<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 dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Good Day,</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Tonight at 11:59pm is the deadline to speak up on Bill 162 that is promoting highways and urban sprawl while preventing climate action and EA’s, Wilmot farmers overwhelm Wilmot Town Hall, and much more:</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>0) Breaking News - Greenbelt Scandal Issues Continue - </b></span>The Narwhal and Trillium broke the news this afternoon that contrary to claims, provincial staff such as Ryan Amato and Jae Truesdell who quit in the heat of the Greenbelt scandal got exit packages and made as much as their colleagues who worked all year!:</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></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>The Trillium - Staffers Who Left Ford Government Over Greenbelt Scandal Got Exit Packages: Sources:</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://www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-trillium-investigations/staffers-who-left-ford-government-over-greenbelt-scandal-got-exit-packages-sources-8523852">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-trillium-investigations/staffers-who-left-ford-government-over-greenbelt-scandal-got-exit-packages-sources-8523852</a></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>1) Bill 162 - The Get It Done Act -</b></span> We only have until 11:59pm tonight to submit comments on ERO regarding the forced boundary expansions to the Official Plans of Waterloo Region and Halton causing the unnecessary destruction of thousands of acres of irreplaceable farmland along with other modifications in Guelph, Wellington County, and elsewhere. The omnibus bill also includes changes to land expropriation and Environmental Assessments to facilitate highway construction that are very concerning along with Doug Ford’s attempt to block future carbon taxes and prevent road tolls.</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Although this ERO is focussed on Schedule 3 on the Official Plan Adjustments, it was great to see numerous delegations and attendees expressing concerns at the Standing Committee Hearings on Bill 162 at Queen’s Park yesterday on all these issues including Phil Pothen from Environmental Defence, GASP, Mark Chamberlain, Nina Deeb, and myself on behalf of GREN. There were great questions, vigorous debate, and lots of emotion in the room as the NDP, Liberal and Green Party MPPs called out just how misguided and damaging Bill 162 will be.</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Please be sure to make a submission - even if it is only a sentence or two. We need a strong public record of concern:</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ERO - Get It Done Act, 2024 - Amending the Official Plan Adjustments Act, 2023</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8273">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8273</a></div></div><div><br></div></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Parts of Bill 162 that you can reference could include:</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></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>- Schedule 1 - Environmental Assessment Act changes to make it easier to expropriate land for new highways and developments,</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>- Schedule 3 - Official Plan Adjustment Act that forces urban sprawl onto farmland and compromises Official Plans,</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>- Schedule 5 - Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act the prevents future carbon pricing in Ontario,</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>- Schedule 6 - Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act that prohibits road tolls (except on Hwy #407).</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) has an excellent submission on Bill 162 on their website that you can leverage and amplify:</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></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://cela.ca/submission-cela-comments-on-bill-162/">https://cela.ca/submission-cela-comments-on-bill-162/</a></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">You may also want to reference the Region of Waterloo Hydrology Staff Report that Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, five Waterloo Region Mayors and numerous developers tried to prevent the province from seeing by doing everything they could last week at Regional Council to prevent it being submitted to this Bill 162 ERO. The report expresses concerns about future water supply by urban boundaries being forced open and development being permitted on groundwater recharge areas of the Waterloo Moraine:</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Region of Waterloo Staff Report Expressing Concerns About Bill 162 On Drinking Water Supply:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=7165">https://pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=7165</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=7166">https://pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=7166</a></div><div><br></div></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">2) Wilmot Farmland Development Assembly - </b>Hundreds of farmers protested at Wilmot Township Hall on Monday night with hundreds more joining the Council Meeting online. It was an very impressive assembly of the impacted farming community with banners, signs, and tractors present.</div><div><br></div><div>The farmers have banded together and uniformly rejected purchase agreements for their farms for some sort of secret massive industrial development despite the threat of expropriation proceedings. It is horrifying to see area farmers and landowners being forced with high-pressure tactics to take away their lands, homes, farms, and livelihoods with only days notice - driving families off farms that have been in their families for generations and is some of the best farmland in Ontario.</div><div><br></div><div>No sort of development, let alone a massive industrial/automotive plant has ever been contemplated in this distant, rural part of Wilmot Township far from necessary infrastructure, transportation, water, sewage, and power requirements. It is protected Prime Agriculture lands far across the Countryside Line in what should be some of the most secure lands in Canada - particularly if we value food production.</div><div><br></div><div>We all need to continue to speak out and seek a better location for this industrial development closer to our urban centres and that has far less environmental, climate change, and farmland impacts. There are numerous potential alternative sites on brownfield, greyfield, and former aggregate pits with better infrastructure and transportation options.</div><div><br></div><div>There is a great website created by the farmers called Fight For Farmland. Check it out at:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>www.fightforfarmland.com</div><div><br></div><div>And an online petition with an astounding 8,000 signatures already. Please sign and promote it:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/stop-appropriation-targeting-wilmot-township-farmland">https://www.change.org/p/stop-appropriation-targeting-wilmot-township-farmland</a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div>Here’s some recent media coverage. Please write Regional and Wilmot Councillors (addresses at the bottom of this e-mail) and press for better solutions in a better location:</div><div><br></div></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Veteran Environmentalist Cries Foul Over Wilmot Land Assembly:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/veteran-environmentalist-cries-foul-over-wilmot-land-assembly/article_481e0aea-3b01-59d3-8059-07efc13aaa24.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/veteran-environmentalist-cries-foul-over-wilmot-land-assembly/article_481e0aea-3b01-59d3-8059-07efc13aaa24.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CTV News - Land Owners Devastated With Waterloo Region’s Plan To Purchase Properties:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/land-owners-devastated-with-waterloo-region-s-plan-to-purchase-properties-1.6818805">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/land-owners-devastated-with-waterloo-region-s-plan-to-purchase-properties-1.6818805</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC News - Wilmot Township Farmers Prepare To Fight Back After Region of Waterloo Plans To Expropriate Land:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/wilmot-township-farmland-expropriation-region-waterloo-1.7153008">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/wilmot-township-farmland-expropriation-region-waterloo-1.7153008</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Groundswell Forming For Very Uphill Battle Against Wilmot Industrial Proposal:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/groundswell-forming-for-very-uphill-battle-against-wilmot-industrial-proposal/article_e7831db7-f4d4-5e48-bde4-8edac9320e93.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/groundswell-forming-for-very-uphill-battle-against-wilmot-industrial-proposal/article_e7831db7-f4d4-5e48-bde4-8edac9320e93.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Wilmot Tavistock Gazette - Wilmot Landowners Organize Over Potential Land Acquisition Concerns:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.pentictonherald.ca/spare_news/article_ff2bc256-be62-5c57-ad52-645f8f7ac4d2.html">https://www.pentictonherald.ca/spare_news/article_ff2bc256-be62-5c57-ad52-645f8f7ac4d2.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CTV CKCO News - Land Owners Continue To Push Back:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/land-owners-continue-to-push-back-against-wilmot-property-sale-1.6823145">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/land-owners-continue-to-push-back-against-wilmot-property-sale-1.6823145</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - LandOwners In Wilmot Township “Distraught and Devastated” But Fighting To Keep Prime Farmland:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/03/22/landowners-in-wilmot-township-distraught-and-devastated-but-fighting-to-keep-prime-farmland/">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/03/22/landowners-in-wilmot-township-distraught-and-devastated-but-fighting-to-keep-prime-farmland/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Secrecy Around Wilmot Land Deal Is Not In Our Best Interest:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/secrecy-around-wilmot-land-deal-is-not-in-our-best-interest/article_ab11e1f7-655c-5da0-90f2-631587436ae8.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a03&utm_source=ml_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=2DF5A405D6082D2C0C4FDB5202BCAE69&utm_campaign=wrha_171434">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/secrecy-around-wilmot-land-deal-is-not-in-our-best-interest/article_ab11e1f7-655c-5da0-90f2-631587436ae8.html</a></div><div></div><div><br></div><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Record - Farmers Going To Wilmot Township Council Tonight:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/farmers-going-to-wilmot-township-council-tonight/article_d45aee2e-bb46-5523-8a5c-f612d36f81c4.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/farmers-going-to-wilmot-township-council-tonight/article_d45aee2e-bb46-5523-8a5c-f612d36f81c4.html</a></div><div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC News - Alfred Lowrick Addresses Wilmot Council Over Notices To Sell Farmland:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1.7155690">https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1.7155690</a></div></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Farmers Protest In Wilmot Township:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/farmers-protest-in-wilmot-township/article_731c36e5-4c5d-573d-9b76-65ed8fb2972a.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/farmers-protest-in-wilmot-township/article_731c36e5-4c5d-573d-9b76-65ed8fb2972a.html</a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CTV News - Concerns Raised By Farmers:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video/c2892175-concerns-raised-over-possible-expropriation">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video/c2892175-concerns-raised-over-possible-expropriation</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Farmers Fill Wilmot Council Chamber In Opposition To Land Assembly:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/farmers-fill-wilmot-council-chamber-in-opposition-to-land-assembly/article_bbe3c4d3-4b54-502e-83f5-9a30cc52205d.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/farmers-fill-wilmot-council-chamber-in-opposition-to-land-assembly/article_bbe3c4d3-4b54-502e-83f5-9a30cc52205d.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CTV News - Farmers Fight Back Against Possible Expropriation:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video/c2892669-farmers-fight-back-against-possible-expropriation">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video/c2892669-farmers-fight-back-against-possible-expropriation</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Wilmot Dairy Farmer And His Family Left In Limbo:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/wilmot-dairy-farmer-and-his-family-left-in-limbo/article_50ef5b19-7b53-5ed0-bdfa-4a3dfe72b7f8.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/wilmot-dairy-farmer-and-his-family-left-in-limbo/article_50ef5b19-7b53-5ed0-bdfa-4a3dfe72b7f8.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Fife Calls On Ford Government To Halt Expropriation Process In Wilmot:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/fife-calls-on-ford-government-to-halt-expropriation-process-in-wilmot/article_08618721-265e-5baf-b9e7-c9cf810136b5.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/fife-calls-on-ford-government-to-halt-expropriation-process-in-wilmot/article_08618721-265e-5baf-b9e7-c9cf810136b5.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife raised the issue of the Wilmot farmland assembly in the Provincial Legislature yesterday. You can watch the video:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/cfifekw/status/1773097019118063709?s=61&t=_PNNW5D61aSc22zODwpSKg">https://twitter.com/cfifekw/status/1773097019118063709?s=61&t=_PNNW5D61aSc22zODwpSKg</a></div><div><br></div><div>And you can download a copy of her petition to sign, have others sign and send to MPP Fife's office for delivery to the provincial government:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.catherinefife.com/protect_farmland">https://www.catherinefife.com/protect_farmland</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">3) Kitchener Approves Four Units Per Lot - </b>Helping to provide options and ease the housing crisis with efficient, fast, and affordable housing alternatives both the City of Kitchener unanimously approved allowing up to four units per property on Monday night. Kudos to group member Kim Charlesworth who was the only delegate on this issue and who also encouraged new units to be built utilizing Green Development Standards.</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - The Missing Little: Kitchener Approves Four Units On Residential Lots City-Wide:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/council/the-missing-little-kitchener-approves-four-units-on-residential-lots-city-wide/article_31178183-ea91-5cdc-a702-92aefeb0efee.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/council/the-missing-little-kitchener-approves-four-units-on-residential-lots-city-wide/article_31178183-ea91-5cdc-a702-92aefeb0efee.html</a></div><div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - Kitchener, Waterloo To Vote On Allowing Fourplexes Despite Provisional Opposition:</div></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/03/25/kitchener-and-waterloo-to-vote-on-allowing-fourplexes-despite-provincial-opposition/?">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/03/25/kitchener-and-waterloo-to-vote-on-allowing-fourplexes-despite-provincial-opposition/?</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">4) Media Articles -</b> Include troubling changes by Enbridge to terminate energy retrofit rebates, carbon taxes, and the new provincial budget raising concerns:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Habitat For Humanity Boss Tired Of All The "Buts”:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/habitat-for-humanity-boss-tired-of-all-the-buts/article_ed2fc648-3e6a-5865-92e3-e4646f333651.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a04&utm_source=ml_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=2DF5A405D6082D2C0C4FDB5202BCAE69&utm_campaign=wrha_171489">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/habitat-for-humanity-boss-tired-of-all-the-buts/article_ed2fc648-3e6a-5865-92e3-e4646f333651.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Enbridge Cuts Off Rebate, Leaving Some Homeowners On The Hook For Thousands In Green Renovation Costs:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/enbridge-cuts-off-rebate-leaving-some-homeowners-on-the-hook-for-thousands-in-green-renovation/article_8c206ad0-e87b-11ee-8527-233b08bdb16f.html">https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/enbridge-cuts-off-rebate-leaving-some-homeowners-on-the-hook-for-thousands-in-green-renovation/article_8c206ad0-e87b-11ee-8527-233b08bdb16f.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Criticizes Justin Trudeau’s Carbon Levy - Even As Ontario’s Own Levy Collects $146 Million:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-criticizes-justin-trudeaus-carbon-levy-even-as-ontarios-own-levy-collects-146-million/article_54dc6b48-eac2-11ee-aa25-3f654696e1f4.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-criticizes-justin-trudeaus-carbon-levy-even-as-ontarios-own-levy-collects-146-million/article_54dc6b48-eac2-11ee-aa25-3f654696e1f4.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Doug Ford’s Budget Ensures Ontario Won’t Thrive:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-budget-ensures-ontario-won-t-thrive/article_1a62d9db-46ca-54ef-b9c6-0387ccf33990.html">https://www.therecord.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-budget-ensures-ontario-won-t-thrive/article_1a62d9db-46ca-54ef-b9c6-0387ccf33990.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - City of Waterloo Seeks Funding From Province For New Subdivision:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/03/23/city-of-waterloo-seeks-out-funding-from-province-for-new-subdivision/">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/03/23/city-of-waterloo-seeks-out-funding-from-province-for-new-subdivision/</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>5) Federal Climate Action Survey - Deadline Today! - </b></span>The Federal government is seeking input on their 2035 Climate Action Target and how our country should reach a zero-emisions future. Big Oil is encouraging their supporters to fill out the survey and we need to ensure a strong voice for climate action. Please speak up today at:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://canada-2035-target.ethelo.net/page/how-to-participate">https://canada-2035-target.ethelo.net/page/how-to-participate</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">6) Highway #413 -</b> Speak up about Highway #413 and ensure the Liberal government enacts proper environmental assessment. With a $10 billion deficit, our province can’t afford this destructive $10 billion highway. Get a lawns sign at pick up locations in Cambridge, London, Hamilton, Halton Hills, and lots more:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/lawn-sign-request-form/">https://environmentaldefence.ca/lawn-sign-request-form/</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">7) Cities Speak Up Against Enbridge Subsidies -</b> Kudos to the City of Guelph that this week joined Hamilton, Whitby, Kingston, and other Ontario communities to speak up against the Ford government’s plans to overrule the Ontario Energy Board and force people to pay to subsidize hooking up new homes to Enbridge’s gas system. It’s absurd to be expanding fossil fuel use in our climate crisis. Encourage your community to speak up and pass a resolution as well:</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://www.cleanairalliance.org/cities-speak-up/">https://www.cleanairalliance.org/cities-speak-up/</a></div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>8) Carbon Tax -</b></span> Kudos to GREN Executive Member Susan Koswan for a great article The Record today supporting this form of essential climate action:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Why I Believe A Carbon Tax Works:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/why-i-believe-a-carbon-tax-works/article_13c43ef2-66a8-576d-b119-969a25f9e00f.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/why-i-believe-a-carbon-tax-works/article_13c43ef2-66a8-576d-b119-969a25f9e00f.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">9) Conservation Authorities Push Back -</b> The Narwhal has written a great article on the parting message of Hassaan Basit at the Halton Conservation Authority:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Narhwal - “You Start With Us:” Conservation Authority Head Has Parting Message For Ontario Government:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authority-halton-basit/">https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authority-halton-basit/</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">10) CELA Public Consultation Changes Action Alert -</b> The Canadian Environmental Law Society is raising alarm about a Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry posting currently on the ERO to change public notification requirements and exempt certain government proposals from needing to be posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) one of the few remaining ways the public has to learn and respond to government proposals and new legislation. This is extremely concerning to see the provincial government again reducing consultation and removing the need to consider public comments before decisions are made. Learn more and speak up at:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>CELA Action Alert: Protecting Public Consultation Rights:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://cela.ca/protecting-public-consultation-rights/">https://cela.ca/protecting-public-consultation-rights/</a></div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>11) Conserving Farmland on the Urban Fringe - </b></span>Tom Nudds has drafted an excellent document (attached below) about conserving farmland - particularly on the urban fringe in Wellington County. He’s proposing some innovative ideas for monetizing ecological goods and services to help intensify development and conserve farmland. We ran out of time last Friday but we’ll discuss this at our next Zoom meeting on April 5th. In the meantime, learn more in the document below and reach out to Tom at:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.uoguelph.ca/ib/nudds">https://www.uoguelph.ca/ib/nudds</a></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 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"><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 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><b style="font-size: 14px;">12) Reminder - Next Meeting</b><b><span style="font-size: 14px;"> -</span></b> Join us next, <span dir="ltr">Friday, April 5th at 5:30pm</span> to discuss the latest news and what’s next:</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><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 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 <span dir="ltr">Friday at 5:30pm EST</span></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: <span dir="ltr">826 4469 5701</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span dir="ltr">Passcode: 713374</span></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></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">-----------------------------------</b></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></div></div><div></div><div><br></div><div>ERO Deadline Get It Done Act Amending the Official Plan Adjustments Act, 2024 - Deadline Today, Thursday March 28th - <a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8273">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8273</a></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><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Thursday, March 28th at 7pm - Watershed 4 Event by Wellington Water Watchers on Decolonizing and Water Justice. Register at: </span><a href="https://www.wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca/watershed_4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.wellingtonwaterwatchers.ca/watershed_4</a></div><div><br></div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><span dir="ltr">Friday, April 5th</span><b style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <span dir="ltr">- 5:30pm</span> - 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></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>Guelph Climate Action Network - Saturday, April 6 - 1:30pm - Climate Solutions Screening Bookshelf Cinema - <a href="https://jamesgordon.ca/guelph-climate-action-network">https://jamesgordon.ca/guelph-climate-action-network</a> </div><div><br></div><div>Killer Water: The toxic legacy of Canada’s oil sands industry for Indigenous communities - Princess Twin in Waterloo, Sunday April 28th - <a href="https://www.ink-stainedwretches.org/film-festival.html">https://www.ink-stainedwretches.org/film-festival.html</a></div><div><div><br></div></div><div><br></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 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;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">-----------------------------------</b></div></div></div></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">B) The Get It Done Act, 2024</b></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;"><br></b></div><div></div></div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></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></body></html>