[GREN-Exec] Two Important OGA Updates

[Kevin Thomason]

Hi GREN Executive,

Things are progressing well on the Greenbelt expansion issues with Greg Michalenko and I having a good call with Region of Waterloo Planning Staff yesterday.  Their current concerns are consistent with the issues that they raised back in 2018 and they are going to share with us the Staff Report coming to Regional Council in the weeks ahead hoping that we will be supportive and can appear before Council regarding it.

Provincially, there has been some good progress fighting some of the most egregious MZO’s and below is a request that GREN sign onto a joint letter against Schedule 3 of Bill 257 which I recommend that GREN does.  Please let me know if you are in favour of this.

There is also a further call for groups interested in seeking funding to grow the Greenbelt.  At this point I don’t think that we need to apply for it as we will already have more than enough to keep us busy with the two funding applications that have gone in recently to the Greenbelt Foundation.

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

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> On Mar 17, 2021, at 9:14 AM, Franz Hartmann <franzgreenbeltalliance at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Dear OGA Supporters,
> 
> Here are two important updates:
> 
> 1. Anne Bell request re: Bill 257  
> 2. Immediate Funding Opportunity from the Greenbelt Foundation for Grow the Greenbelt Provincial Consultation 
>  
> 1. Anne Bell Request re: Bill 257
> 
> Anne Bell at Ontario Nature would like to invite your organization to consider endorsing the attached letter, drafted by Ontario Nature and Environmental Defence, to the Attorney General regarding Bill 257.
> 
> As you may have heard, Schedule 3 of Bill 257 proposes to amend the Planning Act so that both existing and future Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) would no longer have to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). This means that MZOs could lawfully override protections for significant wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitat and other natural heritage features. By allowing the Minister to authorize developments that contravene the PPS, the proposed Schedule 3 changes would erode the very basis of planning in Ontario and would eliminate the benefits of this predictable, fair and principled planning framework for municipalities and other authorities implementing PPS policies.
> 
> For more information, here's a joint statement  <https://ontarionature.org/news-release/bill-257/>(Ontario Nature, Environmental Defence, Ecojustice) about Bill 257.
> 
> 
> 
> If you would like to endorse the letter, please let Anne know by Wednesday March 24th at the latest: anneb at ontarionature.org <mailto:anneb at ontarionature.org> . She’ll need the name and title/position of the person representing your organization, plus your logo.
> 
> 
> 2. Immediate Funding Opportunity from the Greenbelt Foundation for Grow the Greenbelt Provincial Consultation 
> 
> The Greenbelt Foundation recently announced a new immediate funding opportunity <https://www.greenbelt.ca/apply_for_a_grant> for groups who want to engage their supporters and community in the Provincial Greenbelt Expansion Consultation. Applications are being accepted now.
> 
> Be well.
> 
> -- 
> Franz Hartmann
> Ontario Greenbelt Alliance
> <Joint ltr Bill 257 DRAFT.pdf>

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