) and join the protests<span style="font-style: normal;" class=""> - <span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 7); color: rgb(5, 5, 7); font-family: Arial;" class="">https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/</span></span></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">9) Rise Up Ontario -</b> realizing that the concerning actions of Premier Doug Ford go further than just impacting the environment and stand to devastate the core fundamentals of democracy in Ontario local groups are looking at campaigning on a broader scale. As mentioned during Friday’s update call a great leaflet has been prepared by Dorothy and Andy Wilson of the Nith Valley Ecoboosters and is attached below. Please reach out them or myself with questions or ideas on how we can stand up for democracy.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class="">10) No Meeting This Friday -</b> due to the proximity to the festive holidays we are going to take this Friday, Dec 23rd off and resume our next Friday, 5:30pm Update Meeting on Friday, December 30th -<span class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"> </span><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=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="">Thanks for all the great efforts so far. Please share any questions or ideas.</div><div class=""><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);"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><b class=""><font size="4" class="">A) Upcoming Events</font></b></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><b class=""><font size="4" class=""><br class=""></font></b></div><div class=""><b class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font size="4" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;" class="">Tuesday, December 20th at 7:00pm - Greenbelt Guardians Inaugural Meeting - </span></font></b>https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/do-you-see-what-i-see-do-you-hear-what-i-hear-tickets-491077184077</div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><b class=""><font size="4" class=""><br class=""></font></b></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class=""><font class="">Wednesday. December 21st at 5:00pm - Rally and Singing Protest at Old City Hall in Toronto </font></span></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><b class=""><br class=""></b></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="">Friday, December 30th - 5:30pm - Update Zoom Call -</span><span class=""> </span><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09" class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><b class=""><br class=""></b></div><div class=""><span class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">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><div class="">Wednesday, January 28th - Enough is Enough Provincial events against Doug Ford - https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">------------------------------------</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">B) Detailed Submission to Waterloo ROP ERO </font></b>- use this document to help inform your own submissions prior to January 4th.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div></div></div></div></body></html>