[GREN-Exec] GREN and the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance

[Kevin Thomason]

Hi GREN Executive,

As you know the creation, stewardship, and potential expansion of the provincial Greenbelt has been one of our primary activities over the past decade+ and as a result our Greenbelt is the world’s largest providing recreation, local food, and environmental benefits to a huge portion of the province.  We also know though that Waterloo Region has largely been excluded from the Greenbelt, we have had to develop our own local equivalents, and that ultimately we would benefit from as many layers of protection as possible.

For years the Greenbelt Foundation has helped to fund the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance - a collaboration of more than 110 community groups working to protect and promote the Greenbelt through a co-ordination with staff at Environmental Defence (Erin Shapero, Susan Lloyd Swail, Tim Gray, etc.).  However, given the stance of the current Doug Ford government against numerous environmental groups, the Greenbelt Foundation has felt that their provincial funding could be at risk unless they change to a more grassroots model given how outspoken Environmental Defence is on so many provincial issues.

Thus, back in January Environmental Defence stopped co-ordinating the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance and we (myself and the other seven members of the OGA Steering Committee) have been trying to develop a model for the Greenbelt Foundation to fund required activities such as OGA member communications, education, conservation efforts, etc. through a more grassroots system.

What has emerged is a revamped OGA, driven by the Steering Committee (Dr. Franz Hartman - Small Change Fund, Dr. Anne Bell - Ontario Nature, John Baecher - Sierra Club, Lynda Lukasic - Environment Hamilton, Margaret Prophet - Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition, Debbie Gordon - Oak Ridges Moraine Groups, myself - GREN) rather than ED Staff and with the potential for about $100,000 in funding being provided from the Greenbelt Foundation to ensure that essential activities continue until the end of the year.

Much of this funding will go to Franz for the time he is putting in as the lead co-ordinator and also to Environment Hamilton for their co-ordinating role.  However, there is an opportunity for GREN to receive $10,000 in funding to compensate for time and effort of activities in this part of the province.  Much of this is things that we are already doing for free - who knows how many hours a month John, Greg, Susan, myself, and many others put into local environmental efforts.  There would be some specific asks related to Greenbelt activities but nothing outside the realm of the activities we already do.

This could be a good opportunity for GREN to get some funding or even individuals to get some compensation if we look at a model where things are spilt 50/50 between GREN and the people doing the work or however we want to account for things.

While most other environmental organizations - even smaller ones such as the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition and the Wellington Water Watchers fundraise all the time, have compensation for staff, etc. this would be very new to GREN but could also be a good way to re-energize our organization and get some funding for the work that we are already heavily engaged in.

There is also a real simplicity to things here with Environment Hamilton doing most of the administration and only a bit of paperwork required on our part (see documentation/agreement below).

I have spoke to John about things and we both feel that GREN should be an active part of the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance and GREN is best positioned to be a strong voice for environmental protection in this part of the province.  Frankly, Waterloo Region continues to be the leader and a role model for so much it is almost our duty to help others as best as we can at all levels.

Time is of the essence here as it has already taken since January to figure things out to this point, the Greenbelt Foundation is eager to proceed, and the Ford government continues to make alarming announcements that need to be addressed with a strong, cohesive grassroots effort of groups across the province working together.

Please review the proposed agreement below and respond as soon as possible if you are in favour or against this opportunity.  I can either sign things and let them know we will be a partner or decline as the majority desires.

Let me know any questions or ideas.

Cheers,
Kevin.



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Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com

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