<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Good Day,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">A reminder that you have this Friday evening off as we move to an every-other-week format for our Friday at 5:30pm update meetings.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It has been a busy week with rallies, webinars, and online events every day of this past week:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">1) ROMA Rally </font></b>- Kudos to the folks from our watershed who made it down to Toronto on Monday for the rally at the Rural Ontario Municipality Association (ROMA) Conference. Hundreds of people showed up for an energetic rally that was the lead item on Global News, CFTO CTV News, and other media. Mike Marcolongo did a fantastic job working the hallways inside the conference and even got some good press coverage:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.municipalworld.com/feature-story/greenbelt-top-of-mind-roma/" class="">https://www.municipalworld.com/feature-story/greenbelt-top-of-mind-roma/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Globe and Mail also provided good coverage about concerns being raised by rural mayors: </div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-rural-mayors-raise-concerns-about-ford-government-housing-plan/" class="">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-rural-mayors-raise-concerns-about-ford-government-housing-plan/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font size="4" class=""><b class="">2) Federal Intervention? -</b></font> Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault warns that the Canadian government could intervene on Greenbelt development saying that he doesn’t believe the Ontario government’s claims about the need to build homes in the Greenbelt in a surprising interview earlier today:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/steven-guilbeault-ontario-greenbelt/" class="">https://thenarwhal.ca/steven-guilbeault-ontario-greenbelt/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">3) Advance Knowledge </font></b>- It seems that King Mayor Steve Pellegrini learned about the Greenbelt land removals from developers (The Rice Group) 3 days before Minister Steve Clark shocked us all with the announcements on back on November 4th according to documents obtained through Freedom of Information Requests by Gordon Prentice. You can read the details of what Gordon has been able to learn so far at:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.shrinkslessorsquare.ca" class="">https://www.shrinkslessorsquare.ca</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">4) Recent Media Articles - Other good recent media coverage includes:</font></b></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star Editorial Board calls out former Mayor Hazel McCallion:</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2023/01/26/disappointing-stance-on-greenbelt-development.html" class="">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2023/01/26/disappointing-stance-on-greenbelt-development.html</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/12/02/minister-clark-is-shamefully-misleading-or-dangerously-ignorant-about-development-charges.html" class="">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/12/02/minister-clark-is-shamefully-misleading-or-dangerously-ignorant-about-development-charges.html</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">5) Liberals Call for Greenbelt Investigation -</font></b> In addition to the investigations already underway, the Ontario Liberal Party has now also requested another formal investigation:</div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9430260/ontario-liberals-greenbelt-investigation-request/" class="">https://globalnews.ca/news/9430260/ontario-liberals-greenbelt-investigation-request/</a></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">6) Local Rally for Wetlands -</font></b> In support of wetlands, our local Grand River Conservation Authority, and World Wetlands Day local citizens Colleen Cooper, Hal Jaeger, Dave Cooper, Lyndsay Dajka, and Kae Elgie have been busy organizing a rally for Saturday, February 4th at 1:00pm at the Dumfries Conservation Area in Cambridge fronting on busy Hespeler Road/Hwy #24. They have done an amazing job in just a few days of deciding a date, location, and theme then designing materials, a Facebook site, press release, and starting broad promotion. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Hopefully you will be able to be creative with some signage and join for an hour rain, snow or shine next Saturday. A flyer is attached below and you learn more online at:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/731525825076097" class="">https://www.facebook.com/events/731525825076097</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">7) Margaret Atwood vs. Doug Ford -</font></b> Renown author Margaret Atwood has continued her excellent series against Doug Ford with the release of the most recent installment of her writings called The Magic Greenbelt - a cartoon:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://margaretatwood.substack.com/p/the-magic-greenbelt" class="">https://margaretatwood.substack.com/p/the-magic-greenbelt</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">8) Broadcasting ERO Comments on Social Media -</font></b> The tens of thousands of comments submitted to the ERO regarding Bill 23, the Greenbelt and other recent actions are being broadcast on social media by a brilliant automated bot created by Brendan Samuels, the amazing youth leader from London who has frequently joined our update calls. Brendan is seeking some volunteers to help parse a spreadsheet file and prepare 240 character comments for publishing. It’s fast and easy so if you have a couple of hours to help out please let me know or reach out to him at: <a href="mailto:bsamuel2@uwo.ca" class="">bsamuel2@uwo.ca</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class=""><br class=""></font></b></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">9) Rally’s and Protests -</font> </b>Numerous additional rallies and protests are being planned for the weeks ahead in Toronto including a Welcome Back February 25th event at Queen’s Park (details below) as well as Owen Sound (Jan 31st), and London (Feb 4th): </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Feb 25th 11am - 1pm - Welcome Back Doug Party - <a href="https://www.welcomebackdoug.com" class="">https://www.welcomebackdoug.com</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Get a complete listing of upcoming rallies at:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/handsoffthegreenbelt/" class="">https://environmentaldefence.ca/handsoffthegreenbelt/</a></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">10) Greenbelt Guardians -</font></b> have a new website coming together. Check it out and join in protecting lands extracted from the Greenbelt along with watching for urban boundary expansions:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://greenbeltguardian.com/about-us/" class="">https://greenbeltguardian.com/about-us/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class=""><font class=""><b class="" style="font-size: large;">11) Our Next Meeting -</b> we are going to move to an every-other-week format so our next update meeting will be on <span class=""><font class="">Friday, February 3rd at 5:30pm. Zoom Update Meeting Dial-in Details:</font></span></font></span></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 Bi-Weekly Zoom Meeting</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Time: Every-other-Friday 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="">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 class="">-----------------------------------</div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><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);"><b class="" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font class=""><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><div class=""><div id="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqtfd24641" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqt1303954863"><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class=""><div class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;">Saturday, 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="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;">Friday, February 3rd - Next 5:30pm Zoom Update Meeting - <b class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font size="4" class=""><span class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 104, 218); color: rgb(0, 104, 218); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09" class="">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></span></font></b></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;">Saturday, February 4th - Local Rally in Support of Wetlands and Conservation Authorities (see flyer below) - <b class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; 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-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;" class=""><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/731525825076097" class="">https://www.facebook.com/events/731525825076097</a></span></font></b></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;">Monday, February 13th - 1:00pm - Planning Meeting for February 25th Queen’s Park Welcome Back Protection Gathering</div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;">Saturday, February 25th - Welcome Back Event - Queen’s Park, 11:00am to 1:00pm Rally at the Legislature Lawn - <b class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font class=""><a href="https://www.welcomebackdoug.com" class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;">https://www.welcomebackdoug.com</a></font></b></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica;"><div class=""><div class="" style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 12px; caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">--------------------------------</div><div style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 12px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font size="4" class="">B) Local Rally - World Wetlands Day - Saturday, February 4th, 1pm to 2pm</font></div><div style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 12px;" class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></font></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class=""></div></div></body></html>