[GREN-Exec] Fw: Draft Agenda and Zoom Link: Become a Founding Member of the Paris-Galt Moraine Greenbelt Coalition!

Wed Mar 3 19:49:01 EST 2021

Dear Grenexecs:

I'll attend this zoom discussion tomorrow as an observer.  The issue for us in Waterloo Region regarding the proposal from the Government of Ontario is complicated.

My own concern is to understand  which configuration (or combination) could provide optimal protection for nature and the environment in Waterloo Region:

  1.   The Ford Government's proposal to extend the greenbelt to include the Guelph-Paris moraine, which lies mostly within Waterloo Region.
  2.  Guelph Riding Green MPP Mike Schreiner's private member's bill from 2 years ago to protect the Guelph moraine.  It has passed second reading (the formal initial stage) but is now stalled before the vastly more meaningful third and final vote.Schreiner has labelled the Ford proposal "greenwashing".
  3.  Existing safeguards afforded through the package of protections afforded by the Region of Waterloo.  Region officials have expressed concerns that greenbelt protections would actually be weaker than the Region's.
  4.  The Green Belt support group's new provincial campaign for considerably more extensive greenbelt expansion.  Kevin has played a leading role in this group over quite a few years.
  5.  The expansion proposal that would  come from the ad-hoc group, the Paris-Guelph Moraine Greenbelt Coalition, that is staging the zoom meeting on Thursday.  Please see the agenda and backgrounder supplied below by this group.

Please let me know what your concerns are, what questions you would like me to ask, or wha tinformation you feel we need, at the Thursday meeting.  I'll endeavour to get such information.  Then I will report back to our GREN Exec zoom meeting on Friday.  I will not make a commitment or take a stand on behalf of GREN on Thursday.

***Kevin:  Please send me the zoom link in a fresh email, unconnected to this string, which seems to have devoured it.

- Greg

________________________________
From: Mr. Kevin R. Thomason <kevthomason at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 12:33 PM
To: Greg Michalenko
Subject: Fwd: Draft Agenda and Zoom Link: Become a Founding Member of the Paris-Galt Moraine Greenbelt Coalition!

FYI. Greg, good to talk with you today.  Here’s the call information for tomorrow at noon.

Cheers,
Kevin.

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

Begin forwarded message:

From: Mike Marcolongo <lizandmichele at yahoo.ca<mailto:lizandmichele at yahoo.ca>>
Subject: Draft Agenda and Zoom Link: Become a Founding Member of the Paris-Galt Moraine Greenbelt Coalition!
Date: March 2, 2021 at 5:50:08 PM EST
To: Mike Marcolongo <lizandmichele at yahoo.ca<mailto:lizandmichele at yahoo.ca>>

Hi Everyone:

I've heard back from many of you and its super exciting to think about the possibilities for a coordinated campaign to influence the government consultation as well as putting pressure on this government to pass legislation for expanding the Greenbelt.

For Thurday's Zoom call from noon to 1:30, I'd like to propose the following agenda (please send any additions before the call):

1. Introductions
2. Assessment of Government Proposal/Announcement
3. Our Vision for Greenbelt Expansion; Our Vision for an Alliance or Coalition
4. Proposed Approach to Respond to Government Consultation
5. Project Proposal to Support Alliance or Coalition
6. Other Items or Concerns?
7. Next Steps

Here is the Zoom link for the call:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/3837605447

Looking forward to connecting with you on Thursday at noon!

Mike

On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, 04:08:55 p.m. EST, Mike Marcolongo <lizandmichele at yahoo.ca<mailto:lizandmichele at yahoo.ca>> wrote:

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

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