<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=""><div class="">Good Day,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">A reminder of our meeting tomorrow (Friday) March 3rd at 5:30pm on Zoom - <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09" class="">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">There continues to be an impressive amount of news on Bill 23, the Greenbelt, and Regional Planning:</div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font size="4" class=""><b class="">1) Existing Housing Capacity Report - </b></font>An impressive report just released by the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario (ALO) by expert planner Kevin Eby shows that Ontario already has enough land for two million homes - double the quantity that Doug Ford is seeking in the GTA in the next ten years - without touching the Greenbelt or forcing additional sprawl and farmland loss by overriding local Official Plans. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Read the Media Release here - <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yw5XmTif5SXek6Ol7pXdsKlUPvLTfGLD/view" class="">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yw5XmTif5SXek6Ol7pXdsKlUPvLTfGLD/view</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Read the Report here - <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i4-mtfRHFbk0QW1bCorpmc2wCijamztQ/view" class="">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i4-mtfRHFbk0QW1bCorpmc2wCijamztQ/view</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">A copy of the easy-to-read report is also attached below. We need to spread the word that the provincial government’s actions are totally misguided and that Greenbelt lands along with essential farmland isn’t needed for urban sprawl housing.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">There was also excellent coverage in the Globe & Mail newspaper nationally on Tuesday and you can listen to Kevin Eby explain things firsthand on Newstalk 1010 radio:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Ontario Has Enough Land for Two Million Homes Without Touching Greenbelt:</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-greenbelt-expansion-housing/" class="">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-greenbelt-expansion-housing/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Newstalk 1010 - Two Million Homes Interview</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://omny.fm/shows/newstalk1010/former-waterloo-director-of-community-planning-kev" class="">https://omny.fm/shows/newstalk1010/former-waterloo-director-of-community-planning-kev</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div><b class=""><font size="4" class="">2) Wilmot Township Council Reverses Opposition to Hallman Pit - </font></b>In a very concerning and secretive move, Wilmot Mayor and Council have revoked their support to oppose the Hallman Pit based apparently on the changes in Bill 23 allowing costs to be found against municipalities and third-parties. Fearing this potential legal bill the Township chose to settle in secret with the gravel pit applicant. Worse yet, the Township is denying citizens the opportunity to delegate at the upcoming Council meeting. </div><div><br class=""></div><div>Learn more in the articles below and please help support the community send a strong message to Council that they need to uphold their moratorium on gravel pits, live up to the promises/commitments they have made, and have a far more communicative/collaborative approach with their citizens. The Citizens for Safe Groundwater are urging people to write/call Council and attend Monday’s Council meeting.</div><div><br class=""></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/council/2023/02/28/wilmot-council-pledged-to-defend-hallman-pit-decision.html" class="">https://www.therecord.com/news/council/2023/02/28/wilmot-council-pledged-to-defend-hallman-pit-decision.html</a></div><div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editors/2023/02/28/wilmots-decision-not-to-fight-gravel-pit-is-an-affront.html" class="">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editors/2023/02/28/wilmots-decision-not-to-fight-gravel-pit-is-an-affront.html</a></div></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">3) Welcome Back Queen’s Park Rally -</font></b> Kudos to everyone who attended the Welcome Back Doug Rally at Queen’s Park this past Saturday. Well over a thousand people attended this protest in front of the Legislature in a noisy, boisterous, and fun event. There were great speakers, excellent music, creative signs and strong message was sent to the provincial government. It was fantastic to see a very strong first nations involvement as well as several of the large unions participating with a strong show of force as well. Photos from the event are attached below.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font size="4" class=""><b class="">4) Planning Additional Rallies -</b></font> Our Rally Committee continues to be very active continuing to meet and discuss what we could be doing to continue to push the provincial government to repeal Bill 23, reverse the attacks on the Greenbelt, approve our Official Plans intact without forced sprawl, and restore the essential roles for our Conservation Authorities. There is discussion about holding a series of rallies across Ontario simultaneously in March to highlight Official Plans and the province overruling local decisions. Please think about potential rally ideas and we can discuss further on our Friday Zoom call. We also are looking for additional volunteers to join our Rally Committee.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class=""><b class="" style="font-size: 12px;"><font size="4" class="">5) Doug Ford Defends Wedding Stag & Doe Party As Questions Continue -</font></b><span class="" style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400;"> More media coverage continues regarding developers being asked to help fund Doug’s daughter’s wedding:</span></font></b></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Toronto Star Editorial - Integrity Probe Is Needed:</div><div class=""><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2023/02/28/integrity-probe-needed-into-doug-ford-family-parties.html" class="">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2023/02/28/integrity-probe-needed-into-doug-ford-family-parties.html</a></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Good Talk with Peter Mansbridge - Is the Doug Ford Story is as bad as it looks? Worse, actually:</div><div class=""><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-vXuHiKh7E" class="">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-vXuHiKh7E</a></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A TikTok Blogger Who Sums Things Up Very Well:</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Garnet_2203/status/1630720721704960005?cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email" class="">https://twitter.com/Garnet_2203/status/1630720721704960005?cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class=""><font size="4" class=""><font class="" style="font-weight: bold;">6) Media Coverage </font></font><font class="" style="font-weight: bold;">-</font></span><span class=""> Good media coverage continues on the impacts of Bill 23 as local municipalities try to figure out how to balance their books and fund new infrastructure when the province still has yet to come forward with any of the promised funding or means to “make things whole”:</span></div><div class=""><span class=""><br class=""></span></div><div class=""><span class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Guelph Councillors Grapple with Bill 23 as Developers Refuse to Address Building on Wetlands:</span></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/council-puts-a-caveat-on-its-pledge-to-build-18000-homes-6623071" class="">https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/council-puts-a-caveat-on-its-pledge-to-build-18000-homes-6623071</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Motives Behind Bill 23 Are Questioned Due to Labour Constraints:</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://building.ca/feature/the-enigma-of-bill-23/" class="">https://building.ca/feature/the-enigma-of-bill-23/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Narwhal - Immigrants Are Not The Reason Ontario’s Greenbelt is Being Developed:</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-immigration/" class="">https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-immigration/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">7) New Home Construction and Sales Continue to Plunge -</font></b> Once again the ineffectiveness of the provincial government’s actions to build more homes by destroying the Greenbelt, official plans and farmland is being demonstrated firsthand as new home construction and sales plummet:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Toronto Star - New Home Construction Sales Hit Lowest Level in 20 Years:</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2023/02/23/new-construction-home-sales-hit-lowest-level-in-over-20-years.html" class="">https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2023/02/23/new-construction-home-sales-hit-lowest-level-in-over-20-years.html</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font size="4" class=""><b class="">8) CELA Overview of Bill 23 LPAT Appeals - </b></font>The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) has just released an excellent fact sheet on the impact of Bill 23 on third-party appeal rights. A copy of the fact sheet is attached below.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">9) Update on the OPP Anti-Racket Squad Investigation</font></b> - This article highlights that the OPP seem to be dragging their feet on the investigation of possible insider trading by Doug Ford on the Greenbelt decisions:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/no-one-has-come-forward-with-proof-against-ford-government-in-greenbelt-probe-detectives-email-6629733" class="">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/no-one-has-come-forward-with-proof-against-ford-government-in-greenbelt-probe-detectives-email-6629733</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">10) What’s Next -</font></b> Environmental Defence has written an excellent article about what is next and how we can continue to encourage the needed change over the months ahead:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/02/23/whats-next-as-we-work-together-to-stop-the-destruction-of-farms-forests-and-wetlands-in-the-greenbelt-and-beyond/" class="">https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/02/23/whats-next-as-we-work-together-to-stop-the-destruction-of-farms-forests-and-wetlands-in-the-greenbelt-and-beyond/</a></div><div class=""><div 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 style="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></div></div></div></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="auto" class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="auto" class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><b class=""><font size="4" class="">11) Reminder - <span class=""><font class="">Friday, March 3rd 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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Topic: Grand River Watershed Bill 23 Bi-Weekly Zoom Meeting</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Join Zoom Meeting</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Meeting ID: 826 4469 5701</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Passcode: 713374</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>One tap mobile</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>+17806660144,,82644695701#,,,,*713374# Canada</div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>+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 class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="">-----------------------------------</div><div class=""><div dir="auto" class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class=""><div dir="auto" class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class=""><div class=""><b class="" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font class="" size="4">A) Upcoming Events</font></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Monday, March 6th - 6:30pm - Wilmot Township Council Meeting at Castle Kilbride/Municipal Council Chambers - Come show your support in-person or virtually.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div>---------------------------------</div><div><b class=""><font size="4" class="">B) Wilmot Township Council Reverses Opposition to Hallman Pit</font></b></div><div><br class=""></div><div>Below is the Wilmot survey of candidates from the recent election clearly showing how each and every Councillor has renegged on their clear commitments to oppose this aggregate pit.</div><div><br class=""></div><div>You can e-mail Councillors directly at:</div><div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(117, 117, 117); color: rgb(117, 117, 117);" class=""><li class=""><a href="mailto:harv.sidhu@wilmot.ca" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);" class="">harv.sidhu@wilmot.ca</a></li><li class=""><a href="mailto:kris.wilkinson@wilmot.ca" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);" class="">kris.wilkinson@wilmot.ca</a></li><li class=""><a href="mailto:lillianne.dunstall@wilmot.ca" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);" class="">lillianne.dunstall@wilmot.ca</a></li><li class=""><a href="mailto:natasha.salonen@wilmmot.ca" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);" class="">natasha.salonen@wilmmot.ca</a></li><li class=""><a href="mailto:steve.martin@wilmot.ca" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);" class="">steve.martin@wilmot.ca</a></li><li class=""><a href="mailto:stewart.cressman@wilmot.ca" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);" class="">stewart.cressman@wilmot.ca</a> </li></ul></div><div>And a letter template that could be sent to <a href="mailto:clerks@wilmot.ca" class="">clerks@wilmot.ca</a> is available at:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://mcusercontent.com/6454fd24c4bce52f81e0e225f/files/20d99df0-d802-d642-8dde-3c9fc2f3edca/letter_of_objection_.pdf" class="">https://mcusercontent.com/6454fd24c4bce52f81e0e225f/files/20d99df0-d802-d642-8dde-3c9fc2f3edca/letter_of_objection_.pdf</a></div><div><br class=""></div><div><br class=""></div><div><br class=""></div><div></div></div></div></body></html>