<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 class="">Good Day,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The new year is off to a busy start with lots happening already on Bill #23, the Greenbelt and Regional Planning:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">1) Hamilton City Council Fights Back </font>- </b>It appears that Hamilton City Council is united in their anger about Bill 23 and by a vote of 14-1 to has passed a motion demand that the province repeal Bill 23 - <a href="https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=344561" class="">https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=344561</a> With nothing to lose and their Official Plan destroyed with thousands of acres of forced sprawl it seems that Hamilton politicians are being very vocal.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">You can read more about it from the Hamilton Citizen Journalists at: <a href="https://mailchi.mp/9ebb3204cb8f/council-challenges-bill-23?e=45d23c60d3" class="">https://mailchi.mp/9ebb3204cb8f/council-challenges-bill-23?e=45d23c60d3</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">2) Environmental Groups Use Hamilton Official Plan Override to Also Fight Back </font></b>- Yesterday Ecojustice and Environmental Defence announced that they are taking the provincial government to court over the attack on Hamilton’s Official Plan. Ecojustice has served a notice of application seeking a judicial review in Ontario’s Divisional Court with lawyers arguing that the province has violated the law and is ignoring obligations under the Planning Act:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/01/09/environment-groups-taking-provincial-government-to-court-over-attack-on-hamiltons-official-plan/" class="">https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/01/09/environment-groups-taking-provincial-government-to-court-over-attack-on-hamiltons-official-plan/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Depending on what happens with the Waterloo Regional Official Plan this could serve as a model to fight back as they are arguing that the Minister’s actions are unsupported by Ministry Staff or justification and are in contravention with the Provincial Policy Statement, Planning Act, and other laws.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font size="4" class=""><b class="">3</b><b class="">) Big City Mayors Issue Strong Motion -</b></font> Following a meeting in Guelph, the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) has also issued a motion against Bill 23 that numerous municipalities have endorsed including the Town of Oakville:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.ontariobigcitymayors.ca/news/details.php?id=856" class="">https://www.ontariobigcitymayors.ca/news/details.php?id=856</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please share the OCBM motion with members of your local Council and ask if they plan on supporting the motion.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font size="4" class=""><b class="">4) Recent Media Articles -</b></font> 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><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Thanks to Susan Fulop who recommended this excellent editorial from Collingwood:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/letters-to-the-editor/letter-ontarians-are-frogs-in-water-under-ford-govt-6336747" class="">https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/letters-to-the-editor/letter-ontarians-are-frogs-in-water-under-ford-govt-6336747</a></div><div class="">
<meta charset="UTF-8" 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;"><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star Editorial Board suggests Doug Ford should make a fresh start: <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2023/01/08/doug-ford-should-use-the-new-year-to-make-a-fresh-start.html" class="">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2023/01/08/doug-ford-should-use-the-new-year-to-make-a-fresh-start.html</a></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="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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The CBC has released an article about GTA municipalities that are showing potential tax increases of 54%, 88% and over 100% in communities that have embraced sprawl and are now trying to balance their budgets in the absence of development funding: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/development-charge-property-tax-survey-1.6706263?" class="">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/development-charge-property-tax-survey-1.6706263?</a></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="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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC News has just aired a good in-depth 30 minute segment explaining the Greenbelt takeouts and changes. We are in interesting times when a reporter spends 30 minutes interviewing other reporters…. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKqADkTe-SY" class="">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKqADkTe-SY</a></div><div style="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>CTV News - OPP Looking into Complaints about Doug Ford’s decision to develop the Greenbelt - <a href="https://twitter.com/CTVKitchener/status/1612486951281590272" class="">https://twitter.com/CTVKitchener/status/1612486951281590272</a></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>Great article in today's Toronto Star from Victor Doyle - <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2023/01/10/the-truth-about-the-greenbelt-protection-deal-the-ford-government-is-breaking.html" class="">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2023/01/10/the-truth-about-the-greenbelt-protection-deal-the-ford-government-is-breaking.html</a></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="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="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-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b class=""><font size="4" class="">5) Council Watchdogs Needed -</font></b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;" class=""> following the excellent idea of other parts of the province we are looking for volunteers across the Grand River Watershed to become a Council Watchdog and review your municipality agendas, council/committee meetings and flag items that relate to unnecessary sprawl and development. Council Watchdogs look out for new threats to Greenbelt/protected areas and farmland, decisions incompatible with climate mitigation policies, tree removal, compromises to safe active transportation networks, unethical behaviour of elected officials and share this information back to us so we can all assist as required.</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; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><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; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">Please reply and let us know if you can be a Watchdog for your municipality. We will also need Watchdogs for our upper tier governments as well as the GRCA. </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="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;">The City of Guelph has a relatively new organization called “Get Involved Guelph (GIG)” that will be the Guelph Council Watchdog. Members of the group are meeting on Thursday, January 12th at 7pm to identify priority issues and how best to track motions/concerns. Learn more at: <a href="https://getinvolvedguelph.wordpress.com" class="">https://getinvolvedguelph.wordpress.com</a></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="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;">With many eyes watching over the months ahead hopefully we will have a clear picture of what is happening in our watershed and be able to react accordingly.</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="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="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-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b class=""><font size="4" class="">6) Lawn Signs -</font></b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;" class=""> It’s impressive to see all the lawn signs across the province. Below is the list of sign captains for our watershed, please reach out to Mike if you need contact information for any of the more than two dozen sign captains we now have throughout Ontario: </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; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><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; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><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 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="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="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-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><div class="" style="font-size: 12px;"><b class=""><font size="4" class="">7) Rally’s and Protests -</font> </b>Numerous rallies and protests are being planned for the weeks ahead in Toronto including a Welcome Back February 21st meeting at Queen’s Park (details below). We need to determine what our approach is going to be in our area. It would be great if we could form a team of people interested in organizing simple Pop-Up rallies/events here over the weeks ahead. Please let either Mike or I know if you would be interested in joining this team and seeing what sort of impact we can make.</div><div style="font-size: 12px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-size: 12px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">8) Greenbelt Guardians </font></b><span class=""><font size="4" class="">-</font> For those interested in becoming more active and involved in protecting the Greenbelt in a firsthand manner as a Greenbelt Guardian there is a volunteer form you can fill out to learn more and offer assistance. The Greenbelt Crime Stoppers continues to get set up and organized with online mapping to gather information being set-up. Offer to help out at:</span></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class=""><br class=""></span></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgAUNoxc1aD8wHiMtT7D5F95gS629lXap7V7QBve3rai15ig/viewform" class="">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgAUNoxc1aD8wHiMtT7D5F95gS629lXap7V7QBve3rai15ig/viewform</a></div></div><div style="font-size: 12px;" class=""><br class=""></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;"><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">9) Reminder - <span class=""><font class="">Friday, January 13th at 5:30pm Zoom Update Meeting Dial-in Details:</font></span></font></b></div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Topic: Grand River Watershed Bill 23 Weekly Zoom Meeting</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Time: Fridays at 5:30pm EST</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Join Zoom Meeting</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09" class="">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Meeting ID: 826 4469 5701</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Passcode: 713374</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">One tap mobile</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">+17806660144,,82644695701#,,,,*713374# Canada</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">+12042727920,,82644695701#,,,,*713374# Canada</div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><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=""><br class=""></div></div></div></div></div></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;">-----------------------------------</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="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 class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font size="4" class="">A) Upcoming Events</font></b></div><div class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font size="4" class=""><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;"><div class=""><div id="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqtfd24641" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqt1303954863"><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><span class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Friday, January 13th - 5:30pm - Update Zoom Call -</span><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></div></div></div></div></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;">Wednesday, January 28th - Enough is Enough Provincial events against Doug Ford - <a href="https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/" class="">https://ofl.ca/event/eie-kickoff/</a></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;">Monday, February 13th - 1:00pm - Planning Meeting for February 21st Queen’s Park Welcome Back Protection Gathering</div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;">Tuesday, February 21st - MPP Meetings at Queen’s Park, Noon Rally at the Legislature Lawn</div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;"><div class=""><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">--------------------------------</div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><b class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><font size="4" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">B) Welcome Back Gathering February 21st at Queen’s Park</font></b></div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><b class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><font size="4" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><br class=""></font></b></div></div></div></div></font></b></div></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><div class=""><div class=""><div class="x_x_elementToProof" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_x_ContentPasted1" style="margin: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="x_x_x_MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0cm;"><div class="x_x_x_x_elementToProof x_x_ContentPasted0 ContentPasted0" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;">After a nice long 10-week break, the Ontario House of Legislature gets back to the business of burning Ontario's Healthcare, Education, Environment and Democracy to the ground while failing to meet our collective need for affordable housing, transit, decent wages, an anti-poverty strategy, or a sustainable future. (note, this is not an exhaustive list by any means!) </div><div class="x_x_x_x_elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><br class="x_x_ContentPasted0 ContentPasted0"></div><div class="x_x_x_x_elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span class="ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">On February 21 Ontarians are invited to a Protection Gathering where we will sing, chant and dance and work together for a better future. This peaceful and powerful event will tell the Progressive Conservative Party that Ontario demands better. <span class="x_x_x_x_elementToProof" style="margin: 0px;"><span class="x_x_x_ContentPasted1 x_x_ContentPasted0 x_x_ContentPasted4 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px; display: inline !important;">Help us</span><span class="x_x_x_ContentPasted1 x_x_ContentPasted0 x_x_ContentPasted4 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span title="" class="ContentPasted0 x_x_ContentPasted0 x_x_x_ContentPasted1" style="margin: 0px;">welcome</span><span class="x_x_x_ContentPasted1 x_x_ContentPasted0 x_x_ContentPasted4 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px; display: inline !important;"> Doug back from his cottage with a cross-sectional gathering of friends. </span></span><br class="x_x_ContentPasted4 ContentPasted0 x_x_Apple-interchange-newline"></span><br class="ContentPasted0"></div><div class="x_x_x_x_elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span class="ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">Our first cross-sectional planning meeting is on Friday January 13, 2023 at 1:00pm. If you would like your group to be part of the organizing team, please attend our zoom meeting or email us back (see link below). </span><br class="ContentPasted0"></div><div class="x_x_x_x_elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;" class=""><br class="ContentPasted0"></span></div><div class="x_x_elementToProof x_x_x_x_elementToProof ContentPasted0 x_x_ContentPasted2" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;">If you have any questions, feel free to email Kim and I and we will do our best to get back to you, but briefly:</div><div class="x_x_x_x_elementToProof x_x_elementToProof x_x_ContentPasted2" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><ol class=""><li class="ContentPasted0">Immediately SAVE THE DATE!!</li><li class="ContentPasted0">Yes, everyone is invited to attend. If you or your group has concerns about the current government's conduct, get involved</li><li class="ContentPasted0">No, we don't actually have a fixed plan. This is a happening and it depends on you to make it work, so please, get involved. </li><li class="ContentPasted0">Yes, of course, we will have lots of music and fun and a songbook is in process. Email Susan Berry if you have something musical to share.</li></ol></div></div><div class="x_x_x_MsoNormal x_x_ContentPasted0 ContentPasted0" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0cm;">With faith in the future,</div></span></div><div class="x_x_elementToProof" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_x_ContentPasted1" style="margin: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="x_x_x_MsoNormal x_x_ContentPasted0 ContentPasted0" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0cm;">Kim and Susan from the Welcome Back PC Party Team</span></span></div><div class="x_x_elementToProof" style="margin: 0px;"><span class="x_x_ContentPasted1" style="margin: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="x_x_x_MsoNormal x_x_ContentPasted0 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px 0cm; caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font color="#26282a" face="Calibri, sans-serif" class=""><a href="mailto:susanberry@hotmail.com" class="">susanberry@hotmail.com</a></font></span></span></div><div class="x_x_elementToProof" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_x_ContentPasted1" style="margin: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br class="ContentPasted0"></span></div><div class="x_x_elementToProof" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_x_ContentPasted1 x_x_ContentPasted3" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">Greenbelt Guardians is inviting you to a zoom meeting<br class="ContentPasted0"></div><div class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">Time: Friday January 13, 2023 at 1:00pm</div><div class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">Topic: February 21 2023 Protection Rally at Queen's Park</div><div style="margin: 0px;" class=""><br class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0"></div><div class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">Join Zoom Meeting</div><div class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85736096758?pwd=VzhZZTM1UEZadVJZV0FNV2UwVmxVQT09" class="">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85736096758?pwd=VzhZZTM1UEZadVJZV0FNV2UwVmxVQT09</a></div><div style="margin: 0px;" class=""><br class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0"></div><div class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">Meeting ID: 857 3609 6758</div><div class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">Passcode: 781945</div><div class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">One tap mobile</div><div class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">+16469313860,,85736096758#,,,,*781945# US</div><div class="x_x_ContentPasted3 ContentPasted0" style="margin: 0px;">+16694449171,,85736096758#,,,,*781945# US</div><div class=""><br class=""></div></span></div></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: 12px;">--------------------------------</div></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: 12px;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: 12px;"><div class=""><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><b class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><font size="4" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">C) Speak Up and Ensure Your Voice is Heard:</font></b></div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><br clear="none" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"></div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Premier Doug Ford - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:doug.fordco@pc.ola.org" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">doug.fordco@pc.ola.org</a> or 416-325-1941</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Steve Clark - Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:steve.clark@pc.ola.org" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">steve.clark@pc.ola.org</a> or 416-585-7214</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">David Piccini - Minster of Environment, Conservation and Parks - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:david.paccini@pc.ola.org" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">david.piccini@pc.ola.org</a> or 905-372-4000</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Todd Smith - Minister of Energy - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:todd.smith@pc.ola.org" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">todd.smith@pc.ola.org</a> or 613-962-1144</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Michael Parsa - Associate Minister of Housing - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:michael.parsaco@pc.ola.org" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">michael.parsaco@pc.ola.org</a></div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><br clear="none" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"></div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Local Conservative MPPs:</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Mike Harris Jr - MPP Kitchener-Conestoga - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:mike.harris@pc.ola.org" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mike.harris@pc.ola.org</a> or 519-669-2090</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Brian Riddell - MPP Cambridge - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:brian.riddell@pc.ola.org" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">brian.riddell@pc.ola.org</a> or 519-650-2770</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Jess Dixon - MPP Kitchener South - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:jess.dixon@pc.ola.org" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">jess.dixon@pc.ola.org</a> or 519-650-9413</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><br clear="none" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"></div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Local NDP MPPs:</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Catherine Fife - MPP Waterloo - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:cfife-qp@ndp.on.ca" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cfife-qp@ndp.on.ca</a> or 519-725-3477</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Laura Mae Lindo - MPP Kitchener Centre - <a shape="rect" href="mailto:llindo-qp@ndp.on.ca" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">llindo-qp@ndp.on.ca</a> or 519-579-5460</div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><br clear="none" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"></div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000">Or use the Hold The Line Waterloo Region engagement engine to automatically address and send an e-mail you help to draft: <a shape="rect" href="http://www.holdthelinewr.org/" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.holdthelinewr.org</a></div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"><br clear="none" class=""></div><div class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000"></div></div><div class="">-------------------------------------</div><div class=""><br class="">Kevin Thomason</div><div class="">Vice-Chair, Grand River Environmental Network<br class=""><br class="">Phone: (519) 888-0519<br class="">Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648<br class="">Twitter: @kthomason<br class="">E-mail: <a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" class="">kevinthomason@mac.com</a><br class=""><br class="">-----------------------------------------</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br class=""></body></html>