<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><div>Good Day,</div><div><div><br></div><div>Here’s an update this week on Bill 23, the Greenbelt attacks, and Regional Planning destruction:</div></div></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">1) Rally Follow-up -</b> It was fantastic to see hundreds of people out in-person this past Sunday to send a strong message to the provincial government in support of our sustainable Regional Official Plans and against the forced urban boundary expansions that they demanded in Hamilton, Halton and elsewhere. The sunny weather was wonderful, there were lots of creative signs, people had fun visiting and catching-up with each other. We had MPs, MPPs, Regional Councillors, Municipal Councillors, and many other community leaders in attendance including supporters from health, labour, agriculture along with many other organizations as well.</div><div><br></div><div>Kudos to Lyndsay, Hal, Laura, Dorothy, Andrew, Kae, Mike and everyone else who worked so hard to organize and co-ordinate this rally! Attached below are a variety of photos.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><span style="font-size: 14px;">2) Rally Media Coverage -</span> </b>Our rally message and background information made it to hundreds of thousands of people through strong coverage on television, radio, print media, and social media. Thanks to everyone who shared things online on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon:</div><div><br></div><div><div data-pm-slice="0 1 []" data-en-clipboard="true" style="padding-left: 40px;">CKCO CTV Television News - Demonstrators Rally to Keep Waterloo Region's Urban Boundary Static:</div><div data-pm-slice="0 1 []" data-en-clipboard="true" style="padding-left: 40px;"><a href="https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/demonstrators-rally-to-keep-waterloo-region-s-urban-boundary-static-1.6339774" rev="en_rl_none">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/demonstrators-rally-to-keep-waterloo-region-s-urban-boundary-static-1.6339774</a></div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><br></div><div style="padding-left: 40px;">The Record - We Can't Afford Your Sprawl: Rally participants fear province will smash through Waterloo Region's Countryside Line:</div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2023/04/02/we-cant-afford-your-sprawl-rally-participants-fear-province-will-smash-through-waterloo-regions-countryside-line.html" rev="en_rl_none">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2023/04/02/we-cant-afford-your-sprawl-rally-participants-fear-province-will-smash-through-waterloo-regions-countryside-line.html</a></div></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC - Don’t Interfere with Waterloo Region’s plan for growth, demonstrators tell province:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-region-growth-rally-1.6799424">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-region-growth-rally-1.6799424</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">3) New Region Official Plan/Stop Sprawl Lawn Signs -</b> Thanks to the dozens of people who took home our new red lawn signs designed to raise awareness about the Regional Official Plan and the need to stop forced boundary expansions to protect our farmland, water and green space. We still have about forty of these signs available (example below). Please let any of our Waterloo Region sign captains know if you would be interested in some for your lawn and neighbourhood as it will be very important that we are speaking up for our Regional Plan in the days and weeks:</div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div><div 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">cathy.scottfree@gmail.com</a></div><div 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">dlubell@bell.net</a></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Cambridge - vacant - ashleynlabelle@gmail.com</div><div 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">sandra@sandrabray.ca</a></div><div dir="ltr" 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">ah_wilson@sympatico.ca</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"> Wellesley - Linda Lackey - <a href="mailto:lindamclackey@gmail.com">lindamclackey@gmail.com</a></div></div></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>4) Pending Announcements from Queen’s Park - </b></span>Unfortunately we are hearing from good sources that there are likely going to be a number of very negative announcements from the provincial government in the near future and possibly as soon as this Thursday (right before the long weekend in typical Doug Ford style). Possible announcements could include decisions on area Official Plans such as the Waterloo Regional Official Plan and the County of Wellington Official Plan, changes to the Provincial Policy Statement, changes to the Growth Plan or abolishing it altogether, significant changes to the Land Needs Assessment process, perhaps the abolishing of Municipal Comprehensive Reviews, changes to allow easier Employment Land Conversions and other actions that could have very negative implications for the environment, climate change and good planning principles. In fact, some of these changes are so sweeping it is almost impossible to contemplate the long-term consequences and damage that is being done to so much that we count on and take for granted in Ontario.</div><div><br></div><div>In some brighter news apparently plans to remove further lands from Greenbelt for development have been postponed due to significant public pressure and negative media coverage for the provincial government so don’t underestimate the impact we are having!</div><div><br></div><div>We will need to be ready to respond, speak up, and push back on short notice about these potential announcements should they become a reality.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>5) Recent Media Coverage </b>-</span> News coverage continues on the Greenbelt and Bill 23:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Woolwich Observer - Federal interest in Greenbelt plan a boon to opponents:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://observerxtra.com/2023/03/30/federal-interest-in-greenbelt-plan-a-boon-to-opponents/">https://observerxtra.com/2023/03/30/federal-interest-in-greenbelt-plan-a-boon-to-opponents/</a></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ontario won't release document that could show how government chose Greenbelt cuts:</div><div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-freedom-of-information/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-freedom-of-information/</a><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"> Housing Minister backtracks on commitment to build 1.5M homes by 2031:</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9601277/ontario-softens-1-5-million-homes-pledge/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://globalnews.ca/news/9601277/ontario-softens-1-5-million-homes-pledge/</a></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"> Land speculators caught illegally clearing trees in Hamilton: </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/2023/04/01/trees-on-hamilton-urban-expansion-lands-felled-without-permit-city.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/2023/04/01/trees-on-hamilton-urban-expansion-lands-felled-without-permit-city.html</a></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"> Doug Ford call Federal environment Minister 'a real piece of work': </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"> <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2023/03/30/doug-ford-calls-federal-environment-minister-a-real-piece-of-work.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2023/03/30/doug-ford-calls-federal-environment-minister-a-real-piece-of-work.html</a></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><font><b style="font-size: 14px;">6) Municipal Leaders for Stronger Communities Webinar -</b></font> the next webinar called "Addressing Local Housing Issues: From Ineffective to Effective Solutions” is being held today (Wednesday, April 5th) at 4 pm. It features Colin Best (President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario) and Kevin Eby (Registered Planner, Former Director of Community Planning with the Region of Waterloo).</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><br></div><div>The panel discussion will focus on Kevin’s recent report on the large amounts of land already available for housing and discussion about what municipalities can do to address the actual causes of the housing problems facing their residents. </div><div><br></div><div>Citizens and local municipal officials can register at: <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KvkQj4iRQiq7pU8XgbY4ig">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KvkQj4iRQiq7pU8XgbY4ig</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-size: 14px;">7) Excellent webinar on Bill 23 legislative changes by Mark Winfield, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change - </b><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Through mostly non-technical language, Mark Winfield summarizes the changes and impacts of Bill 23 on the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area: </span></div><div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqljI_mBx4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqljI_mBx4</a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b><font>8) Reminder - No Meeting this Friday</font></b><b> -</b></span> Enjoy the Good Friday Holiday. Our next update meeting will be <span>Friday, April 14th at 5:30pm:</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><div><div><div><br></div><div><div 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 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 style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Join Zoom Meeting</div><div 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">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div 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 style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Passcode: 713374</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><div><div><div>Thanks for all the great efforts so far. Please share any questions or ideas.</div><div><div id="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqtfd24641" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqt1303954863"><div><br clear="none"><div dir="ltr"><div style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-style-span">Cheers,</span></div><div 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><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div>-----------------------------------</div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><div><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font style="font-size: 14px;">A) Upcoming Events</font></b></div><div><br></div><div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">Wednesday, April 5th - 4:00pm - Municipal Leaders for Stronger Communities - Addressing Local Housing Issues - Effective Solutions - h<b style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;"><a href="ttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KvkQj4iRQiq7pU8XgbY4ig">ttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KvkQj4iRQiq7pU8XgbY4ig</a></span></font></b></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font><br></font></b></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday, April 14th - 5:30pm - Next update meeting on Zoom - </span><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09" style="font-weight: 400;">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></font></b></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">S<span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;">aturday, April 15th - 11am - 12:30pm - Kincardine Rally Against Bill 23 - details below</span></div><div style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;"><br></div><div style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400;">Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 21st, 22nd, and 23rd - Lots of Earth Day Events happening across Ontario - <a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/ytpweekend2023/">https://environmentaldefence.ca/ytpweekend2023/</a></div></font></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>--------------------------------------------</div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">B) April 2nd Waterloo Rally Photos -</b><b style="font-size: large;"> </b>thanks to photographer Carter Trussell for many of the rally photos below:</div></div><div><br></div><div></div></div></div></body></html>