<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;"><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>Good Day,</div><div><br></div><div>It’s been a busy week with an astounding amount of media coverage on the massive Wilmot Farm Land destruction, many concerning new changes announced on Wednesday with Bill 185 & Provincial Planning Statement updates, and Bill 162’s final amendments. Here’s the latest:</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>1) Bill 185 Cutting Red Tape Act and Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) - </b></span>As outlined in the update sent on Wednesday night, the new Bill 185 The Cutting Red Tape To Build More Homes Act makes significant negative changes province-wide to urban boundary expansions, planning processes, appeals, and oversight designed to prevent low-density sprawl and instead facilitates farmland, wetland, and natural area destruction for new development. </div><div><br></div><div>The province is also removing Planning Authority from the Region of Waterloo along with 7 other GTA Upper-Tier Regions, changing what can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), and changing what constitutes “public notice” - all of which could have far-reaching consequences.</div><div><br></div><div>In typical Ford fashion there are also many flip-flops, reversals, and roll backs finally realizing that parts of Bill 23, Bill 109, and other issues we have been raising for months were discouraging rather than encouraging new housing. Development charges are finally being partially reinstated to the relief of nearly bankrupt municipalities, new rules are finally being implemented around MZO’s, the ability to appeal official plan boundary expansions is being reinstated, and numerous other corrections and reversals from recent legislation is included Bill 185.</div><div><br></div><div>The many changes, flip-flops, and concerning proposals will likely create even more confusion and chaos that will worsen the housing crisis. Removing Planning Authority and severely compromising or even eliminating key environmental protections in Waterloo Region such as our visionary Countryside Line policy that was so integral to providing planning certainty, guiding growth, farmland protection, and helping to ensure farming remained affordable by lessening land speculation will have far reaching negative impacts and destroy decades of good planning along with our farms/countryside.</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div>Osler Law has drafted a good summary table of the proposed changes:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Osler Law - Ontario Government Announced Proposed Amendments To Planning Act And Development Charges Act:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.osler.com/en/resources/regulations/2024/ontario-government-announces-proposed-amendments-to-planning-act-and-development-charges-act">https://www.osler.com/en/resources/regulations/2024/ontario-government-announces-proposed-amendments-to-planning-act-and-development-charges-act</a></div><div><br></div><div>In case you missed it, Environmental Defence released the following statement on Bill 185 focusing on the lack of accountability and huge potential for corruption when so many millions of dollars are at stake in urban boundary expansions with little oversight and inexperienced municipal councils:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/2024/04/10/bill-185-and-proposed-provincial-planning-statement-would-unleash-a-wave-of-greenfield-scandals-by-removing-tribunal-oversight-of-sprawl-approvals/#:~:text=Together%2C%20the%20new%20law%20and,natural%20areas%20outside%20the%20Greenbelt.">https://environmentaldefence.ca/2024/04/10/bill-185-and-proposed-provincial-planning-statement-would-unleash-a-wave-of-greenfield-scandals-by-removing-tribunal-oversight-of-sprawl-approvals/</a></div><div><br></div><div>And media coverage on Bill 185 so far has been mixed with reporters getting distracted by minor changes that could be positive such as removing parking minimums, approving standardized home designs, use it or lose it powers, and allowing timber structures, but overlooking massive negative things such as the removal of Planning Authority and OLT appeal changes favouring only developers:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Toronto Star - Ford Government Attempts To Speed New Housing Starts With Sweeping Bill:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/ford-government-attempts-to-speed-new-housing-starts-with-sweeping-bill/article_c696510c-f73f-11ee-877a-a710a19d709b.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/ford-government-attempts-to-speed-new-housing-starts-with-sweeping-bill/article_c696510c-f73f-11ee-877a-a710a19d709b.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>TVO Today - The Ford Government’s Scattershot Housing Bill Does Not Enough Of Too Much:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/the-ford-governments-scattershot-housing-bill-does-not-enough-of-too-much">https://www.tvo.org/article/the-ford-governments-scattershot-housing-bill-does-not-enough-of-too-much</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">2) Wilmot Land Assembly By Wilmot Township and Waterloo Region -</b> Reflecting the extreme amount of concern in the community, there is an incredible amount of new media coverage regarding both the Region’s plan to locate a mega-industrial site in Wilmot and the Township of Wilmot’s request to Minister Calandra to destroy hundreds and hundreds of acres of additional farmland along with the Countryside Line to grow New Hamburg and Baden by tens of thousands of people into potentially a city of 75,000 to 100,000 people. Neither Wilmot Township nor the Region have plans for any public consultation, any studies, environmental assessments, nor data, nor even a mandate for their efforts to so radically change a rural township in ways so contrary to all previous expectations, Official Plans, and long-term planning.</div><div><br></div><div>Below are maps and further information showing the extent of what is being proposed. 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><a href="https://calendar.wilmot.ca/townshipcalendar/Detail/2024-03-04-1900-Council-Meeting/e1189e00-e790-4e4c-8bc7-b12401781ee7">https://calendar.wilmot.ca/townshipcalendar/Detail/2024-03-04-1900-Council-Meeting/e1189e00-e790-4e4c-8bc7-b12401781ee7</a></div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br></div>Premier Ford’s visit to Kitchener yesterday was overshadowed by Wilmot situation questions. The Premier admitted that he was troubled by how things had unfolded so far in Wilmot and “that if there isn’t a willing host just move on.” There are more questions than ever now such as if the Province is or isn’t behind these massive growth efforts with some media reporting yes the province is, others reporting regional and municipal ownership.</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div>Here’s just some of the recent media over the past few days: </div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CKCO CTV News - 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>CKCO CTV News - Wilmot Farmland Owners Still In The Dark About Next Steps On Expropriation:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/wilmot-farmland-owners-still-in-the-dark-about-next-steps-on-expropriation-1.6833863">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/wilmot-farmland-owners-still-in-the-dark-about-next-steps-on-expropriation-1.6833863</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - Residents, Local Politicians Gather In Wilmot Over Land Expropriation Concerns:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/04/residents-local-politicians-gather-in-wilmot-over-land-expropriation-concerns/">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/04/residents-local-politicians-gather-in-wilmot-over-land-expropriation-concerns/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - More Land In Wilmot Could Be At Risk Than 770 Acres: Grand River Environmental Network:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/05/more-land-in-wilmot-could-be-at-risk-than-770-acres-grand-river-environmental-network/">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/05/more-land-in-wilmot-could-be-at-risk-than-770-acres-grand-river-environmental-network/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - “A Horrific Plan” - Wilmot Farmers And Their Supporters Rally To Fight Region And Township:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/a-horrific-plan-wilmot-farmers-and-their-supporters-rally-to-fight-region-and-township/article_f9521bd2-fe12-56dc-b77c-8a7b9ac3493f.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/a-horrific-plan-wilmot-farmers-and-their-supporters-rally-to-fight-region-and-township/article_f9521bd2-fe12-56dc-b77c-8a7b9ac3493f.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Record - Business Leaders Say Wilmot Land Assembly Essential:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/business-leaders-say-wilmot-land-assembly-essential/article_fae0b2b7-fc92-5349-971e-1b01d2b3642b.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/business-leaders-say-wilmot-land-assembly-essential/article_fae0b2b7-fc92-5349-971e-1b01d2b3642b.html</a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CKCO CTV News - Business Leaders Get Behind Waterloo Region’s Plan To Buy Up Wilmot Farmland:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/business-leaders-get-behind-waterloo-region-s-plan-to-buy-up-wilmot-farm-land-1.6836152">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/business-leaders-get-behind-waterloo-region-s-plan-to-buy-up-wilmot-farm-land-1.6836152</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The National Post - Private Land Is Sometimes Take For The Public Good, And That’s OK:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://nationalpost.com/opinion/julia-malott-sometimes-private-land-needs-to-be-taken-for-the-public-good-and-thats-ok">https://nationalpost.com/opinion/julia-malott-sometimes-private-land-needs-to-be-taken-for-the-public-good-and-thats-ok</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Interesting to see national news coverage of this local issue that has such broad regional and provincial implications.</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Waterloo Region Already Has Lots Of Land Set Aside For Industrial Expansion So Why Is It Looking For More Land From Wilmot Farms?:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/waterloo-region-already-has-lots-of-land-set-aside-for-industrial-expansion-so-why-is/article_7a945a77-495d-51df-9994-b415cd590180.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/waterloo-region-already-has-lots-of-land-set-aside-for-industrial-expansion-so-why-is/article_7a945a77-495d-51df-9994-b415cd590180.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Wilmot Land Assembly A Betrayal Of A Sacred Trust:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/wilmot-land-assembly-a-betrayal-of-a-sacred-trust/article_3dcaaad0-e3d1-5621-af9c-c9e2482677de.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/wilmot-land-assembly-a-betrayal-of-a-sacred-trust/article_3dcaaad0-e3d1-5621-af9c-c9e2482677de.html</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A fantastic Op-Ed written by Faith Climate Justice members and providing a great example of the sort of articles we could all be writing to local media!</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Wilmot Expropriation Will Take Far Longer Than Planned:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/wilmot-expropriation-will-take-far-longer-than-planned/article_28afb911-cb30-5011-b14c-33939c0767c0.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/wilmot-expropriation-will-take-far-longer-than-planned/article_28afb911-cb30-5011-b14c-33939c0767c0.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - McLean Insulted People Who Are Concerned About Wilmot Expropriation. But Maybe He Also Did Us A Favour:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/mclean-insulted-people-who-are-concerned-about-wilmot-expropriation-but-maybe-he-also-did-us/article_f3388b53-cf8a-5fb9-8222-eabaf7d8d50d.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/mclean-insulted-people-who-are-concerned-about-wilmot-expropriation-but-maybe-he-also-did-us/article_f3388b53-cf8a-5fb9-8222-eabaf7d8d50d.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CTV CKCO - Wilmot Council Responds To Community Concern Over Region’s Land Buy:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/wilmot-council-responds-to-community-concern-over-region-s-land-buy-1.6841626">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/wilmot-council-responds-to-community-concern-over-region-s-land-buy-1.6841626</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Region of Waterloo Recruiting New Manager For Industrial Land Reserves And Affordable Housing:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/region-of-waterloo-recruiting-new-manager-for-industrial-land-reserves-and-affordable-housing/article_d3c5619d-4687-5e84-b098-30231a9a704e.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/region-of-waterloo-recruiting-new-manager-for-industrial-land-reserves-and-affordable-housing/article_d3c5619d-4687-5e84-b098-30231a9a704e.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - Premier Ford Supports Region’s Land Assembly Efforts In Wilmot Township:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/11/premier-ford-supports-regions-land-assembly-efforts-in-wilmot-township/">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/11/premier-ford-supports-regions-land-assembly-efforts-in-wilmot-township/</a></div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></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>CTV CKCO News - Ford Addresses Wilmot Land Acquistion Controversy</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://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/ford-addresses-wilmot-land-acquisition-controversy-1.6843353">https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/ford-addresses-wilmot-land-acquisition-controversy-1.6843353</a><br><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - “There’s No Companies That Are Waiting To Get The Land” Premier Doug Ford Offers Support For Land Assembly, But Disagrees With Process Unfolding In Wilmot:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/theres-no-companies-that-are-waiting-to-get-the-land-premier-doug-ford-offers-support/article_0ea90254-e456-55f8-b2e4-1d678f8055b7.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/theres-no-companies-that-are-waiting-to-get-the-land-premier-doug-ford-offers-support/article_0ea90254-e456-55f8-b2e4-1d678f8055b7.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Mike Farwell - How Many Jobs Is Wilmot Farmland Worth?</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/how-many-jobs-is-wilmot-farmland-worth/article_b8860d95-faff-508b-9556-10e927baf5a4.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/how-many-jobs-is-wilmot-farmland-worth/article_b8860d95-faff-508b-9556-10e927baf5a4.html</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Queen’s Park Today - Waterloo Region Threatens Expropriation After PCs Ask:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>PDF Attached Below</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Doug Ford’s Comments Make The Wilmot Land Assembly Even Harder To Understand:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/doug-fords-comments-make-the-wilmot-land-assembly-even-harder-to-understand/article_035dbcbb-527f-5e04-9acc-f911d48e9e86.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/doug-fords-comments-make-the-wilmot-land-assembly-even-harder-to-understand/article_035dbcbb-527f-5e04-9acc-f911d48e9e86.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>Other noteworthy media includes a good blog post by Former Regional Councillor Jane Mitchell who was instrumental in Waterloo farmland protection and kudos to Angie Koch of Fertile Ground Farms who has already created a great page on her farm website to help raise awareness and to help Wilmot farmers:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Former Regional Councillor Jane Mitchell - The Countryside Line Is Dead:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://janemitchell.blog/2024/04/10/the-countryside-line-is-dead/">https://janemitchell.blog/2024/04/10/the-countryside-line-is-dead/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Angie Koch - Farmers Helping Farmers:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.fertilegroundcsa.com/about/fight-for-our-farmland">https://www.fertilegroundcsa.com/about/fight-for-our-farmland</a></div><div><br></div><div>Finally for some humour on things in an otherwise devastating situation, here’s a great clip from yesterday in Kitchener where Doug Ford forgets Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, his good friend, his really good friend's name:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://x.com/tdotresident/status/1778430744286711863?s=46&t=XLYcxxaKfwXm7EGqQ-olxw">https://x.com/tdotresident/status/1778430744286711863?s=46&t=XLYcxxaKfwXm7EGqQ-olxw</a></div><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br></div><div><b>Lawn Signs - Fight For Farmland -</b> There are lawn signs now available with hundreds of them up already throughout the community. Order yours online and learn more at:</div><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>If you can volunteer either as a sign captain for your community/neighbourhood or help to distribute them at the Farmer’s Markets please reach out to wilmotlandowners@gmail.com.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Online Petition - </b>The online petition has almost 30,000 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><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>3) Bill 162 - The Get It Done Act -</b></span> Bill 162 is going through final amendments and reading this week at Queen’s Park. Kudos to Aislinn Clancy, Sandy Shaw, and other opposition MPPs who proposed numerous amendments to prevent the forced boundary expansions to the Official Plans of Waterloo Region and Halton from causing the unnecessary destruction of thousands of acres of irreplaceable farmland as well as other changes to land expropriation and Environmental Assessments to facilitate highway construction, carbon taxes, and road tolls. Unfortunately all of their amendments were defeated by the Conservatives.</div><div><br></div><div>Kudos to local Record Reporter Terry Pender who attended the Standing Committee Line by Line Amendments at Queen’s Park in-person. We are so lucky to still have media left in our Grand River watershed and working for the greater public good. Here’s his excellent story:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Bill 162 Opening Thousands Of Acres To Developers:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/bill-162-opening-thousands-of-acres-to-developers/article_e7025e68-2f43-56fa-b98b-964c21fa64c6.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/bill-162-opening-thousands-of-acres-to-developers/article_e7025e68-2f43-56fa-b98b-964c21fa64c6.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">4) Greenbelt Scandal Continues -</b> The provincial Greenbelt scandal continues to be investigated by the RCMP and others. Even though dates don’t line up and there are serious concerns about using personal e-mail accounts for government business the Ontario Integrity Commissioner has cleared Doug Ford’s Chief of Staff of wrongdoing claiming Ryan Amato overlooked an e-mail informing the Premier’s office 10 days earlier than ever acknowledged of Greenbelt changes. </div><div><br></div><div>Even more interesting is the statement “options to go larger depending on Executive Interest” in the e-mail. It remains to be seen if this is in reference to taking even larger amounts of land from the Greenbelt for development, or adding more lands to the Greenbelt for protection along the Paris-Galt Moraine.</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Ethics Watchdog Clears Doug Ford’s Chief Of Staff After He “Overlooked” Greenbelt E-mail:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/ethics-watchdog-clears-doug-fords-chief-of-staff-after-he-overlooked-greenbelt-email/article_f986ebaa-f2a1-11ee-95d4-cb800771a308.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/ethics-watchdog-clears-doug-fords-chief-of-staff-after-he-overlooked-greenbelt-email/article_f986ebaa-f2a1-11ee-95d4-cb800771a308.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Also regarding the RCMP investigation of the Greenbelt, it appears that even the disgraced Minister and other fired employees are expressing surprise that they have yet to be contacted by police more than six months since the investigation began:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>“It’s Very, Very Strange”: Key Figures In Doug Ford’s $8.28 billion Greenbelt Land Swap Are Still Waiting For RCMP Quesitons:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/its-very-very-strange-key-figures-in-doug-fords-8-28b-greenbelt-land-swap-are/article_a15a856a-f5ce-11ee-b11a-4bee696a3d59.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/its-very-very-strange-key-figures-in-doug-fords-8-28b-greenbelt-land-swap-are/article_a15a856a-f5ce-11ee-b11a-4bee696a3d59.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>5) New Troubling Conservation Authority Changes -</b></span> Hamilton and other Conservation Authorities are expressing concerns about yet more changes limiting the roles of our Conservation Authorities that came in to effect on April 1st:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Hamilton Spectator - Hamilton Conservation Authority’s Important Work Threatened:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/hamilton-conservation-authoritys-important-work-threatened/article_b62a1a87-6609-5f8d-9e24-d045ff225447.html">https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/hamilton-conservation-authoritys-important-work-threatened/article_b62a1a87-6609-5f8d-9e24-d045ff225447.html</a></div><div><br></div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>And the accompanying new provincial regulation on conservation authorities - Regulation 41/24:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r24041">https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r24041</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>6) Bill 165 - Keeping Energy Costs Down Act -</b></span> <span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Doug Ford wants you to pay more for heating and continues to push </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">the ironically named Keeping Energy Costs Down Act, Bill 165 to override the OEB's December decision that Enbridge gas pipeline expansions shouldn't be subsidized by current gas ratepayers given that there are now better alternatives such as heat pumps available. </span></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div>The Globe & Mail had a great recent article:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Globe & Mail - Why Is Ontario Taking From Homeowners To Subsidize Gas Companies?:<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.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-why-is-ontario-taking-from-homeowners-to-subsidize-gas-companies/">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-why-is-ontario-taking-from-homeowners-to-subsidize-gas-companies/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">And on Wednesday evening Environmental Defence led a webinar on Bill 165 including the implications for Ontario. There were some great speakers that spoke to the implications of the proposed legislation including municipal leaders who have been bringing and passing motions at their local Councils. You can check out the recording here:</span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><br></span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJgUwSp2K-M" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJgUwSp2K-M</a></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><div><br></div></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Please see if you can get your local Council to pass a similar motion in support of the OEB and phasing out fossil fuels like Guelph, Hamilton and others. The Clean Air Alliance has great tools and examples for you:</span></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></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>There is an online petition from Leadnow that makes it easy for everyone to speak up:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/support-the-oeb-don-t-let-doug-ford-and-enbridge-sabotage-our-future">https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/support-the-oeb-don-t-let-doug-ford-and-enbridge-sabotage-our-future</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">7) YTP Weekend -</b> A reminder that the Yours To Protect Weekend is coming up on April 19th, 20th and 21st with lots of Earth Day focussed activities around Ontario:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/ytpweekend2024/">https://environmentaldefence.ca/ytpweekend2024/</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>8) Recent Articles -</b></span> Excellent media stories this week include federal housing initiatives, concerns about how Doug Ford is changing housing statistics, Highway #413 and more:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC - Federal Government To Launch $1.5 Billion Fund To Protect Affordable Rentals:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-rental-protection-fund-1.7163429">https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-rental-protection-fund-1.7163429</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - “It’s Misleading”: Ford Government Ridiculed For Including Student and Retirement Units In New Homes Target:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/its-misleading-ford-government-ridiculed-for-including-student-and-retirement-units-in-new-homes-target/article_114b5c00-f692-11ee-a8f5-ab6f5a337d1f.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/its-misleading-ford-government-ridiculed-for-including-student-and-retirement-units-in-new-homes-target/article_114b5c00-f692-11ee-a8f5-ab6f5a337d1f.html</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>“At this point the government is going to start counting tents…"</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>TVO - The Ford Government Needs To Get Real About Its Own Housing Statistics:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://amp.tvo.org/article/the-ford-government-needs-to-get-real-about-its-own-housing-statistics">https://amp.tvo.org/article/the-ford-government-needs-to-get-real-about-its-own-housing-statistics</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - This Doesn’t Solve Doug Ford’s Federal Problem: Highway 413 Future Unclear Despite Removal Of Roadblocks:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/this-doesn-t-solve-doug-ford-s-federal-problem-highway-413-future-unclear-despite-removal/article_191cbc64-f299-11ee-857d-d754378d0360.html">https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/this-doesn-t-solve-doug-ford-s-federal-problem-highway-413-future-unclear-despite-removal/article_191cbc64-f299-11ee-857d-d754378d0360.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CBC - Freeland Announces Housing Affordability Measures For First Time Buyers, Current Owners:<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.cbc.ca/news/politics/freeland-housing-affordability-measures-1.7170671">https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freeland-housing-affordability-measures-1.7170671</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>TVO - Doug Ford’s Government Is Hands Off - Except When It’s Not:<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.tvo.org/article/doug-fords-government-is-hands-off-except-when-its-not">https://www.tvo.org/article/doug-fords-government-is-hands-off-except-when-its-not</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>9) GreenDrinks KW -</b></span> Green Drinks KW is a casual gathering where folks interested in the environment can gather to chat, network and enjoy some refreshing drinks. It’s held on the 4th Wednesday of the month and this time will be on Wednesday, April 24th at Abe Erb in the Tannery Building at 151 Charles Street W., Kitchener from 7pm to 9pm. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>10) Highway #413 Webinar by Environmental Defence - </b></span>Learn how Highway #413 could still receive a federal impact assessment and other opportunities for challenging this destructive highway on Thursday, April 18th at 7pm as Environmental Defence hosts and educational webinar. Sign up and learn more at:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/147651/petition/1">https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/147651/petition/1</a></div><div><br></div><div>Also, Ontario Nature launched an Action Alert to make it easy for you to reach out to your Member of Parliament to encourage federal intervention in this devastating highway:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <a href="https://ontarionature.good.do/stopthe413/">https://ontarionature.good.do/stopthe413/</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>11) Ontario FAO Report -</b></span> The Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario has released their latest report comparing revenues, spending, budget balance and net debt between provinces. Ontario’s performance is terrible. Thanks to Joan Faux for a link to this video that provides a quick summary:</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://youtu.be/KRakzcB97tE?si=lhxE-3cF_q99gRYj" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/KRakzcB97tE?si=lhxE-3cF_q99gRYj</a></div><div><div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Here’s a link to more detailed summary and the full report:</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://fao-on.org/en/Blog/Publications/interprovincial-comparision-2024" target="_blank">https://fao-on.org/en/Blog/Publications/interprovincial-comparision-2024</a></div></div><div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div></div></div><div dir="auto"><b style="font-size: 14px;">12) Other Articles of Interest -</b> Rally’s against RBC, Doug Ford forcing paper bags, fossil fuel subsidies, and the Premier’s office staff earning over $100k doubling in recent years are all stories you may want to read:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CityNews - Climate Activists Rally Against RBC In Waterloo:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/06/climate-activists-rally-against-rbc-in-waterloo/">https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/06/climate-activists-rally-against-rbc-in-waterloo/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Star - Doug Ford Can Fix Your LCBO Bag Woes - Just Don’t Expect Him To Do The Important Part Of His Job:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/doug-ford-can-fix-your-lcbo-bag-woes-just-dont-expect-him-to-do-the/article_5029264e-f694-11ee-9ab8-27254520ac95.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/doug-ford-can-fix-your-lcbo-bag-woes-just-dont-expect-him-to-do-the/article_5029264e-f694-11ee-9ab8-27254520ac95.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Forces LCBO To Reinstate Paper Bags:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-forces-lcbo-to-reinstate-paper-bags-for-customers/article_aa44ea56-f5ad-11ee-bbd9-23f329654c91.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-forces-lcbo-to-reinstate-paper-bags-for-customers/article_aa44ea56-f5ad-11ee-bbd9-23f329654c91.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Bristles At Questions About $100,000 Salaries In His Office That Have Doubled:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-bristles-at-questions-about-100-000-salaries-in-his-office/article_b518a430-f5cc-11ee-adbf-1356d93117c7.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-bristles-at-questions-about-100-000-salaries-in-his-office/article_b518a430-f5cc-11ee-adbf-1356d93117c7.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Tyee - Worried About Taxpayer Dollars? Focus on Fossil Fuel Subsidies - They Cost Canadians A Lot More Money Than The Carbon Tax:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/04/11/Worried-Taxpayer-Dollars-Focus-Fossil-Fuel-Subsidies/">https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/04/11/Worried-Taxpayer-Dollars-Focus-Fossil-Fuel-Subsidies/</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Should Stop Subsidizing Our Hydro Bills - Because He’s Starving Health Care and Education To Pay For It:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/doug-ford-should-stop-subsidizing-our-hydro-bills-because-hes-starving-health-care-and-education/article_01947df6-f777-11ee-a812-5b45ee123520.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/doug-ford-should-stop-subsidizing-our-hydro-bills-because-hes-starving-health-care-and-education/article_01947df6-f777-11ee-a812-5b45ee123520.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">13) Reminder - Next Meeting</b><b><span style="font-size: 14px;"> -</span></b> Join us next, <span dir="ltr">Friday, April 19th at 5:30pm</span> to discuss the latest news and what’s next:</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><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><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>Thursday, April 18th - 7:00pm - Highway #413 Webinar - <a href="https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/147651/petition/1">https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/147651/petition/1</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><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><span dir="ltr">Friday, April 19th</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><div>Saturday, Apr 20th - 1pm to 3pm - Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) Open House - <a href="https://reepgreen.ca/reep-house-for-sustainable-living/">https://reepgreen.ca/reep-house-for-sustainable-living/</a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Wednesday, April 24th - 7pm to 9pm - GreenDrinks KW - Abe Erb in the Tannery Building at 151 Charles Street W., Kitchener</div><div><br></div><div></div><div>Sunday, April 28th - 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>Wednesday, May 1st - 6:30pm to 8:30pm - Waterloo Region Climate Collaborative - Help local environmental groups figure out how we can collaborate and work together better - Civic Hub 23 Water Street N. Kitchener or on Zoom at <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86159205227?pwd=OWhYOEo5ZFN0RjlOU3laVHVLT1RYUT09" target="_blank">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86159205227?pwd=OWhYOEo5ZFN0RjlOU3laVHVLT1RYUT09</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) Bill 185 & PPS Resources and Information</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><br></div><div><div>Bill 185 Full Official Text:</div><div><a href="https://www.ola.org/sites/default/files/node-files/bill/document/pdf/2024/2024-04/b185_e.pdf">https://www.ola.org/sites/default/files/node-files/bill/document/pdf/2024/2024-04/b185_e.pdf</a></div><div><br></div><div>PPS - Review Of Proposed Policies For A New Provincial Planning Policy Instrument:</div><div><a href="https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8462">https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8462</a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br></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 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 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;">C) Wilmot Township Farmland Assembly and Massive Development Request To Province</b></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;"><br></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><br></div><div><b>Four Maps:</b></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>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></div></div></body></html>