<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>Good Day,</div><div><br></div><div>As you likely have seen in media across Canada, the Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk presented her scathing 95 page report on the changes to the Greenbelt. It confirms what we already knew - this was never about housing - thousands of acres of the highest quality agricultural lands in the world have been sacrificed for billions of dollars of profits for a select few PC donors. </div><div><br></div><div>There has been absolutely nothing built yet though. The lands are still in their original natural state. This government needs to immediately recall the Legislature, reverse course, and return these lands to the Greenbelt as even the Auditor General is recommending. We also need to extrapolate this pattern of actions, process, and methodology of this Conservative government that we have seen over and over again with MZO’s and ministerial overrides with no consultation with anyone but industry, no public input, little municipal input, acting repeatedly against the greater public good, and benefiting only a select group of insiders to also see other boundary expansions rescinded, the reversal of the elimination of regional planning, and many other concerning issues corrected.</div><div><br></div><div>The TVO Ontario article below describes the situation well - The Ford government is corrupt and this Greenbelt report proves it. We need to demand resignations and further investigations to restore some integrity to our province. As the Toronto Star states Doug Ford has betrayed the public and he should pay dearly for it. We need to keep up the pressure on the Premier, Cabinet and local MPPs. The Press Release below from the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition calling out their local Conservative MPPs as complicit and guilty for supporting these Greenbelt takeout activities could be a model for our communities. </div><div><br></div><div>Valid questions are raised about how we can trust this government when they are so clearly willing to lie, make backroom deals with rich friends, and sell out to the highest bidder regardless of the true cost to the rest of us. Here is a government blatantly using their absolute power to enrich their friends while so many in province struggle with the basics of housing, healthcare, and education. We need to speak up for a better future.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">1) Fantastic Journalism -</b> It’s hard to beat the incredible journalism that has been demonstrated over the past year exposing these stories and now reporting on so many complex aspects. Here’s some excerpts that explain the core issues and findings:</div><div><br></div><div><b>The Globe and Mail - </b>"Ontario’s Auditor-General has issued a scathing report on the provincial government’s removal of 3,000 hectares from its protected <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/topics/ontario-greenbelt/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Greenbelt</span></a>, saying the move was unnecessary to hit the province’s housing goals, done without considering environmental impacts, and favoured certain developers. The report released Wednesday by Auditor-General Bonnie Lysyk also estimates, based on data from the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (MPAC), that the landowners of the 15 formerly protected sites opened up for housing last year could see their worth balloon by $8.3-billion. The audit recommends that the Progressive Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford re-evaluate its “seriously flawed” decision, while putting in place a new formal process to allow non-political civil servants to raise objections when “proper information-gathering and decision-making protocols are disregarded.”</div><div><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium;"></span></div><div><br></div><div><b>The Toronto Star -</b> “In a searing 93 page report to the legislature Wednesday, Bonnie Lysyk found Ford’s opening up of 7,400 acres of environmentally protected land last fall “cannot be described as a standard or defensible process”. Lysyk said the Tories did not need the 15 parcels of land to achieve their promised target of building 1.5 million homes over the next decade to alleviate Ontario’s housing crisis. We found that how the sites were selected was not transparent, fair, objective or fully informed. Provincial government actions failed to consider environmental, agricultural and financial risks and impacts, proceeded with little input from experts or affected parties, and favoured certain developers/landowners said Lysyk”.</div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps nothing states the current situation and the required path forward better than the editorial in today’s Toronto Star by the Star’s Editorial Board:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Province’s Gerrymandering Of The Greenbelt Is Worse Than We Thought. Heads Should Roll:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/the-province-s-gerrymandering-of-the-greenbelt-is-worse-than-we-thought-heads-should-roll/article_95dc3553-c0e9-5252-9595-04f76ed69a47.html">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/the-province-s-gerrymandering-of-the-greenbelt-is-worse-than-we-thought-heads-should-roll/article_95dc3553-c0e9-5252-9595-04f76ed69a47.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">2) Social Media -</b> There are also great points being made on social media:</div><div><br></div><div>Tyler Watt - This scathing report from the Auditor General's investigation on Doug Ford and the Greenbelt confirms our suspicions. This is as corrupt as it gets. Ford’s friends stand to make $8.3 billion off this. This is an appalling abuse of government.</div><div><br></div><div><div>Jennifer Keesmat - Nearly 50 years of public policy came together in the Greenbelt. Every step of the way citizen advocates played a crucial role in shaping the future of our region. Lobbying, advocating, conducting research, disseminating information. Until Now. In 1973 Bill Davis protected the Niagara Escarpment. In 1990 the United Nations declared the Niagara Escarpment a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. In 2001, Mike Harris protected the Oak Ridges Moraine, laying the foundation for the Greenbelt. In 2005, Dalton McGuinty pushed the Greenbelt over the finish line and created Places to Grow, directing growth to existing urban centres. We officially began growing up as a region. In 2022, the Auditor General outed Doug Ford for beginning the sell off of these protected lands to his friends, for astronomical profit. Very curious as to what will come next. The story is unwritten and we all have a role to play - as we always have.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Luke Bradley - Ford set up a Housing Affordability Task Force that came out with a report with 55 recommendations. They were clear that land was not an issue and it did not require building on the Greenbelt. Ford has failed to implement 90% of those recommendations.</div><div><br></div><div>TDotResident - If Doug Ford is okay with $8.3 billion in corrupt land deals being the centrepiece of his “housing plan” how many billions of corrupt deals were used in his transit, healthcare, and Ontario Place plans?</div><div><br></div><div>Colin D’Mello - Global News - When the lands failed to meet the development standards to allow for removal, the criteria was changed to specifically allow pieces of land owned by developers with access to the government to be removed.</div><div><br></div><div>Mark Evans - Ontario housing Minister’s Chief of Staff chose Greenbelt land parcels to benefit developers: Auditor General. I wonder how Ford Nation feels about the $8 billion Greenbelt scandal? Do they see it as a scandal or how business is done?</div><div><br></div><div>Joan Telfer Faux - With Greenbelt Trending #1 on Twitter in Canada right now are Premier Doug Ford and Minister Steve Clark having a good night? Maybe the report from Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk about the blantant corruption involved in opening the Ontario Greenbelt for development is causing them stress. It should. They own this.</div><div><br></div><div>Richard Southern - Housing Minister Clark skirts the question I asked how he did not know what his Chief of Staff was doing.</div><div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Faisal Moola - A) The developers gave Ford’s team a USB drive with the list of properties to carve out of the Greenbelt. B) Clark’s team ran the process and then Ford and Clark voted for it. C) Much of the land (Duffins Rouge) WAS public until Mike Harris sold it to DeGasperis.</div></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">3) Auditor General’s Report - </b>Read the report yourself at the following link or the PDF attached at the end of this e-mail. Even just the Table of Contents reads like a scathing indictment:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Special Report On Changes To The Greenbelt - Office of The Auditor General of Ontario</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/specialreports/specialreports/Greenbelt_en.pdf">https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/specialreports/specialreports/Greenbelt_en.pdf</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">4) Breaking Media Stories -</b> Below are just some of the media stories from the past 24 hours as this has been headline news on every major news outlet:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star & The Record - Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives Favoured Certain Developers In Controversial Greenbelt Plan Auditor General Finds in Scathing Report:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/auditor-general-bonnie-lysyk-delivers-greenbelt-land-swap-report-today/article_550f5523-3b2d-5e4d-abdc-1220a907ac7b.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=BreakingNews&utm_content=greenbelt">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/auditor-general-bonnie-lysyk-delivers-greenbelt-land-swap-report-today/article_550f5523-3b2d-5e4d-abdc-1220a907ac7b.html</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/politics/provincial/doug-fords-conservatives-favoured-certain-developers-in-controversial-greenbelt-plan-auditor-general-finds-in-scathing/article_26f12b19-74ad-5109-9c6a-ddb7ed92307c.html">https://www.therecord.com/politics/provincial/doug-fords-conservatives-favoured-certain-developers-in-controversial-greenbelt-plan-auditor-general-finds-in-scathing/article_26f12b19-74ad-5109-9c6a-ddb7ed92307c.html</a></div><div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>TVO Today - Ford-friendly Developers Influenced Greenbelt Changes Says Auditor General:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/ford-friendly-developers-influenced-greenbelt-changes-says-auditor-general">https://www.tvo.org/article/ford-friendly-developers-influenced-greenbelt-changes-says-auditor-general</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Global News - Developers Had Direct Influence Over Ontario Greenbelt Land Removal AG Finds:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/9884252/ontario-auditor-general-report-developers-greenbelt-land-removal/">https://globalnews.ca/news/9884252/ontario-auditor-general-report-developers-greenbelt-land-removal/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Trillium - Greenbelt Removals Picked by Housing Minister’s Top Staffer at Developers Behest: Auditor:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/greenbelt-removals-picked-by-housing-ministers-top-staffer-at-developers-behest-auditor-7383186">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/greenbelt-removals-picked-by-housing-ministers-top-staffer-at-developers-behest-auditor-7383186</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CTV News - Ontario Greenbelt Development Plans Were Biased: AG Report:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-greenbelt-development-plans-were-biased-ag-report-1.6511544">https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-greenbelt-development-plans-were-biased-ag-report-1.6511544</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Globe and Mail - Ford’s Greenbelt Plan Favoured Certain Developers, Ontario’s Auditor-General Report Says:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontarios-auditor-general-report-says-fords-greenbelt-plan-unnecessary/">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontarios-auditor-general-report-says-fords-greenbelt-plan-unnecessary/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Narhwal - Ontario’s Housing Minister’s Chief of Staff Chose Greenbelt Land Parcels To Benefit Develeopers: Auditor General:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-auditor-general-report/">https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-auditor-general-report/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC - Ontario Government’s Greenbelt Land Swap Influenced by Well-Connnected Developers:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-auditor-general-greenbelt-report-1.6930390">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-auditor-general-greenbelt-report-1.6930390</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - Ford Government Favoured Developers, Greenbelt land not needed for housing target: Auditor General:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2023/08/09/greenbelt-auditor-general-investigation/?">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2023/08/09/greenbelt-auditor-general-investigation/?</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Public Record - Hamilton Developers Given Special Access to Lobby for Greenbelt Land Removal:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/2023/08/hamilton-developers-given-special-access-to-lobby-for-greenbelt-land-removal-stand-to-make-billions-from-changes/">https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/2023/08/hamilton-developers-given-special-access-to-lobby-for-greenbelt-land-removal-stand-to-make-billions-from-changes/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Star - Doug Ford’s Greenbelt Scheme Betrayed The Public And He Should Pay Dearly For That:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews Online - Ford Government Under Fire After Auditor General’s Scathing Report:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2023/08/09/ford-government-under-fire-after-auditor-generals-scathing-greenbelt-report/">https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2023/08/09/ford-government-under-fire-after-auditor-generals-scathing-greenbelt-report/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>TVO Ontario - The Greenbelt Report Proves It: The Ford Government Is Corrupt: Resignations and Further Investigations Are The Only Way to Restore Sense of Integrity:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/the-greenbelt-report-proves-it-the-ford-government-is-corrupt">https://www.tvo.org/article/the-greenbelt-report-proves-it-the-ford-government-is-corrupt</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CHCH Detailed Television Report - Auditor General Finds Ontario Government’s Greenbelt Plan Favoured Certain Developers:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.chch.com/auditor-general-finds-ontario-governments-greenbelt-plan-favoured-certain-developers/">https://www.chch.com/auditor-general-finds-ontario-governments-greenbelt-plan-favoured-certain-developers/</a></div><div><br></div></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>CP24 - How Did The Ontario Greenbelt Decision Get Made? Here’s The Timeline:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cp24.com/news/how-did-the-ontario-greenbelt-decision-get-made-here-s-the-timeline-1.6512473">https://www.cp24.com/news/how-did-the-ontario-greenbelt-decision-get-made-here-s-the-timeline-1.6512473</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>CBC - The Greenbelt and Doug Ford: What’s Next?</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greenbelt-doug-ford-whats-next-1.6931420">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greenbelt-doug-ford-whats-next-1.6931420</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>5) Other Recent Media Stories -</b></span> Here’s also stories from the past week on other issues and leading up to the release of the Auditor General’s report:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Great article focussed on Waterloo Region:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Doug Ford’s Policies Are Putting Ontario’s Farmland at Risk:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/doug-ford-s-policies-are-putting-ontario-s-farmland-at-risk/article_fad183ca-06f6-53f2-bfb7-e42d634a6945.amp.html">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/doug-ford-s-policies-are-putting-ontario-s-farmland-at-risk/article_fad183ca-06f6-53f2-bfb7-e42d634a6945.amp.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Auditor General Dug into Doug Ford’s Controversial Greenbelt Plan. We Are About To See What She Has To Report:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/auditor-general-dug-into-doug-ford-s-controversial-greenbelt-plan-we-re-about-to-see/article_b121c515-331d-5b9c-9164-2a12aac10a10.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/auditor-general-dug-into-doug-ford-s-controversial-greenbelt-plan-we-re-about-to-see/article_b121c515-331d-5b9c-9164-2a12aac10a10.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Tories Brace for Auditor’s Report Into Controversial Greenbelt Land Swap:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-s-tories-brace-for-auditor-s-report-into-controversial-greenbelt-land-swap/article_3305bfba-260b-522f-a81d-27d36239d866.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-s-tories-brace-for-auditor-s-report-into-controversial-greenbelt-land-swap/article_3305bfba-260b-522f-a81d-27d36239d866.html</a></div><div><br></div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Narwhal - Here’s How Doug Ford is Shaping Ontario’s Environmental Laws In His Second Term:</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-environment-ford-explainer/">https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-environment-ford-explainer/</a><div><div>
<meta charset="UTF-8"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; 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="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></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 - 1.5 Years Into The Ford Government’s Housing Plan Most Cities Aren’t Even Close to Pace:</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><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-housing-construction-cities-report-card-1.6916180">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-housing-construction-cities-report-card-1.6916180</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></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></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 style="font-size: 14px;">6) Leadnow.ca -</b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"> Already the national advocacy group Leadnow has a campaign and website running where you can send e-mails automatically to the Premier, Cabinet and other MPPs expressing your outrage and concerns at the way the government has sold off the Greenbelt to developers. Tell the government that Greenbelt development isn’t the answer:</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></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>Leadnow - <a href="https://act.leadnow.ca/ministers-greenbelt/">https://act.leadnow.ca/ministers-greenbelt/</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></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></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 style="font-size: 14px;">7) Environmental Defence -</b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"> Has issued a statement on the Auditor General’s report demanding that lands must now be returned to the Greenbelt, calling for an OPP investigation, the pro-spawl agenda be reversed, the Greenbelt be expanded, an expansion of affordable housing, and legislation introduced to protect the Greenbelt and other lands from future attacks by governments and speculative developers:</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></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><a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/08/09/statement-on-the-auditor-generals-report-that-the-ontario-government-colluded-with-developers-to-remove-lands-from-the-greenbelt/">https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/08/09/statement-on-the-auditor-generals-report-that-the-ontario-government-colluded-with-developers-to-remove-lands-from-the-greenbelt/</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></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></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 style="font-size: 14px;">8) Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition -</b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"> SCGC has issued a brilliant media statement calling their local MPP’s complicit in the $8.3 billion dollar Greenbelt land grab:</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></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><a href="https://simcoecountygreenbelt.ca/media-statement-auditor-general-on-greenbelt-take-outs/">https://simcoecountygreenbelt.ca/media-statement-auditor-general-on-greenbelt-take-outs/</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></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></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-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">9) Environics Polling Shows Huge Support for Housing in Cities </span>Not The Greenbelt - </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario (ALO) commissioned Environics Research to gauge public perceptions about the cause of the housing crisis facing Ontario, the preferred solution, and whose opinion people trust. The results show there is overwhelming support for governments to be actively involved in getting housing built in existing towns and cities where services already exist. Ontarians do not want housing on the Greenbelt and farmland. </span></div><div><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-f2f1ef47-7fff-de5f-99f9-e85cd9277791"><br><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Read the Environics Research Report at:</span></span><br></div><div><span><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></span><a href="https://www.liveableontario.ca/alliance-resources/new-poll-huge-public-support-for-building-housing-in-existing-towns-and-cities-not-on-the-greenbelt">https://www.liveableontario.ca/alliance-resources/new-poll-huge-public-support-for-building-housing-in-existing-towns-and-cities-not-on-the-greenbelt</a></div><div><br></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-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></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 style="font-size: 14px;">10) Stop Sprawl Durham Rally and Activities -</b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"> The communities most impacted by the extensive development of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve have A Rally to Save The Rouge coming up this Sunday, August 13th at 1:00pm to 2:30pm at 1550 Kingston Road, Pickering. They also have a whole list of actions you can take to help them out and help protect these amazing natural areas:</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></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><a href="https://www.stopsprawldurham.com/">https://www.stopsprawldurham.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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://actionnetwork.org/letters/save-the-duffins-rouge-agricultural-preserve-and-protect-rouge-national-urban-park-2/">https://actionnetwork.org/letters/save-the-duffins-rouge-agricultural-preserve-and-protect-rouge-national-urban-park-2/</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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_YJ4Ov533izbCqmZa0JemahZobM7Na9S">https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_YJ4Ov533izbCqmZa0JemahZobM7Na9S</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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/StopSprawlDurham/">https://www.facebook.com/StopSprawlDurham/</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></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></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><b style="font-size: 14px;">11) Reminder - No Meeting this Friday</b><b><span style="font-size: 14px;"> -</span></b> Please enjoy a break this Friday and join us next on Friday, August 18th at 5:30pm:</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 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><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. Speak up, talk to friends, write letters to the editor/opinion pieces, and 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></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 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><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 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>Sunday, August 13th - 1pm - Rally to Save The Duffins Rouge Ag Preserve - <a href="https://www.stopsprawldurham.com/">https://www.stopsprawldurham.com/</a></div><div><br></div><div><div>Friday, August 18th<b style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - 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><br></div><div>Monday, September 4th - 12pm - Labour Picnic at Waterloo Park - <a href="https://waterloolabour.ca/">https://waterloolabour.ca/</a></div><div><br></div><div>Friday, September 11th - Ford Fest At Bingeman’s Kitchener - Details to be determined.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></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 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 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 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 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 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 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></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></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-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>B) Auditor General Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt</b></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></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>