<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>Good Day,</div><div><br></div><div>A reminder of our meeting tomorrow, Friday, May 12th at 5:30pm on Zoom where we will try to address recent provincial announcements and implications for our communities: <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></div><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">1) Media Coverage </b>- for once there hasn’t been a lot of new media coverage on the issues. In fact, it is very concerning to see the lack of awareness and media coverage on the devastating rural severances proposal by the Ford government given its broad negative impacts, how much it stands to destroy our countryside, and forever compromise food production across Ontario:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Toronto Star - High Costs Putting Farming Out of Reach for Young People, Affecting All Canadians:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/business/2023/05/07/high-costs-putting-farming-out-of-reach-for-young-people-affecting-all-canadians.html">https://www.thestar.com/business/2023/05/07/high-costs-putting-farming-out-of-reach-for-young-people-affecting-all-canadians.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">2) Rural Farm Severance</b><b style="font-size: 14px;">s - Ontario Farmland Trust Webinar - </b>Join Ontario Farmland Trust on May 17th at 12pm for the free Lunch, Learn and Take Action Webinar on Impacts of the New Proposed Provincial Planning Statement: Lot Creation Policies. Featruring Dr. Pam Duesling, Dr. Wayne Caldwell, and Margaret Walton it should be an excellent and easy way to learn more about these policy changes proposed in the new PPS and how you can take action for agriculture and the environment:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lunch-learn-takeactionimpacts-of-proposed-provincial-planning-statement-tickets-625704678537">https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lunch-learn-takeactionimpacts-of-proposed-provincial-planning-statement-tickets-625704678537</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">3) Speak Up on the ERO Submissions </b>- We need to be speaking up very loudly and protesting these proposed changes to planning, our communities, and precious farmland. There are still an important open comment periods on the recent announcement of changes to the Provincial Policy Statement. You don’t need to be an expert and you don’t need to submit a lengthy submission in order to comment - even just a few words of concern is enough to send a message that you are not supportive of these provincial changes and policies:</div><div><br></div><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Comment on the Provincial Policy Statement (in particular the absurd proposed farm severances) until June 5th:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813</a></div><div><br></div></div></div><div>We should note that while at times we wonder if our letters, phone calls and ERO submissions have much impact with Doug Ford’s Conservative Provincial Government, we were recently learned just how concerned the government is by all our actions, how closely they are tracking them, and that we are indeed having a significant impact.</div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">4) </b><b style="font-size: 14px;">Lawn Signs - </b> Now that Spring is here brighten up your lawn with a sign in support of the Greenbelt and lawn signs in support of Respecting Official Plans/Stopping Sprawl. We still have some signs available (examples below). Please let any of our sign captains know if you would be interested in some for your lawn and neighbourhood:</div><div><div><div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Both Regional Official Plan and Greenbelt Signs:</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 - Ashley Labelle - <a href="mailto:ashleynlabelle@gmail.com">ashleynlabelle@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>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><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Greenbelt Signs:</div><div><div 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">amoore083@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>Guelph South - Al Dejong - <a href="mailto:albert1dejong@gmail.com">albert1dejong@gmail.com</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;"> Centre Wellington</span> - Peter Varty - <a href="mailto:pjvarty@gmail.com">pjvarty@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>Brantford - Joan Faux - <a href="mailto:mom2jnp@gmail.com">mom2jnp@gmail.com</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>Glen Morris - Jeff Leader - <a href="mailto:geosynergy@yahoo.com">geosynergy@yahoo.com</a> </div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><div><br></div><div><div><br></div><div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">5) Municipal Leaders for Stronger Communities Webinar -</b> the next webinar called “Creating Housing Solutions Amidst Provincial Planning Chaos" is being held on Thursday, May 25th at 4 pm. It features Victor Doyle (Provincial Housing and Planning Expert) and Dr. Karen Chapple (Director of the School of Cities, University of Toronto).</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 an expert analysis of the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) and what it will mean for municipal Councils trying to meet housing needs. Additional information is in the poster below.</div><div><br></div><div>Citizens and local municipal officials can register at: <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ryLpkO-jQQ-krzH_xsxuWQ">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ryLpkO-jQQ-krzH_xsxuWQ</a></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>6) Reminder - Meeting this Friday</b><b> -</b></span> Our next update meeting will be Friday, May 12th at 5:30pm:</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 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><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 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>Thanks for all the great efforts so far. Please share any questions or ideas.</div><div><div id="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqtfd24641" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqt1303954863"><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></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br></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><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><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 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><br></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday, May 12th - 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></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><div><br></div></b></div><div>Wednesday, May 17th - 12pm - Ontario Farmland Trust Webinar on Rural Severances - <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lunch-learn-takeactionimpacts-of-proposed-provincial-planning-statement-tickets-625704678537">https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lunch-learn-takeactionimpacts-of-proposed-provincial-planning-statement-tickets-625704678537</a></div><div><div><div><br></div><div>Thursday, May 24th - 4pm - Creating Housing Solutions Amidst Provincial Planning Chaos Webinar - <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ryLpkO-jQQ-krzH_xsxuWQ#/registration">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ryLpkO-jQQ-krzH_xsxuWQ#/registration</a></div><div><br></div><div>Monday, June 5th - last day to comment on the Provincial Policy Statement - <a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813</a></div></div><div><br></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><div>---------------------------------</div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">B) Ontario Farmland Trust Webinar on Farm Severances - May 17th 12pm:</b></div></div><div><br></div><div></div></div></div></div></body></html>