[GREN-Exec] FYI: OGA Stop Sprawl, Grow the Greenbelt Campaign

Mon Nov 2 09:20:49 EST 2020

I should be done with my report to EEAC re the aggregate situation in North Dumfries later this week.  I've made some comparisons with Greenbelt standards in it.  Will try to help out a little later.

- Greg

________________________________
From: Executive <executive-bounces at gren.ca> on behalf of Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com>
Sent: Monday, November 2, 2020 12:27 AM
To: Susan Koswan
Cc: GREN Executive
Subject: Re: [GREN-Exec] FYI: OGA Stop Sprawl, Grow the Greenbelt Campaign

Hi Susan,

Excellent points about MZO’s - they are very concerning, bypass all public engagement, and there is nothing that can undo them other than ousting the current premier, getting a new minister and getting him/her to issue a new zoning order restoring the previous state.

The Pickering MZO is in lands that citizens have fought for years to get included in the Greenbelt (the entire Carruthers Creek watershed too) but have not been successful yet since there has been almost no significant expansion or additions to the Greenbelt since its inception.

Urban sprawl wording is being used by the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance since most citizens grasp the consequences and it is far simpler than trying to explain all the details of land use planning.  There may be little hope aside from huge public pressure as the Ford government rams through so many destructive things behind the guise of the pandemic and economic profits.

I’ll keep you posted on what I learn.  I know that Environmental Defence is working on a map of all known MZO’s that should be out later this week,

Cheers,
Kevin.

-------------------------------------

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<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

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On Nov 1, 2020, at 2:04 PM, Susan Koswan <susankoswan at execulink.com<mailto:susankoswan at execulink.com>> wrote:

Hi Kevin,

This article from Construction News quotes Clark's presentation to AMO: https://ontarioconstructionnews.com/ministers-zoning-orders-can-help-move-priority-construction-projects-forward-minister-of-municipal-affairs-tells-amos-virtual-audience/

"While the government is focused on reducing delays on critical projects that local communities need by enhancing the Minister’s Zoning Order authority, Clark reminded the crowd that certain areas need not apply.

“I want to be clear that this new tool cannot be used in the Greenbelt,” he said. “Our focus on supporting economic recovery has not wavered – we’re helping to build more housing, long-term care facilities, and leveraging our transit investments, and that is the focus for the enhanced MZO.”

Is the Pickering wetland area that got the MZO outside of the Greenbelt?

Thanks,

Susan

On 11/1/2020 11:35 AM, Kevin Thomason wrote:

Hi GREN Executive,

I have continued to try to balance racing to complete many aspects of our new house build prior to winter along with trying to keep up with the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance campaign that is rapidly unfolding.  Thankfully Dr. Franz Hartman, Linda Lukasic and others are doing a great job keeping things moving forward.

With dozens of MZO’s - Ministerial Zoning Orders now coming forward from developers everywhere now that the Ford government has discovered they are a great way to circumvent all public involvement and process in development decisions there are settlement boundary expansion requests, Greenbelt land removal requests, and all sorts of inappropriate developments happening - including here in Cambridge and Stratford with recent MZO approvals.  There have been more MZO’s approved in the past month than the previous two decades combined…

The OGA and environmental groups are trying to gear up to push back and bring more awareness of this to the public.  Part of the funding grant that GREN is a part of from the Greenbelt Foundation includes getting materials into our community such as this proposed letter to area Councils countering sprawl and promoting green space:

https://protected-places.good.do/oga/sign/

This is still just a mock-up that will be released in the weeks ahead.  I will keep working with the OGA leadership on the development of these materials and keep you posted.  With our Countryside Line in Waterloo Region it makes things a bit different and materials are being adapted for each Region.

Please let me know any ideas or ways that GREN can be involved.

Cheers,
Kevin.

-------------------------------------

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<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

-----------------------------------------

Begin forwarded message:

From: Franz Hartmann <franzgreenbeltalliance at gmail.com><mailto:franzgreenbeltalliance at gmail.com>
Subject: URGENT: Need "sign off" on ACTION
Date: October 31, 2020 at 11:27:06 AM EDT
To: Tim Gray <tgray at environmentaldefence.ca><mailto:tgray at environmentaldefence.ca>, Lynda Lukasik <llukasik at environmenthamilton.org><mailto:llukasik at environmenthamilton.org>, Debbie Gordon <debbierawngordon at gmail.com><mailto:debbierawngordon at gmail.com>, Margaret Prophet <margaret at simcoecountygreenbelt.ca><mailto:margaret at simcoecountygreenbelt.ca>, Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com><mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>, John Bacher <pals at becon.org><mailto:pals at becon.org>, Anne Bell <anneb at ontarionature.org><mailto:anneb at ontarionature.org>

Hi All,

Here is the draft Action<https://protected-places.good.do/oga/sign/>. We will "clone" this once people are happy with this general lay out.  Orgs would put their logos beside the OGA logo at the bottom. We can also fine tune the letter to the Council

Please let me know ASAP if you are okay with this.

Thanks

--
Franz Hartmann
Ontario Greenbelt Alliance

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