<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div>Good Day,</div><div><br></div><div>The Auditor General has released an entire series of scathing reports, Bill 212 fallout continues, Kitchener has voted to destroy an important wetland, and in some good news the City of Waterloo has approved its visionary Official Plan along with donating $20 million of land that will provide over 1,000 affordable housing units. Here’s the latest:</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>1) Auditor General Releases 9 Scathing Reports -</b></span> New Auditor General Shelley Spence delivered her first set of reports on the provincial government - all of them bad news for Doug Ford’s Conservative provincial government. She reports a consistent theme of lack of planning, lack of transparency, lack of proper processes, preferential treatment for insiders, and other troubling actions consistent with what we have seen on so many recent issues.</div><div><div><br></div><div>The list of reports includes:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Digitalization of Government Services, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Implementation and Oversight of Ontario’s Opioid Strategy, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Ministerial Zoning Orders (MZO’s), </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Ontario Immigrant Nomination Program,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT),</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Ontario Place Redevelopment,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Operations of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Procurement and Delivery of Selected Infrastructure Projects, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Toronto District School Board: Safety, Financial Management and Capital</span></div><div><br></div><div>You can read the reports at: <a href="https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arbyyear/ar2024.html">https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arbyyear/ar2024.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>There has been extensive analysis in the media and by a wide variety of organizations. We’ll focus primarily on the MZO’s and OLT reports since they impact the Grand River Watershed the most, however other organizations have done fantastic analysis of the Ontario Place Report and others. One of the most alarming revelations is that Ontario families are paying $400 per household to subsidize a luxury spa for Therme at Ontario Place that they will likely never use:</div><div><br></div><div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre;"> </span>Ontario Place for All: </span><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Auditor General Releases Scathing Ontario Place Redevelopment Report Outlining Rigged Process And Ballooning Taxpayer Costs:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=ee8ca2c1e0e62a2b66512d8cd&id=ca95fe90ce" style="text-decoration: none;">https://us21.campaign-archive.com/?u=ee8ca2c1e0e62a2b66512d8cd&id=ca95fe90ce</a></span></p></div><div><br></div><div>Environmental Defence is calling for all MZO’s to be revoked similar to the Greenbelt reversal because of so many concerning parallels and the need to restore trust and accountability:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Environmental Defence - Auditor General’s Report Shows Sprawl MZOs Must Revoked to Protect Public Safety and Public Confidence in the Integrity of Planning Decisions:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/2024/12/03/auditor-generals-report-shows-that-sprawl-mzos-must-be-revoked-to-protect-public-safety-environment-and-public-confidence-in-the-integrity-of-planning-decisions/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://environmentaldefence.ca/2024/12/03/auditor-generals-report-shows-that-sprawl-mzos-must-be-revoked-to-protect-public-safety-environment-and-public-confidence-in-the-integrity-of-planning-decisions/</span></a></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-15f0b28a-7fff-a06c-7bf8-09a70f22efd8"><br>Here’s some of the best overall media coverage of the AG Reports:</span></div><div><br></div><div><span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>The Narwhal - Rushed Zoning Orders, Ontario Place’s Skyrocketing Costs And A Coyote Hunting Contest: Auditor General’s Environmental Notes:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-auditor-general-mzo-environment/">https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-auditor-general-mzo-environment/</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 9pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">John Michael McGrath, TVO - Analysis: Ontario’s Auditor General Has Released Her 2024 Report. Here</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">’</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">s What You Need To Know: </span></font></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-ontarios-auditor-general-has-released-her-2024-report-heres-what-you-need-to-know" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: none;">https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-ontarios-auditor-general-has-released-her-2024-report-heres-what-you-need-to-know</a></div><div><br></div><div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CP24 - Here Are Some Of The Key Takeaways From Te Ontario Auditor General’s Report:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.cp24.com/politics/queens-park/2024/12/03/here-are-some-of-the-key-takeaways-from-the-ontario-auditor-generals-report/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: none;">https://www.cp24.com/politics/queens-park/2024/12/03/here-are-some-of-the-key-takeaways-from-the-ontario-auditor-generals-report/</a></p></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Hamilton Spectator - 10 Highlights From The Ontario Auditor General’s Searing Report On The Ford Governments Performance:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/10-highlights-from-the-ontario-auditor-generals-searing-report-on-the-ford-governments-performance/article_9e4c249c-26ce-57c6-bb28-ff1c82904156.html">https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/10-highlights-from-the-ontario-auditor-generals-searing-report-on-the-ford-governments-performance/article_9e4c249c-26ce-57c6-bb28-ff1c82904156.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>Here’s media coverage focussed on the MZO AG Report that determined there is no protocol or rationale for the way the government distributes MZOs and that there is preferential treatment for certain developers:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Canada’s National Observer - Deep Flaws In Ontario’s Process To Fast-Track Development:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/12/03/news/flaws-ontario-process-MZO-development-auditor-general">https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/12/03/news/flaws-ontario-process-MZO-development-auditor-general</a></div><div><div><br></div><div> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Trillium - PC’s MZO’s Use Sparked “Appearance Of Preferential Treatment”: Auditor:</div><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/pcs-mzos-use-sparked-appearance-of-preferential-treatment-auditor-9897752">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/pcs-mzos-use-sparked-appearance-of-preferential-treatment-auditor-9897752</a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>Here’s media coverage focussed on the Ontario Place AG Report:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Trillium - Therme Met With Ford’s Staff, Had Direct Access To Assessor Of Ontario Place Submissions:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/therme-met-with-fords-staff-had-direct-access-to-assessor-of-ontario-place-submissions-9897655?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Dec 03, 2024 10:44 am&utm_content=mc_tri_wrap">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/therme-met-with-fords-staff-had-direct-access-to-assessor-of-ontario-place-submissions-9897655</a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Includes the revelation that Therme is almost broke with an equity value of less than $2 million dollars - hardly enough to buy a single condo in Toronto, let alone redevelop the entire waterfront.</div><div><br></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-25111622-7fff-e176-8d0d-59f63522c94e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CTV Toronto - Process Around Ontario Place Redevelopment Was ‘Unfair’ And Didn’t Follow The Rules: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">(cost projected $335M to $424M ballooned to $2.2B):</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/process-around-ontario-place-redevelopment-was-unfair-and-didn-t-follow-rules-ag-1.7131492" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/process-around-ontario-place-redevelopment-was-unfair-and-didn-t-follow-rules-ag-1.7131492</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Here’s media coverage on some of the other AG Reports:</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">The Trillium - AG Report Find Safe Learning Environmenta </span>“<span style="font-size: 9pt;">Not Always</span>”<span style="font-size: 9pt;"> The Case At TDSB Schools:</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/education-and-training/ag-report-finds-safe-learning-environment-not-always-the-case-at-tdsb-schools-9897827" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/education-and-training/ag-report-finds-safe-learning-environment-not-always-the-case-at-tdsb-schools-9897827</span></a></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-25111622-7fff-e176-8d0d-59f63522c94e"><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Trillium - Ontario Spent Record High On Advertising, Majority On Partisan Ads: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/ontario-spent-record-high-on-advertising-majority-on-partisan-ads-auditor-9897678">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/ontario-spent-record-high-on-advertising-majority-on-partisan-ads-auditor-9897678</a></p><div><br></div></span></div></span></div></div><div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Trillium - Ontario Shutting Down Supervised Consumption Sites Without Assessing Harm To Users: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/ontario-shutting-down-supervised-consumption-sites-without-assessing-harm-to-drug-users-auditor-9897812">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/ontario-shutting-down-supervised-consumption-sites-without-assessing-harm-to-drug-users-auditor-9897812</a></p></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Hamilton Spectator - Ford Government Defends Tripling Spending On Ads After Searing Auditor General Report:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/ford-government-defends-tripling-spending-on-ads-after-searing-auditor-generals-report/article_30b3475f-ca8f-53c7-85b2-1e6f4ce1af18.html">https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/ford-government-defends-tripling-spending-on-ads-after-searing-auditor-generals-report/article_30b3475f-ca8f-53c7-85b2-1e6f4ce1af18.html</a></div><div><br></div><div><b>Action Required - </b>We need to speak up and ensure that other citizens are aware of these concerns being raised about our provincial government that are clearly not in the best public interest. Consider writing Op-Ed articles, Letters To The Editor, have discussions with friends/family, and lets try to ensure better governance for our communities.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><b style="font-size: 14px;">2) Fight for Farmland -</b> The Auditor General’s Reports describing the lack of planning, lack of proper process, lack of transparency, and lack of financial costing sound very familiar to everyone involved with the proposed Wilmot mega-industrial site. These new reports provide yet even more material and means to fight the provincial government along with the Region of Waterloo and Township of Wilmot. Share any ideas and watch for new actions coming soon.</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>Santa Claus Parades -</b> The Fight For Farmland had a well decorated tractor (courtesy of Stratford Farm Equipment) and float in both the Baden and New Hamburg Santa Claus Parades this past weekend. Thanks to all the volunteers who help to decorate the float, hand out hundreds of candy canes and thousands of We Are Not Willing stickers. It was impressive to see the large crowds and very positive community response at each parade. A huge thanks to Punkeydoodles Steve Todd who performed live music on the float throughout each parade including a mix of his songs about the Wilmot Land Assembly and Christmas favourites. Photos of the parade are attached below.<br><div><br></div><div><b>Strategic Planning Meeting - </b>We want to take things to the next level against this proposed Wilmot Land Assembly, engaging more groups, increasing the fight for more farmland protection here in Wilmot and across Ontario, and perhaps even Greenbelt expansion to provide the long-term planning certainty we have all just lost with the destruction of our Regional Official Plan. We see an opportunity to engage more groups in more areas to collaborate on the needed better solutions for citizens throughout Ontario.</div><div><br></div><div>Next Saturday, December 14th at 1:00pm we will be holding a strategy planning meeting. Details are as follows:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Date and Time: Saturday, December 14th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm</div><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Location: Wilmot Mennonite Church, 2995 Bleams Road, New Hamburg (across the street from the proposed mega-industrial site)</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Virtually: <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81716015525?pwd=uvjiNGWMhujYqLBbRPnQXz6azPEpQ5.1">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81716015525?pwd=uvjiNGWMhujYqLBbRPnQXz6azPEpQ5.1</a><br><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></div></div></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div>Please RSVP to wilmotlandowners@gmail.com if you are able to attend and help strategize on our next steps deliver the needed sustainable, long-term solutions for our communities.</div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div><b>Upcoming Council Meetings</b> - Join us at the next Region of Waterloo Council meeting on Wednesday, December 11th at 6:30pm where we will have delegations speaking on the Wilmot Land Assembly. and also on Monday, December 16th at the Township of Wilmot where we will have at least one delegation for the Fight For Farmland. Also, If you can add your voice and speak up at either of these upcoming meetings please register to speak with the Wilmot Clerk at <a href="mailto:clerks@wilmot.ca">clerks@wilmot.ca</a> and/or the Regional Clerk at <a href="mailto:regionalclerk@regionofwaterloo.ca">regionalclerk@regionofwaterloo.ca</a>.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to winter weather and early, dark nights we won’t have any rallies or protests in advance of either of these meetings though we encourage you to come in-person to the Council Chambers for the meetings and show your support for the delegations.</div><div><br></div><div><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Region of Waterloo Council Meeting: 150 Fredrick Street East, Kitchener - </b>Wednesday, December 11th - Council Meeting starts at 7:00pm</div><div><br></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap; font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wilmot Township Council: 60 Snyder’s Road West, Baden - </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap; font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Monday, December 16th - Council Meeting starts at 7:00 pm</span></div><div><br></div></div><div><b>Action Required -</b> Attend upcoming events, and call or write elected officials at Wilmot Township, the Region of Waterloo and the provincial government and tell them to finally abandon this absurd Wilmot Industrial Mega-site location - that we are an UNWILLING community, the landowners have made it clear they are UNWILLING, and a better plan is needed.</div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">3) City of Waterloo Approves Visionary Official Plan - </b>Some good news as this past Monday night as the City of Waterloo approved its visionary Official Plan for the decades ahead that is one of the only municipalities in Ontario with no urban boundary expansion, no new farmland loss, and no new urban sprawl. It instead focuses on growing up instead of out for thousands of new homes and businesses. There is a strong focus on core growth, public transit, active transportation, and liveability for everyone.</div><div><br></div><div>Kudos to Waterloo citizen Kae Elgie who made an excellent delegation in support of the Official Plan update that was unanimously approved. Please urge other communities to learn from this progressive plan for a low carbon and green resilient city. Learn more at:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.engagewr.ca/waterloo-official-plan">https://www.engagewr.ca/waterloo-official-plan</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">4) Bill 212 Fallout Continues -</b> Bill 212 which was rammed through the Legislature two weeks ago without proper debate or opportunities for feedback and that will remove important bike lanes, inhibit future active transportation, threaten the Greenbelt with the construction of unaffordable and unnecessary Highway #413, and set dangerous new precedents for expropriation, overriding individual rights and private property laws, eliminating proper planning as well as due legal process continues to create havoc across Ontario as municipalities grapple with the consequences.</div><div><br></div><div>More data and details are emerging about the importance of the Toronto bike lanes to be removed at the cost of tens of millions of dollars:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Toronto Star - Number Of Cyclists Commuting In Toronto Is Triple What Doug Ford Claims:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/the-number-of-cyclists-commuting-in-toronto-is-triple-what-doug-ford-claims-latest-transportation/article_117046f6-ac2b-11ef-ae03-bfa9bf7c67d5.html">https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/the-number-of-cyclists-commuting-in-toronto-is-triple-what-doug-ford-claims-latest-transportation/article_117046f6-ac2b-11ef-ae03-bfa9bf7c67d5.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>There is still the need and opportunity to encourage the federal government to undertake a proper Federal Impact Assessment for Highway #413. Here’s a great sample letter:</div><div><br></div><div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Guilbeault-413-letter_Nov.-2024.pdf">https://environmentaldefence.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Guilbeault-413-letter_Nov.-2024.pdf</a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><b>Bluesky</b> - The Bluesky social network that is surging in popularity as people abandon Elon Musk’s Twitter by the millions has a Bill 212 Resistance Starter Pack (a list of Bluesky accounts to follow related to opposing Bill 212). Check it out at:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://go.bsky.app/2Vs3Reh" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://go.bsky.app/2Vs3Reh</span></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><span style="font-weight: 700;">Action Required - What you can do about Bill 212 - </span>Keep speaking up to elected officials and demand better.</div><div><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br></span></div><div><br></div><div><div><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-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">5) Biehn Drive Extension To Destroy Important Wetland - </b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">It was very troubling this week to see the City of Kitchener Community and Infrastructure Services Committee approve a very controversial proposal to extend Biehn Drive in South Kitchener despite environmental concerns and pleas from citizens to protect rather than destroy provincially significant wetlands as well as important groundwater aquifer recharge areas. This road has been fought for decades because of the considerable negative impacts on such environmentally sensitive and important areas.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Despite Environmental Concerns Road Extension Through Kitchener Wetland Approved By Committee:</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/despite-environmental-concerns-road-extension-through-kitchener-wetland-approved-by-committee/article_2fcb91d1-eb0d-5afa-8899-b2581e9b61d6.html">https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/despite-environmental-concerns-road-extension-through-kitchener-wetland-approved-by-committee/article_2fcb91d1-eb0d-5afa-8899-b2581e9b61d6.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;"><div><br></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; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b>Action Required -</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The decision still needs to be formally approved at an upcoming City Council meeting so please speak up and support the environment in this ecologically important part of South-West Kitchener. City of Kitchener elected official contact information can be found at the bottom of this e-mail.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">6) Doug Ford Appoints New Chair for York Region - </b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">In a highly questionable move, Premier Doug Ford has appointed Eric Jolliffe, a former police chief who has never held elected office and doesn’t even live in York Region to be the new Chair of York Region. Local residents and elected officials criticized the move calling it undemocratic and stating “if they want to dissolve regional government they should just have the guts to tell us”. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;">The province has stalled on its decision to eliminate regional governance, never made reports public, and reversed the dissolution of Peel Region when it was deemed to be unaffordable. Learn more in this insightful Toronto Star article by the amazing Noor Javed:</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>Doug Ford’s Appointment Of York Region Chair Raises Questions About Its Future:</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/news/gta/doug-fords-appointment-of-york-region-chair-raises-questions-about-its-future/article_bbe0ed4a-b345-11ef-9110-e39cdaa2b8a4.html">https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/doug-fords-appointment-of-york-region-chair-raises-questions-about-its-future/article_bbe0ed4a-b345-11ef-9110-e39cdaa2b8a4.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;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">7) Doug Ford’s Transit Projects The Most Costly In The World - </b>It’s no surprise to learn that Doug Ford’s disastrous transit projects such as the Eglinton-CrossTown LRT, and Finch-West LRT both of which are so far behind schedule they don’t even have opening dates and are spending boondoogles. Metrolinx’s own recently completed study shows their subway and LRT projects to be the most expensive per kilometre globally with other major cities in developed countries such as Italy, Spain, Turkey and South Korea delivering projects at a similar quality level at 1/10th the cost. Learn more including how we can more affordably get the public transit so desperately needed:</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; text-wrap-mode: wrap; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><div style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Toronto Star - Poor Budgeting And Too Many Consultants Behind Soaring Cost Of Toronto Subway Projects, Study Reveals:</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/poor-budgeting-and-too-many-consultants-behind-soaring-cost-of-toronto-subway-projects-study-reveals/article_0274c036-b31b-11ef-9f14-4796fb315e37.html">https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/poor-budgeting-and-too-many-consultants-behind-soaring-cost-of-toronto-subway-projects-study-reveals/article_0274c036-b31b-11ef-9f14-4796fb315e37.html</a></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><b>Metrolinx CEO Ousted -</b> In an surprise announcement the extremely highly paid CEO of Metrolinx Phil Verster announced his resignation as projects continue to flounder and face massive cost increases:</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Hamilton <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spectator - Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster Leaving After Seven Years:</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/metrolinx-ceo-phil-verster-leaving-after-seven-years/article_f1701334-9609-5475-8684-88c817e6dbf6.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/metrolinx-ceo-phil-verster-leaving-after-seven-years/article_f1701334-9609-5475-8684-88c817e6dbf6.html</span></a></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f827e42b-7fff-f9ee-ac69-c0de57f9e3a2"><br><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Global - Phil Verster Resigns As Metrolinx CEO:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://globalnews.ca/video/10899171/phil-verster-resigns-as-metrolinx-ceo/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://globalnews.ca/video/10899171/phil-verster-resigns-as-metrolinx-ceo/</span></a></p><div style="font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- reveals that Verster’s salary had been increased by over 65% and he was given an annual vehicle allowance of $12,000, despite the fact he did not own a vehicle.</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span><br></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="text-wrap-mode: wrap; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Hamilton Spectator - A look at Phil Verster’s seven years as Metrolinx CEO:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="text-wrap-mode: wrap; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/a-look-at-phil-versters-seven-years-as-metrolinx-ceo/article_3cedafa8-af6e-51c2-93ae-76c8d7e3fb75.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/a-look-at-phil-versters-seven-years-as-metrolinx-ceo/article_3cedafa8-af6e-51c2-93ae-76c8d7e3fb75.html</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Joel Harden, MPP Ottawa Centre, Opposition Critic for Transit - Update that includes analysis of Metrolinx and Verster’s departure. He points out it was the same consultant that was used for the first stage of Ottawa’s struggling flawed LRT system and for the 4 GTA transit projects that continue to be delayed, overbudget and incomplete:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.joelhardenmpp.ca/mpp_update_235" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.joelhardenmpp.ca/mpp_update_235</span></a></p><br><span style="font-size: 9pt; text-wrap-mode: wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Toronto Star - The Eglinton LRT Just Turned 13. Why We Still Don’t How This Teen Went Off The Rails:</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/the-eglinton-crosstown-lrt-just-turned-13-why-we-still-dont-how-this-teen-went/article_678d0b1a-a36f-11ef-9b33-0375ac9a37ad.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/the-eglinton-crosstown-lrt-just-turned-13-why-we-still-dont-how-this-teen-went/article_678d0b1a-a36f-11ef-9b33-0375ac9a37ad.html</span></a><span><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; white-space-collapse: collapse; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br></p></span></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-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">8) Recent Articles - </b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">Include journalist layoffs at TVO, reducing holiday environmental impacts, what’s next for energy in Ontario, trust and climate, challenges at Mowhawk College, and are we losing the propaganda and homelessness battle:</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Trillium - TVO Lays Off Journalists As It Pivots Away From Written News:</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.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/tvo-lays-off-journalists-as-it-pivots-away-from-written-news-9884210">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/tvo-lays-off-journalists-as-it-pivots-away-from-written-news-9884210</a></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>“Of the nine members on TVO’s Board, eight worked as staffers for the Ontario PC government or federal Conservative government, Among them, four work in the field of lobbying and public affairs.”</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 Record - Reduce Your Environmental Impact At Christmas By Resisting Urge To Buy! Buy! Buy!:</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/opinion/columnists/reduce-your-environmental-impact-at-christmas-by-resisting-urge-to-buy-buy-buy/article_afa2fb62-401f-5703-b9ad-4868864edea4.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/reduce-your-environmental-impact-at-christmas-by-resisting-urge-to-buy-buy-buy/article_afa2fb62-401f-5703-b9ad-4868864edea4.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 Narwhal - Sick Of Smog, This Canadian Province Killed Coal. A Decade Later, It Weighs Its Next Big Energy Move:</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>Ontario Coal Phase Out 10 Years Later:</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://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-coal-10-years-later/">https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-coal-10-years-later/</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 Record - Is Canada Sacrificing Trust For Climate Optics?:</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/opinion/columnists/is-canada-sacrificing-trust-for-climate-optics/article_575119d4-a339-5140-9629-2b8609bd55ca.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/is-canada-sacrificing-trust-for-climate-optics/article_575119d4-a339-5140-9629-2b8609bd55ca.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 Hamilton Spectator - Mohawk College<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> eliminates 20% of administrative workforce in significant restructuring:</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/mohawk-college-eliminates-20-per-cent-of-administrative-workforce-in-significant-restructuring/article_fc2a6427-4923-569e-95d0-e59e49112fba.html">https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/mohawk-college-eliminates-20-per-cent-of-administrative-workforce-in-significant-restructuring/article_fc2a6427-4923-569e-95d0-e59e49112fba.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;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>More than a dozen programs have been suspended in an effort to manage the $50M deficit.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: pre; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"> </span><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Policy Options - Russia’s Propaganda Machine Is Running Roughshod In Canada:</span></font></div><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></font><a href="https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/december-2024/russia-propaganda-canada/">https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/december-2024/russia-propaganda-canada/</a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><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 - We’ve Let This Go Too Long: Is Waterloo Region Losing The Battle Against Homelessness?:</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/opinion/columnists/weve-let-this-go-too-long-is-waterloo-region-losing-the-battle-against-homelessness/article_0af87d9d-3ad5-5180-bf12-53bbba120da7.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/weve-let-this-go-too-long-is-waterloo-region-losing-the-battle-against-homelessness/article_0af87d9d-3ad5-5180-bf12-53bbba120da7.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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Despite a record size cabinet the Ford government doesn’t have a single cabinet minister with responsibility for homelessness.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">9) Concerns About Provincial Actions, Powers, and Lack of Successful Outcomes - </b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">There are numerous articles expressing very important concerns about how the provincial government is handling key issues, the precedents being set, and the ongoing themes from Doug Ford resulting in failure and worsening problems:</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Hamilton Spectator - There Goes Our Democracy - Hamilton Councillors Aghast At Strong Mayor Powers:</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.thespec.com/opinion/columnists/there-goes-democracy-it-was-nice-while-it-lasted/article_c838d789-51ed-5444-a5db-8accf115880a.html">https://www.thespec.com/opinion/columnists/there-goes-democracy-it-was-nice-while-it-lasted/article_c838d789-51ed-5444-a5db-8accf115880a.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 - Ford Pledges Tough New Legislation To Dismantle Homeless Encampments:</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.thespec.com/news/ontario/ford-pledges-tough-new-legislation-to-dismantle-homeless-encampments/article_c0fb8d01-6e93-54a4-a35c-256c1a9e624b.html">https://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/ford-pledges-tough-new-legislation-to-dismantle-homeless-encampments/article_c0fb8d01-6e93-54a4-a35c-256c1a9e624b.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 Trillium - Ford Promises Anti-Encampent Bill Without Notwithstanding Clause:</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.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/ford-promises-anti-encampment-bill-without-notwithstanding-clause-9913604">https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/ford-promises-anti-encampment-bill-without-notwithstanding-clause-9913604</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>Canada’s National Observer - Canada’s Conservative Leaders Break The Bank While Preaching Prudence:</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.nationalobserver.com/2024/12/06/opinion/fiscal-conservatives-deficit-spending-canada">https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/12/06/opinion/fiscal-conservatives-deficit-spending-canada</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 Record - The Doug Ford Way Of Running Ontario:</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/opinion/columnists/how-the-auditors-report-perfectly-sums-up-the-doug-ford-way-of-running-the-province/article_ccac07cd-2a3a-5fb5-973d-14d217195ca9.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/how-the-auditors-report-perfectly-sums-up-the-doug-ford-way-of-running-the-province/article_ccac07cd-2a3a-5fb5-973d-14d217195ca9.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;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>“Without proper planning”, “Irregular”, “subjective”, “rules and guidelines not followed”, “not fair, transparent, or accountable” and “no apparent rationale" seems to be the recurring theme be it healthcare, education, Ontario Place, the Greenbelt, supervised consumption sites, and so much more with our current provincial government.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">10) Better Recycling Program Needed - </b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">Changes to the blue box program is going to bring impacts across Ontario. It’s great to see local groups in our watershed such as Faith Climate Justice speaking up and expressing concerns. Hopefully other groups can speak up on this as well as other issues too:</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Record - Limitations of Recycling Bad News For Environment:</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/opinion/contributors/limitations-of-recycling-bad-news-for-environment/article_5e099a0e-a2a7-5d6e-a5e2-6d733fdad135.html">https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/limitations-of-recycling-bad-news-for-environment/article_5e099a0e-a2a7-5d6e-a5e2-6d733fdad135.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-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">11) New Provincial Health Unit Changes Announced - </b><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ford government has just introduced The More Convenient Care Act, 2024. The sections in the announcement are titled: Strengthening Governance and Transparency, Enhancing Patient Care and Improving Service Delivery which is very c</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">oncerning because history tells us the name of legislation is usually the opposite of reality.</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the biggest changes seems to be merging 9 Public Health Units into 4. J</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ohn Michael McGrath has a good overview on Bluesky:</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>NEW: Ontario govt has introduced legislation that when passed, merge 9 Public Health Units into 4:</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f7f02dc3-7fff-8e78-7d14-04e29996dc76"><br><ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li dir="ltr" aria-level="1" style="list-style-type: disc; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Porcupine Health Unit and Timiskaming Health Unit</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" aria-level="1" style="list-style-type: disc; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" aria-level="1" style="list-style-type: disc; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough County-City Health Unit</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" aria-level="1" style="list-style-type: disc; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Health Unit and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Read it on Bluesky at: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/jm-mcgrath.bsky.social/post/3lcdysoizn22u" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap; text-decoration: none;">https://bsky.app/profile/jm-mcgrath.bsky.social/post/3lcdysoizn22u</a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s the official Ontario government announcement: </span><a href="https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005436/ontario-continuing-to-build-a-more-connected-and-convenient-health-care-system" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005436/ontario-continuing-to-build-a-more-connected-and-convenient-health-care-system</span></a></p><br>Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health and Deputy Premier, in typical late Friday just announced a $10 million dollar investment in Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton:</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span><br></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 104, 218); text-decoration: underline;">https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005456/ontario-expanding-access-to-hospital-care-in-hamilton</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span><br></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span>However to put this in context, it’s worth noting that the projected deficit for the Hamilton Health Services System (which oversees Juravinski) is $112 million this year alone as our Health system is starved of resources:</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><br></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.chch.com/chch-news/hamilton-health-care-union-warns-of-extensive-job-cuts-due-to-financial-deficit/">https://www.chch.com/chch-news/hamilton-health-care-union-warns-of-extensive-job-cuts-due-to-financial-deficit/</a></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;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">12) More Missing Provincial E-mails - </b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">Doug Ford’s Chief Of Staff Patrick Sackville is missing months of e-mails after “an inadvertent error” reset his phone:</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-da55fc17-7fff-f473-2ea0-b685d88eb588"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Global News - Doug Ford’s Chief Of Staff Missing Months of Government Texts After Phone Was “Reset”:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10894747/doug-ford-chief-missing-texts-ontario/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://globalnews.ca/news/10894747/doug-ford-chief-missing-texts-ontario/</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is not the first time Patrick Sackville has been in trouble over missing messages: </span><a href="https://www.corruptario.ca/fords-top-aide-pat-sackville-likes-to-keep-it-private/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.corruptario.ca/fords-top-aide-pat-sackville-likes-to-keep-it-private/</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also worth noting a Liberal aide was sent to jail for four months over deleting emails related to cancelled gas plants in 2018:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/mobile/former-liberal-aide-gets-four-months-in-jail-for-deleted-gas-plant-emails-1.3880844?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fduckduckgo.com%2F" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/mobile/former-liberal-aide-gets-four-months-in-jail-for-deleted-gas-plant-emails-1.3880844</span></a></p><br></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">13) Brant County Budget - </b><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The County of Brant is calling on residents, businesses, and community partners to share their thoughts and priorities regarding the proposed 2025 Budget. The public is invited to visit the Engage Brant website</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to learn more, complete the online survey, and provide their comments and questions. Public feedback sessions will be held in January 2025 to provide additional opportunities for engagement and discussion. Please subscribe to the 2025 Budget Engage Brant (on that same page) to be notified as updates are available. Engagement for the 2025 proposed budget closes Friday, January 24, 2025:</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://engagebrant.ca/2025Budget" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://engagebrant.ca/2025Budget</span></a></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-7c1cc944-7fff-f243-1ec6-00678d7ba9e1"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><span><br></span></div>It’s also great to see on November 26th that the <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">County of Brant approved the County’s Climate Action Plan:</span></span></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br></span></font></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></font><a href="https://www.brant.ca/en/news/council-approves-the-county-of-brant-s-climate-action-plan.aspx" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.brant.ca/en/news/council-approves-the-county-of-brant-s-climate-action-plan.aspx</span></a><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></span></font><span><br>Here’s the detailed </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">County of Brant Climate Action Plan:</span></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br></span></font></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></font><a href="https://www.brant.ca/en/council-and-council-administration/resources/Documents/Climate-Action-Plan-(CAP)---Final.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.brant.ca/en/council-and-council-administration/resources/Documents/Climate-Action-Plan-(CAP)---Final.pdf</span></a><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></span></font><span><br></span><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-963d597f-7fff-db2d-0aee-34167a1960ba"><br><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>14)<span style="white-space: pre-wrap; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> Cooperate for Canada -</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The C4C plan is to encourage the Liberals, NDP and Greens to work together - without any mergers - to ensure we elect governments that better reflect the values, concerns, and priorities of the majority of Canadians. There is both a federal focus </span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://cooperateforcanada.ca/" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">https://cooperateforcanada.ca/</a> </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> and an Ontario focus </span><a href="https://cooperateforcanada.ca/ontario/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://cooperateforcanada.ca/ontario/</span></a><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C4C has been updating the info they’ve compiled about the record of the Ford PC government on the multiple issues the people of Ontario are facing (spoiler alert: it’s bleak):</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://cooperateforcanada.ca/2024/07/16/ontario-premier-doug-fords-record/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://cooperateforcanada.ca/2024/07/16/ontario-premier-doug-fords-record/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take action by signing </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">and sharing the voting pledges:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><a href="https://cooperateforcanada.ca/voting-pledges/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://cooperateforcanada.ca/voting-pledges/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Get Involved: </b></span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Grand River chapter has been established with a plan for cooperation involving the local group of ridings in Guelph, the Region of Waterloo, and Brantford-Brant. </span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reach out to Kae Elgie or Joan Faux or send a message: </span><a href="https://cooperateforcanada.ca/contact-us/" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://cooperateforcanada.ca/contact-us/</span></a></p><br></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span><br></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>15) Taking Care Of Ourselves - Burnout and Hope - </b></span><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px;">With so much negative news recently it is important that we take time to care for ourselves, focus on the positive, and ensure that we don’t burn out. Canada’s National Observer had a good article on how Climate Change burnout is taking its toll on activists:</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Canada’s National Observer - Climate Change Burnout Is Taking Its Toll:</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.nationalobserver.com/2024/11/29/news/climate-change-burnout">https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/11/29/news/climate-change-burnout</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;">It was fantastic to see President Barack Obama host his annual Democracy Forum 2024 this week with a strong message of hope and how to increase our impact in an increasingly fragmented and fractured world:</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zklZVvrRZY0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zklZVvrRZY0</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;">We encourage you to take the time to watch this Youtube video of the keynotes (including people such as actor/activist/entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds) of this inspiring conference providing so many solutions on how we can use democracy and the power of community to solve the biggest challenges confronting our communities.</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;">You should also take the time to listen to Obama’s presentation on the power of community and pluralism:</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOcEDyQrbhE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOcEDyQrbhE</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="text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Action Required - </b>Recharge and take the time to be inspired with hope and positivity from some of the world’s most impactful people by watching these two videos.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;">16) Good News! - World’s First All Electric Vehicle Country - </b><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">It has been astonishing to see how fast Norway has completed its transition from combustion gasoline engine cars to EV’s as gasoline stations close and EV’s near 100% of all new cars. They have done it in a cold, Arctic, mountainous country without destroying the power grid or compromising their economy. Learn more in this excellent article:</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Bloomberg - This Is What The World’s First All EV Car Market Looks Like:</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.bloomberg.com/features/2024-ev-market-norway/">https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-ev-market-norway/</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;"><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Norway completes it transition from combustion cars to electrics.</div><div><br></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 style="font-size: 14px;">17) Reminder - Next Meeting</b><b><span style="font-size: 14px;"> -</span></b> Join us next <span dir="ltr">Friday, December 13th</span> at 5:30pm online at the Zoom link below:</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 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="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="margin: 0cm;"><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 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 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 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><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 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 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>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, Mike Marcolongo, and Joan Faux 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></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 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 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 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><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font color="#26282a" face="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><b style="font-size: 14px;">A) </b></font></span><b style="color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Upcoming Events </b><span style="color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">- Get out and get involved! And keep us posted on your events so we can share them:</span></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;"><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></div></div></div></div></div></div><div>Wednesday, December 11th - 7pm - Fight For Farmland Delegations at Regional of Waterloo Council - <a href="http://www.fightforfarmland.com/">www.fightforfarmland.com</a></div><div><br></div><div><div><div><b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday, December 13th - 5:30pm -<font color="#26282a"> Next group update meeting on Zoom -</font><font color="#0056d6"> </font></span><font color="#0056d6" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09</a></font></b></div></div><div><br></div></div><div>Monday, December 16th - 7pm - Fight For Farmland Delegations at Wilmot Township Council - <a href="http://www.fightforfarmland.com/">www.fightforfarmland.com</a></div><div><br></div><div><b style="font-size: 14px;">--------------------------</b></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 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;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>B) 120 Scientists Urge Federal Impact Assessment: </b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>