<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 that tomorrow (Friday, April 5th) at 5:30pm is our regular bi-weekly Update Meeting on Zoom. Join us to discuss the latest on Bill 162 - The Get It Done Act and its connections to the massive farmland industrial assembly happening in Wilmot Township and other important updates:</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><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a> </div><div><br></div></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Here’s the latest news:</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;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">1) Wilmot Industrial Mega-Site Farm Land Assembly - </b>Despite the silence and lack of answers from Wilmot Township and Regional elected officials, we continue to learn more and piece together that the Wilmot development plans are for far more than the massive 770 acre shovel ready industrial site, but is also integrated with a plan for tens of thousands of new residents and hundreds of acres of additional farmland destruction forced under Bill 162, as well as hundreds of additional acres of farmland destruction for development being sought by Wilmot Township to form a significant new town or even city.</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;">Below are maps showing the modest 46ha farmland loss in Wilmot approved as part of our sustainable Regional Official Plan in August, 2022, then the over 700 acres of farmland loss ordered by Minister Clark in April, 2023 as part of the forced urban boundary expansions imposed on Waterloo Region, then a Township of Wilmot request for hundreds of acres of additional farmland development - using up all the lands within the Countryside Line designed to last for generations. Furthermore, the Township also requested the destruction of the Countryside Line and hundreds of acres of farmland development in areas never anticipated for any sort of development.</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 fourth map shows all of these lands sought by Wilmot Township along with this 770 acre industrial development site - all combined an area for development larger than the existing towns of New Hamburg and Baden.</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;">This is a massive amount of development, turning New Hamburg and Baden into the size of many cities with potentially 50,000 to 75,000 people. We need to be calling out Wilmot Township’s scheme to create a new city with no public engagement, no studies/research, no mandate, and so contrary to all previous planning/expectations. </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 can read the March 4, 2024 Wilmot Staff Report requesting this massive amount of development land starting on page 151 of the Council Package:</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>https://calendar.wilmot.ca/townshipcalendar/Detail/2024-03-04-1900-Council-Meeting/e1189e00-e790-4e4c-8bc7-b12401781ee7</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;">There continues to impressive amount of media coverage on this Wilmot situation. Here's some of the recent coverage:</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Terry Pender - Kitchener Developer Made Offers On Six Wilmot Farms A Month Before The Region:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/kitchener-developer-made-offers-on-six-wilmot-farms-a-month-before-the-region/article_e489a94c-a37c-5f79-8f9d-23aeec065d42.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/kitchener-developer-made-offers-on-six-wilmot-farms-a-month-before-the-region/article_e489a94c-a37c-5f79-8f9d-23aeec065d42.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record/Kitchener Post - Mike Farwell - What’s Going On in Wilmot And Why The Big Secret?</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/whats-going-on-in-wilmot-and-why-the-big-secret/article_d16b1c18-1bf8-5c75-afb9-0eafe1bfbabc.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/whats-going-on-in-wilmot-and-why-the-big-secret/article_d16b1c18-1bf8-5c75-afb9-0eafe1bfbabc.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Luisa D’Amato - A Dangerous Silence From Elected Officials:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/a-dangerous-silence-from-elected-officials/article_f3cbc062-e142-5650-9b9f-eda65582ab10.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/a-dangerous-silence-from-elected-officials/article_f3cbc062-e142-5650-9b9f-eda65582ab10.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Bill Jackson - 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><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - More Groups Call On Region To Stop Expropriation Of Wilmot Farmland, Petition Reaches 20,000 Signatures:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/03/more-groups-call-on-region-to-stop-expropriation-of-wilmot-farmland-petition-reaches-20000-signatures/">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/03/more-groups-call-on-region-to-stop-expropriation-of-wilmot-farmland-petition-reaches-20000-signatures/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Wilmot Land “Excellently Suited For Future Development And Investment”: Waterloo Region Chair:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/03/more-groups-call-on-region-to-stop-expropriation-of-wilmot-farmland-petition-reaches-20000-signatures/">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/03/more-groups-call-on-region-to-stop-expropriation-of-wilmot-farmland-petition-reaches-20000-signatures/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - At Last, Redman Comments On Wilmot Land Assembly. But There Are Still Many Questions:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/at-last-redman-comments-on-wilmot-land-assembly-but-there-are-still-many-questions/article_5e59e559-8973-5e71-a3c6-7c62a99fb52f.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/at-last-redman-comments-on-wilmot-land-assembly-but-there-are-still-many-questions/article_5e59e559-8973-5e71-a3c6-7c62a99fb52f.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC - Region’s Labour Council Pens Open Letter Amid Wilmot Township Farmland Controversy:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/region-s-labour-council-pens-open-letter-amid-wilmot-township-farmland-controversy-1.7162779">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/region-s-labour-council-pens-open-letter-amid-wilmot-township-farmland-controversy-1.7162779</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CTV - Continued Calls For Reconsideration. Regional Chair Breaks Silence On Wilmot Township Farmland Expropriation:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/regional-chair-breaks-silence-on-wilmot-township-farmland-expropriation-1.6832370">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/regional-chair-breaks-silence-on-wilmot-township-farmland-expropriation-1.6832370</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Worst Kept Secret In The Region:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/worst-kept-secret-in-the-region/article_215f5a31-e44c-504e-817d-5ce532d14fee.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a03&utm_source=ml_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=2DF5A405D6082D2C0C4FDB5202BCAE69&utm_campaign=wrha_172205">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/worst-kept-secret-in-the-region/article_215f5a31-e44c-504e-817d-5ce532d14fee.html</a></div><div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Land Assembly Aligns With Region’s Plan Redman Says:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://waterloorecord.pressreader.com/waterloo-region-record">https://waterloorecord.pressreader.com/waterloo-region-record</a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Below are Press Releases from Waterloo Regional Labour Council, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the National Farmers Union, and Pfennings Organic Farm speaking out and providing examples of letters we can be writing to elected officials and area media. </div><div><br></div><div>All of this unexpected development doesn’t just impact Wilmot Township. Given local water issues there could be far-reaching impacts on Kitchener and other communities that may see their water and sewage capacities diverted to serve these developments as well as thousands of expected residents instead being redirected to this new city with far greater ecological and climate impacts due to the lack of transit, significant distance to major urban centres and other major highways.</div><div><br></div><div>There will be lawn signs coming soon that you will be able to obtain through the great website created by the farmers called Fight For Farmland. Check it out at:</div><div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://www.fightforfarmland.com/">www.fightforfarmland.com</a></div><div><br></div><div>And an online petition with a staggering 22,000 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></div><div><br></div><div><br></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>2) Bill 162 - The Get It Done Act -</b></span> While the comment period on Bill 162 has closed, we still have the opportunity to provide any feedback and possible amendments to MPPs to integrate into the third and final reading of the act. This act includes 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;">It was fantastic last week to see numerous delegations expressing concerns at the Standing Committee Hearings on Bill 162 at Queen’s Park 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;">Here’s video clips on social media of the Bill 162 hearings from:</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>Catherine Fife, NDP MPP for Waterloo -<font size="2"> </font><span style="white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://x.com/CFifeKW/status/1775163794773135742</span></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>Aislinn Clancy, Green Party MPP for Kitchener - <span style="white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://x.com/AislinnClancyKC/status/1773439920041841054</span></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">It’s fantastic to have such great elected representatives speaking out for our communities.</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>3) New Greenbelt Scandal Corruption Revelations - </b></span>Charlie Pinkerton at The Trillium is reporting that the Integrity Commissioner has provided a response to an NDP inquiry that Greenbelt changes sent to Doug Ford’s Chief of Staff on personal e-mail accounts, 10 days before the Premier’s Office claimed they knew specifics, doesn’t change his findings:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Charlie Pinkerton - <a href="https://twitter.com/charliepinkerto/status/1775904369155641499?s=61&t=xmHp2A2isxVLepZg1ubT9Q">https://twitter.com/charliepinkerto/status/1775904369155641499?s=61&t=xmHp2A2isxVLepZg1ubT9Q</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Integrity Commissioner Issues Letter - <a href="https://www.oico.on.ca/en/blog/news/integrity-commissioner-issues-letter-to-marit-stiles-re-email-related-to-clark-report">https://www.oico.on.ca/en/blog/news/integrity-commissioner-issues-letter-to-marit-stiles-re-email-related-to-clark-report</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">4) Doug Ford Says No To Four-Plexes -</b> While Kitchener, Mississauga, Toronto and many other municipalities have approved up to four units per property in an effort to provide more housing choice and affordability to address the housing crisis, in a very surprising and dismal announcement, Premier Doug Ford has ignored the advice of his own experts and so many others showing his NIMBY’ism firsthand by refusing to enable up to four units per property:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Doug Ford’s Fourplex Fumble Was A Dismal Moment For Anyone Who Cares About Affordable Housing:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/doug-fords-fourplex-fumble-was-a-dismal-moment-for-anyone-who-cares-about-affordable-housing/article_71b9a2d1-0d2a-5995-8895-3e9b13d460ed.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/doug-fords-fourplex-fumble-was-a-dismal-moment-for-anyone-who-cares-about-affordable-housing/article_71b9a2d1-0d2a-5995-8895-3e9b13d460ed.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Doug Ford’s Housing Plan Is Unravelling And He’s The Reason Why:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-fords-housing-plan-is-unravelling-and-he-is-the-reason-why/article_3abc8f57-25cd-526c-b861-539109c82fce.html">https://www.therecord.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-fords-housing-plan-is-unravelling-and-he-is-the-reason-why/article_3abc8f57-25cd-526c-b861-539109c82fce.html</a></div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">5) Federal Government Announces $6 Billion Housing Fund - </b>The Federal government has pledged $6 billion in funding for provinces and territories that agree to certain conditions, setting the stage for a showdown with Ontario Premier Doug Ford who has refused to allow “fourplexes as a right” - one of the federal conditions for funding. It’s fantastic to see this federal funding, however we may not see much of it here in Ontario as our Premier continues to refuse the kinds of changes and incentives that would help to provide so much of the needed housing:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC - Federal Government Pledges $6 Billion For Housing In New Infrastructure Fund:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-budget-housing-1.7161005">https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-budget-housing-1.7161005</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Feds Pledge $6 Billion In New Spending To “Tubrocharge The Construction Of New Homes”:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/feds-pledge-6-billion-in-new-spending-to-turbocharge-the-construction-of-new-homes/article_f0bdeb4d-f709-5f59-abc2-8469219313bf.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/feds-pledge-6-billion-in-new-spending-to-turbocharge-the-construction-of-new-homes/article_f0bdeb4d-f709-5f59-abc2-8469219313bf.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">6) Recent Media -</b> Includes home supply reaching record levels while housing sales hit record lows, and Waterloo developers appealing more than 40 towers to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT):</div><div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - New Home Supply In The GTA Reaches Levels Not Seen Since 2016 BILD Report Says:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/business/new-home-supply-in-the-gta-reaches-levels-not-seen-since-2016-bild-report-says/article_61b03114-e870-11ee-a996-d71665a8ce4d.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=business">https://www.thestar.com/business/new-home-supply-in-the-gta-reaches-levels-not-seen-since-2016-bild-report-says/article_61b03114-e870-11ee-a996-d71665a8ce4d.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=business</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Developers Go Around Waterloo City Hall, Sending 40 Towers To Tribunal For Approval:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/developers-go-around-waterloo-city-hall-sending-40-towers-to-tribunal-for-approval/article_d1b9bd9d-44d8-5253-8539-62d6f690b849.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/developers-go-around-waterloo-city-hall-sending-40-towers-to-tribunal-for-approval/article_d1b9bd9d-44d8-5253-8539-62d6f690b849.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Group Fighting Ontario Place Spa Plan Scores Legal Victory Over Doug Ford:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/group-fighting-ontario-place-spa-plan-scores-legal-victory-over-doug-ford/article_5fee24f4-f125-11ee-9725-270c5ebf7193.html">https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/group-fighting-ontario-place-spa-plan-scores-legal-victory-over-doug-ford/article_5fee24f4-f125-11ee-9725-270c5ebf7193.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Hints At Greenbelt Flip-Flop In New Ad: “You Can’t Always Get It Right”:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-hints-at-greenbelt-flip-flop-in-new-ad-you-cant-always-get-it/article_d1af87a6-f1cd-11ee-9f7c-43e8a3c5b53b.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-hints-at-greenbelt-flip-flop-in-new-ad-you-cant-always-get-it/article_d1af87a6-f1cd-11ee-9f7c-43e8a3c5b53b.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - Home Sales Hit Record Low In March:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/04/home-sales-in-wr-hit-record-low-in-march/?">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/04/home-sales-in-wr-hit-record-low-in-march/?</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>7) Max The Tax - </b></span>Kudos to GASP! (Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet). Not only did some of their members attend the Bill 162 Hearings in person at Queen’s Park, but they have written great opinion pieces including the one below that ran in newspapers across Ontario and that can serve as an inspiration to us all!</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Want Your Kids To Inherit A Liveable Planet, Mr. Poilievre? Then “Max The Tax!”:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/want-your-kids-to-inherit-a-livable-planet-mr-poilievre-then-max-the-tax/article_6b51db60-3bc2-516c-b9c0-4c5c8ad9253b.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/want-your-kids-to-inherit-a-livable-planet-mr-poilievre-then-max-the-tax/article_6b51db60-3bc2-516c-b9c0-4c5c8ad9253b.html</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/want-your-kids-to-inherit-a-livable-planet-mr-poilievre-then-max-the-tax/article_f1e3097e-f058-11ee-804b-c3da59779224.html">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/want-your-kids-to-inherit-a-livable-planet-mr-poilievre-then-max-the-tax/article_f1e3097e-f058-11ee-804b-c3da59779224.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>8) Federal Carbon Tax Petition: </b></span>There is an official House of Commons federal petition in support of the Carbon Tax and Climate Action that you can sign:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4876">https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4876</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>9)) Energy For People Not Profit Webinar - Bill 165 -</b></span> Join an impressive assembly of leading environment and climate groups for a webinar on Wednesday, April 10th to discuss the provincial decision to overturn the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) ruling to end ratepayer fossil fuel subsidies to Enbridge Gas. We all need to be speaking up to ensure the end of fossil fuels - join in to learn more:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/146476/event/1">https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/146476/event/1</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">10) Highway #413 Still Not Going Anywhere - </b>Environmental Defence issued a letter this past week stating that there is still much that the Federal government can be doing regarding Highway #413 including updating the current Impact Assessment Act (IAA). As well, indigenous consultation is still required, there are still requirements to be met under the Ontario Class Environmental Assessment process, many engineering studies are required, and expropriations are still required. We need to continue to speak up against the waste of $10 billion on this unnecessary highway.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">11) Other Media -</b> Includes the lack of any mention of Climate Change in the provincial budget despite it being the biggest crisis facing our province, the lack of climate progress, and the federal carbon levy:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Critics Slam Ontario Budget’s Climate Silence:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/ontario/with-budget-mostly-silent-on-climate-change-critics-say-ontario-lacks-plan-to-adapt/article_a6bc1f7e-cb9f-5f32-a352-3870a9ac90d8.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/ontario/with-budget-mostly-silent-on-climate-change-critics-say-ontario-lacks-plan-to-adapt/article_a6bc1f7e-cb9f-5f32-a352-3870a9ac90d8.html</a></div><div><br><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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Past The Point Of Sounding The Alarm: Our Progress On Climate Change:</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.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/past-the-point-of-sounding-the-alarm-our-progress-on-climate-change/article_0b14262f-09a8-55cc-bc1d-c857da090b3b.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/past-the-point-of-sounding-the-alarm-our-progress-on-climate-change/article_0b14262f-09a8-55cc-bc1d-c857da090b3b.html</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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Justin Trudeau Is Facing An All-Out Carbon Levy Revolt. There Is A Way To Fight Back:</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.thestar.com/politics/justin-trudeau-is-facing-an-all-out-carbon-levy-revolt-there-is-a-way-to/article_32f47b76-f11e-11ee-a511-33fb54a31b98.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/justin-trudeau-is-facing-an-all-out-carbon-levy-revolt-there-is-a-way-to/article_32f47b76-f11e-11ee-a511-33fb54a31b98.html</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><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>12) 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;">13) Reminder - Next Meeting</b><b><span style="font-size: 14px;"> -</span></b> Join us tomorrow, <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><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;"><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>Energy For The People Not Profit Webinar - Wednesday, April 10th at 7:00pm -<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/146476/event/1">https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/146476/event/1</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><br></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) Wilmot Township Farmland Assembly and Massive Development Request To Province</b></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-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;"><b>Four Maps:</b></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;"><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px;"><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>It’s increasingly clear that there is a plan here larger than these 770 acres of industrial mega-site expansion and that we need to be calling out Wilmot Township’s scheme to create a new city with no public engagement, no studies/research, no mandate, and so contrary to all previous planning/expectations. </div><div><div><br></div><div>There are 4 significant maps that take on even more significance now:</div><div><br></div><div><b>A) Development Lands provided to Wilmot in August 2022 Regional Official Plan -</b> shown in blue about 46ha of expansion with a focus on minimal farmland loss and population growth of about 7,000 to 14,000 people.</div><div><br></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>