[GREN-Exec] Fwd: Becoming a Founding Member of the Paris-Galt Moraine Greenbelt Coalition!

[Mr. Kevin R. Thomason]

Hi GREN Exec,

Things are really heating up on the Greenbelt expansion to Waterloo Region via the Paris-Galt Moraine.  It is going to be hard for GREN to not be involved and still retain credibility in the Grand River Watershed.  However, we are all very busy and I don’t think that any of us are seeking a massive new undertaking.  Thus, the approach of trying to be a supportive and helpful as possible without getting caught up in hundreds of hours of work.  There also aren’t many other groups or people likely to represent Waterloo Region.

Mike Marcolongo from Guelph reached out earlier this week and below is what I recommended - rather than forming a new group we simply bring existing groups together in a loosely co-ordinated manner and see how we can best provide encouragement to the Ford government to grow the Greenbelt without falling for or being overly distracted by Ford’s ploy at the expense of other issues that still need to be addressed such as Highway 413, MZO’s, climate change, etc.

I will be on the call March 4th at noon and hopefully you can make it too.  Please keep me posted if you can attend and we can see how GREN can be involved but not overly engaged.

Please share any questions or ideas.

Cheers,
Kevin.

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

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Mike Marcolongo <lizandmichele at yahoo.ca>
> Subject: Becoming a Founding Member of the Paris-Galt Moraine Greenbelt Coalition!
> Date: February 24, 2021 at 4:08:55 PM EST
> To: Liz Hales <lizandmichele at yahoo.ca>
> Cc: Mike Balkwill <mbalkwill at iasc.on.ca>
> 
> Hi Everyone:
> 
> Its Mike Marcolongo with Protect our Moraine in Guelph. Most of you know me as someone who has been challenging the City of Guelph's plans for the largest expansion on the Paris-Galt Moraine in the South end of Guelph. I've met most of you but not all 30+ people (blind carbon-copied) included in this email. 
> 
> The truth of the matter is that we have something important in common: we either live on or in near proximity of the ecological jewel also know as the Paris-Galt Moraine. Most of us have also led and continue to fight innapropriate development in our respective communities.
> 
> I'm sure you're aware of the provincial government's recent annoucement proposing the expansion of the Greenbelt to include the Paris-Galt Moraine as well as various river valleys: Ontario plans to expand Greenbelt to include Paris Galt Moraine and GTA river lands | CBC News <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/ontario-greenbelt-expansion-1.5916889>. As part of that announcement, the province has started at 60-day consultation on the proposal through the Environmental Registry of Ontario: Consultation on growing the size of the Greenbelt | Environmental Registry of Ontario <https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-3136>
> 
> While its clear that this announcement is meant to distract Ontarians from recent harmful measures by this government (e.g. MZO for Duffin's Creek in Pickering and the fast-tracking of Highway 413's Environmental Asessment process) - if this proposal passes it could represent a significant gain for protecting the water recharge and natural areas for our communities.  
> 
> By way of this email - I'm inviting you to participate in a Zoom call next Thursday, March 4th from noon to 1:30 to discuss ways to develop a loose coalition or federation of organizations to push for the greenbelt expansion. If you're not able to participate, the Zoom session will be recorded for your benefit. Mike Balkwill with Wellington Water Watchers has kindly agreed to facilitate the strategic planning aspect of the call. 
> 
> For the immediate term, this group would meet to strategize on the ask, share information, develop and implement tactics - and build momentum for fhe 60-day consultation period. The idea here is to avoid "re-inventing the wheel" by sharing resources and supporting each other. 
> 
> In the longer term - this group would work together to push this government to deliver on its promise by actually passing legislation to expand the greenbelt. Further, we would use this group to build additional allies and infrastructure (such as a centralized repository maps, signage etc.) that will be support the expansion of the Greenbelt on the Paris-Galt Moraine. 
> 
> If you could let me know:
> 
> 1) If you're able to participate, and 
> 2) If we've missed someone or an organization that should be approached to participate in this coalition. On this email, I've included:
> 
> Leslie Adams (Halton)
> Mike Balkwill (Wellington Water Watchers)
> Temara Brown (North Dumfries)
> Marnie Benson (Nature Guelph)
> Cheryl Connors (Palgrave)
> Anne Ehrlich (National Farmers' Union)
> Kathryn Enders (Ontario Farmland Trust)
> Ella Haley (Brant)
> Friends of Pittock Lake (Woodstock)
> Graham Flint (Flamborough)
> Coalition Caledon
> Nicola Ross (Caledon)
> Lisa Koehler (Halton)
> David Laing (Brampton)
> Judy Mabee (Belfountain) 
> Mike Nagy (Centre Wellington)
> Susan Robertson (Georgetown)
> Susan at Credit Valley
> Arlene Slocombe and Dani Lindamood (Wellington Water Watchers)
> Deb Swidrovich (Waterloo)
> Kevin Thomason (Waterloo)
> Tom Woodcock (RARE - Waterloo)
> Glen William Community Association
> Linda Sword (GET Concerned - Rockwood)
> 
> If you're unable to become involved and would prefer not to get emails - do let me know as well. 
> 
> Thanks so much and I look forward to connecting with you! 
> 
> Mike 
> 226-820-0063
> 
> 
> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/executive_gren.ca/attachments/20210224/d3b332f5/attachment.html>