<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;">Good Day,<div><br></div><div>A quick reminder of two things happening in the next 72 hours:</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>1) Protest at MPP Mike Harris Jr’s Office -</b></span> After trying for weeks to meet with MPP Mike Harris Jr regarding the Wilmot Farm Land Assembly situation, the Zion United Church in New Hamburg is organizing a protest this Thursday in downtown Elmira against this proposed farmland destruction and the lack of response from MPP Harris for a meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Details are as follows:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Date:</b> Thursday, May 23rd</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Time: </b> 2:00pm </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Location:</b> MPP Mike Harris Jr’s Office - 63 Arthur Street South in downtown Elmira.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div>Help to show firsthand that our community is unwilling on Thursday afternoon. Learn more at: </div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65fca845277db5669ac677f7/t/664d2568c254b76338c25f50/1716331881011/Zion+United+Protest.pdf">https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65fca845277db5669ac677f7/t/664d2568c254b76338c25f50/1716331881011/Zion+United+Protest.pdf</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">2) Surprise Extension on Bill 185 -</b> This coming Friday, May 24th is the extended deadline for suggested amendments and comments on Bill 185 - The wrongly named Cutting Red Tape To Build More Homes Act with very troubling schedules to remove citizen’s rights to appeal at the OLT and remove Regional Planning Authority from upper-tier regions that could negatively impact all of our Waterloo Regional environmental protections such as our Countryside Line that we have counted on since not receiving any Greenbelt protection from the province almost 20 years ago.</div><div><br></div><div>We need to ensure that Planning Authority is retained by the Region of Waterloo to ensure that our regional environmental protections continue to protect our water, farmland, and ecological areas. This could happen through amendments that could see Waterloo Region separated from other upper-tier regions losing Planning Authority and see a compromise for Waterloo Region that would retain Planning Authority and our visionary, sustainable Regional Official Plan but see a Delegated Approval Authority given to our lower-tier municipalities to allow them to do their own development approvals and planning provided that it is in conformity with the overall Regional Official Plan. </div><div><br></div><div>This could give our municipalities more independence and faster approvals while still ensuring a common regional vision and efficient co-ordination of resources through the expertise and decades of experience of the Region of Waterloo. It would also help to ensure that all of our Regional environmental protections continue to be overseen by the Region and continue to protect our lands and resources.</div><div><br></div><div>While the Environmental Registry (ERO) is officially closed, we can e-mail the Standing Committee on Finance and Heritage directly to encourage them to adopt amendments to ensure that Waterloo Region can retain Planning Authority and our visionary Regional Official Plan:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> E-mail: <a href="mailto:planningconsultation@ontario.ca">planningconsultation@ontario.ca</a></div><div><br></div><div><div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;"><br></b></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">3) Reminder - Next Meeting</b><b><span style="font-size: 14px;"> -</span></b> Join us <span dir="ltr">Friday, May 31st</span> at 5:30pm online at the Zoom link below. </div><div><br></div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; 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-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 dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="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 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>Watch for our regular update later this week and 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, Joan Faux, 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></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><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></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 style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto"><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 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><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><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>Wednesday, May 22nd at 7pm - Reform Gravel Mining Planning Meeting for June 8th Day of Action - <a href="https://www.reformgravelmining.ca/provincial-day-of-action">https://www.reformgravelmining.ca/provincial-day-of-action</a></div><div><div><br></div><div><div><span dir="ltr">Wednesday, May 22nd from 6pm to 8pm - Film screening and discussion afterwards - Free! Green Party presents Living Below The Line - Princess Cinema - 46 King St. Waterloo - </span><a href="https://vote.greenparty.ca/rsvp/eve_ef93f7c21">https://vote.greenparty.ca/rsvp/eve_ef93f7c21</a></div><div><span dir="ltr"><br></span></div><div><span dir="ltr">Thursday, May 23rd - 2:00pm - Wilmot Farm Land Assembly Protest at MPP Mike Harris Jr’s Office in downtown Elmira - </span><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65fca845277db5669ac677f7/t/664d2568c254b76338c25f50/1716331881011/Zion+United+Protest.pdf">https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65fca845277db5669ac677f7/t/664d2568c254b76338c25f50/1716331881011/Zion+United+Protest.pdf</a></div><div><span dir="ltr"><br></span></div><div><span dir="ltr">Friday, May 24th</span><b style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span dir="ltr"> 11:59pm</span> - Extended deadline for comments and amendments on Bill 185 - e-mail to: </span></b><a href="mailto:planningconsultation@ontario.ca">planningconsultation@ontario.ca</a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday, May 31st at 5:30pm -<font color="#26282a"> Next group update meeting on Zoom - </font></span><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-weight: 400;">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>Saturday, June 8th - Provincial Day of Action Against Gravel Mining - <a href="https://www.reformgravelmining.ca/provincial-day-of-action">https://www.reformgravelmining.ca/provincial-day-of-action</a></div></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>-------------------------------</b></span></div><div><div><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font><font color="#26282a" face="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-size: 14px;">B) Protest at MPP Mike Harris Jr’s Office - Thursday, May 23rd, 2pm:</span></font></font></b></div></div><div><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><font style="font-size: 14px;"><br></font></b></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>