TONIGHT: Why Canada needs Guaranteed Livable Basic Income

Back in 2017, Bob Jonkman participated in the Waterloo Region
Basic Income Consultation hosted by the Ontario Liberals before their Pilot.

Thursday, September 17, 2020 – 19:00 to 20:30

The Green Party has long advocated for a Guaranteed Livable Income.  Tonight you’re invited to join Green Party MP Paul Manly as he hosts a virtual national town hall with Coalition Canada: Basic Income in discussion about the Guaranteed Livable Basic Income.  The panel of experts will explain the basics, consider the benefits, and bust some myths about basic income.

Panelists:

• Senator Kim Pate: An independent senator who has advanced the national conversation around basic income. Senator Pate is a nationally renowned advocate who has spent nearly 40 years working in and around the legal and penal systems of Canada, with and on behalf of some of the most marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized — particularly imprisoned youth, men and women.
• Tracy Smith Carrier: Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at King’s University College at Western University. Dr. Smith-Carrier’s research and policy analysis, examines if, and how, marginalized groups access programs and services in the post-welfare state. Her current research projects involve examining trends in intergenerational social assistance receipt, research on charitable and justice models of social support, human rights, and the design and delivery of basic income. She is Chair of Basic Income, London Ontario.
• Evelyn Forget: Economist and Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Forget’s research has focused on the data associated with a basic income field experiment conducted in Manitoba in the 1970s. She has been consulted by governments in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Finland, the Netherlands and Scotland on this topic. Her research has been featured on CBC Ideas, PBS Marketplace, and in the documentary The Free Lunch Society. An updated edition of her book, Basic Income for Canadians, is due out Oct. 12th.
• Robert Case: Associate Professor of Social Development Studies at Renison University College, Waterloo, and Chair of the Wellington Water Watchers, a Guelph-based water advocacy organization. Dr. Case’s research and teaching interests include social welfare policy; community organization; community resilience, localism and community-based activism; social development and the environment; social ecology.
• Monika Ciolek: Monika was a participant in the Ontario Basic Income pilot project. She is a sole support parent and a self-represented performance artist based out of Hamilton, Ontario. Having spent 14 years on Ontario Works, and over 20 years learning her industry, Monika has dealt with issues of women’s rights within the cultural sector.

Live simultaneous French translation will be provided.

REGISTER NOW

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LhSFdmXqSdWRtkJMUk4rvA

source: https://www.greenparty.ca/en/content/why-canada-needs-guaranteed-livable-basic-income

Annual General Meeting of the Kitchener–Conestoga EDA and CA — 6 June 2019

Meeting!

Hello Kitchener–Conestoga Green Party members: The Annual General Meeting for the Kitchener-Conestoga federal Electoral District Association and provincial Constituency Assocation is happening!

What: Annual General Meeting of the Kitchener–Conestoga EDA and CA
When: Thursday, 6 June 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Kennedy’s Restaurant
Location: 1750 Erbs Road, St. Agatha, Ontario Map

RSVP

(RSVPs are optional, but will help with reservations)

Current Green Party members in KitCon can vote for, and run for positions on the Executive. Lapsed members (whose membership has expired recently) can renew their membership at the meeting.

These are the executive positions currently held:

Kitchener–Conestoga Green Party of Canada Association

• Chief Executive Officer (Bob Jonkman)
• Financial Agent (Bryan Izzard)
• One or more Members-At-Large (Elisabeth Honek, Laurel Russwurm, Patrick McDonald)

Kitchener–Conestoga Green Party of Ontario Constituency Association

• President (Elisabeth Honek)
• Chief Financial Officer (Bryan Izzard)
• One or more Principal Officers (Laurel Russwurm, David Weber)

Nominations will be made at the AGM; you can nominate yourself.

Thank you, and see you at the AGM!

–Bob.

—
Bob Jonkman
E-mail: mailto:bob.jonkman@greenparty.ca
Phone: +1-226-476-4529
Web: https://bobjonkman.ca/
Twitter: @BobJonkmanGPC

Vote for the person who will best represent you in your riding!

Environmental Events in April 2019

The following are not Green Party events, but should be of interest to everyone who is concerned about the environment and our survival.

Green Drinks Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge

COME ONE, COME ALL for an informal gathering of environmentally conscientious, sustainably-like-minded people who enjoy casual conversation, good food and good fun!

Are you working on, interested in, or thinking about sustainable facilities, renewable energy and the environment? We are too! So why don’t you come out and join us for some friendly conversation about all things GREEN.

With a focus on Sustainable Development, we extend this invitation to ALL friends of local businesses, communities, academia, and governments to gather for some wonderfully inspired conversation! This is a great chance to catch up with friends, meet new people, and to share our ideas, insights, and visions for a sustainable future!

Gatherings are held every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Won’t you please join us?

Next Meeting:

April 10th, 2019, 6-9 pm

Barley Works Billiards Room

The Huether Hotel,

59 King St N, Waterloo, ON.

Hosted By: Ecovert Commissioning Corporation & Co-Hosted By: Livescape

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Plan Ahead! Venues are pending as we are considering rotating locations quarterly, alternating between Kitchener, Waterloo & Cambridge. Please Stay Tuned!:

8 May 2019: Heuther Hotel / Barley Works

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Green Drinks K-W-C on the Web:

FaceBook / Instagram / LinkedIn / greendrinkskwc@gmail.com

Eventbrite Event Page

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Thank You:

Green Drinks KWC co-ordination team: Ecovert Cx Members: Alex Gordner, Kate Nelson, Rebecca Chiba and Livescape Member: Ashley DeMarte

Special thanks to the support of GeoSource & Diverso Energy with their food sponsorhip for out Revival Event held March 13th, 2019.

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Brant Green Drinks

Brant Green Drinks on the 13th day of each month

Who: people like you who are interested in environmental issues, making a difference, networking, or just plain having a good time with friends and neighbours!

What: good drinks, good people, good times!

Why: good drinks, good people, good times!

Agenda: good drinks, good people, good times!

Brant Green Drinks is the Brantford/Brant chapter of an organic, self-organizing, international network of environmentally conscious, lively people, like yourself, from all walks of life.

There is no formal agenda for our gatherings, just good drinks, good people, and good times. Come out and you’ll be made welcome. Just say, “are you green?” and we will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there.

Green Drinks is a great way of catching up with people you know and also for meeting new friends and making business contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd. The gatherings are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity.

So, come along, bring a friend, we’re looking forward to meeting you!

For more information or if you have any questions,
please contact organizer Ken Burns: kenburns [at] brantgreens.ca

When: Saturday, 13 April 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm or for as long as folks are around

Where:
Devlin’s Advocate
93 Dalhousie Street, Brantford

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Rebel Dance Party

Fending Off Extinction

Extinction Rebellion aims to make these questions front and centre in the minds of every person across the world: Why are we allowing our rulers to send us and our planet to an early grave? Do we want to live or not?

We think that we do… and we want to make some noise and have some fun to prove it! Bring signs and drums and join us for some flash dancing in the streets.

Uptown Waterloo Square
75 King Street South, Waterloo, Ontario

15 April 2019 marks the start of International Extinction Rebellion Week when people worldwide will take to the streets to demand decisive action from governments on climate change and ecological collapse. We invite you to join us and help us build this movement.

Demands:

1. The Government must tell the truth about the climate and wider ecological emergency, reverse inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate with citizens.
2. The Government must enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels.
3. A national Citizen’s Assembly to oversee the changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose.

More at https://rebellion.earth/demands/

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Our Water, Our Future

Thank you for your patience as we worked to reschedule this event! We will hope that you will be able to join us on April 17th at 7pm First United Church in Waterloo! We are optimistic the weather won’t be a problem in April. We have lots of room so please bring a friend. Registration is open once again!

While we appear to have made important progress on turning back one of the most egregious components of Bill 66, there remain significant problems in this bill, including Schedule 5 repealing the Toxics Reduction Act. Major concerns remain that the Ford ‘government for the developers’ may reduce the support for monitoring and enforcement of legislation that protects our water, land and air quality.

Join us on April 17th at First United Church in Waterloo at 7pm to celebrate our progress on Bill 66 and to engage with experts as they explain other current dangerous proposals and corresponding calls for action.

We have two powerful keynote speakers: Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association, former water policy advisor for Ministry of the Environment, and legal representative for citizens in the Walkerton Inquiry; and Bruce Davidson, Co-founder and Vice-Chair of Concerned Walkerton Citizens.

There will be lots of time to have your questions answered, as well as presentations from Susan Bryant of APT Environment on Elmira’s ongoing water contamination; Kevin Thomason of Grand River Environmental Network on countryside protection; and a representative of Waterloo Wellington Water Watchers on source water protection.

Refreshments will be served; please bring along your travel mug or water bottle.

Please register on Eventbrite: Our Water Our Future

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Pictures: Elmira Maple Syrup Festival 2019

The Waterloo Region Greens attended the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival again this year, and a good time was had by all!

Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky colours the first button while Bob Jonkman operates the button making machine.

Bob Jonkman colours a button while Willem Jonkman looks on.

Laurel Russwurm, Bob Jonkman and Zdravko Gunjevic staff the button making table.

YouTube: Glorious Greens 2019

Four Events: @WR_Greens Nominations, @GuelphGreens Nomination, Elmira Syrup Festival Info Booth, and Pancake Flipping Contest

This is a busy week for Green Party people in Waterloo Region!

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Waterloo Region Green Party of Canada Nominations

Thursday, 4 April 2019 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Kitchener — Conestoga, Kitchener South — Hespeler, and Cambridge are holding a joint nomination meeting!

Feel the energy being created by the passionate and dedicated people in your community. Connect with others and learn how the Green Party plans to bring together and boost our economy, community & environment.

Open to everyone and anyone.

In addition to the chance to meet and hear from your candidate nominees, you will also get to listen to some amazing local musicians. Derek Hines and Jason White will be jazzing up the night with their incredible talents and will likely be bringing a few friends along. We may even have a couple of surprise performers join them throughout the night.

Vote in your Green Party candidates for the 2019 Federal Election! Or simply come to learn more about the Green Wave growing in Waterloo Region and across Canada.

Cambridge Nominee

• Michele Braniff

Kitchener — Conestoga Nominee

• Stephanie Goertz

Kitchener South — Hespeler Nominees

• David Weber
• Ian Graham
• Archie Henderson

There will still be a contest for districts with only one nominee; the ballot also has a choice for “None Of The Above”.

In order to vote for a candidate your membership must have been activated by 6 March 2019, or if you have an expired membership you can renew it before or at the event.

Doors open at 6:30pm with some opening music. The official business gets underway at 7:15pm. We’ll have musical performances scattered throughout the night and we’ll end with an opportunity to socialize while listening to some great tunes. we’ll have some light refreshments available and Edelweiss will be providing additional food and beverage service throughout the night. They are open all day so you can even come early and get some dinner before the event.

What: Joint Nomination Contest for Cambridge, Kitchener-Conestoga, Kitchener South–Hespeler
When: Thursday, 4 April 2019 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: Edelweiss Tavern
Location: 600 Doon Village Road, Kitchener, Ontario Map 1

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Guelph Greens Nomination Meeting

Friday, 5 April 2019 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm

On April 5th, the Guelph Greens will come together to select their candidate for the 2019 federal election. This year we have a Canada-wide record five nominees vying for the role of candidate!

You will have one final chance to hear from all five candidates before voting. We will also welcome a special guest from The Green Party of Canada, and Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, Mike Schreiner.

Get to know the nominees!

• Alex Chapman
• Steve Dyck
• Hayley Kellett
• Ralph Martin
• Jax Thornton

In the past two months Guelph Greens membership has doubled (!!)

Thank you for your patience while we arranged for the needed larger venue! See you at the Holiday Inn!

Please register for free tickets!

What: Guelph Greens Nomination Meeting 2019
When: Friday, 5 April 2019 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Holiday Inn Guelph Hotel & Conference Centre
Location: 601 Scottsdale Drive, Guelph, Ontario Map 2

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Elmira Maple Syrup Festival – Button Making and Info Table

Saturday 6 April 2019 from 7:00am to 4:00pm

Making Buttons

Come check out the Waterloo Region Greens information table in the arena at the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival! If you’ve got questions about Green Party issues, politics, or policies we’ll have the answers you’re looking for!

David Weber (KitSHesp) makes a button

We’ll have a button making station for kids of all ages. Colour or draw your own artwork, and get it stamped into a button.

Operating the button press

You’ll have a chance to meet the Green Party of Canada candidates from the five Waterloo Region ridings: Cambridge, Kitchener Centre, Waterloo, Kitchener–Conestoga, and Kitchener South–Hespeler.

Zdravko Gunjevic (Waterloo) makes a button

And at 10:00am come to the main arena to see the “Glorious Greens” participate in the annual pancake flipping contest. Will there be celebrity flipperers? Come find out!


What: Elmira Maple Syrup Festival – Button Making and Info Table
When: Saturday 6 April 2019 from 7:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Woolwich Memorial Arena, across from the pool
Location: 4 Snyder Avenue South, Elmira, Ontario Map 3

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Pancake Flipping Contest

Saturday 6 April 2019 from 10:00am to 12:00n

The Glorious Greens: David Weber (KitSHesp), Mike Schreiner (Guelph), Bob Jonkman (KitCon), Zdravko Gunjevic (Waterloo), Stacey Danckert (KitCent)

Join the Glorious Greens as we return to the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival Pancake Flipping Contest as the undisputed vanquished competitors of 2018! We have nowhere to go but up!

FlapJack and Zdravko Gunjevic (Waterloo)

Got skillz? We’re looking for pinch flipperers in case substitutes are needed!

Raise a flipper in support of your favourite Green Team — We’ll need as many cheerleaders in the stands, and coaches, trainers, kinesiologists, and physiotherapists may be required, too!

FlapJack with David Weber, Zdravko Gunjevic, Stacey Danckert, Bob Jonkman, and Mike Schreiner, candidates in the 2018 Ontario Provincial Election

Our competitive flipperers are the Waterloo Region Green Party candidates for the upcoming federal election in October 2019. Meet your candidates, and shake the hand that flipped a pancake.


What: Pancake Flipping Contest
When: Saturday 6 April 2019 from 10:00am to 12:00n
Where: Woolwich Memorial Arena
Location: 4 Snyder Avenue South, Elmira, Ontario Map 4

Events in March 2019

Hello Waterloo Region Greens! Here are some events that are sure to be of interest to people who care about the Environment and Social Justice issues.

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Elmira Public Library presents: Live and Learn Series – Climate Action

Location
Elmira Branch, Waterloo Regional Library System

Address:
65 Arthur St. South, Elmira ON, N3B 2M6

Event Details:
Attend this informative session where you can participate in discussions and get questions answered. Registration required.

Thursday, March 14 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Climate Action in Waterloo Region: What is our local progress and what are the plans for the future?

Presented by Katarina Milicic, ClimateActionWR

Additional Details:
Wheelchair Accessible

Live and Learn Series – Climate Action – Registration

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#Fridays4Future Climate Strike

This event is dedicated to building a youth voice to speak up for climate action in solidarity with Greta Thunberg and other young people across the world.

Join the students on FRIDAY, MARCH 15th from 12.30 to 1:30pm in solidarity with a worldwide climate strike outside of MP Bardish Chagger’s office / Waterloo City Hall at 100 Regina Street in Uptown Waterloo. Map The focus will be on youth, but all are welcome.

Kitchener-Waterloo Climate Save, RISE for Climate Waterloo, Divest Waterloo, and the local chapters of Citizens’ Climate Lobby and 350.org would like to facilitate and support youth climate strikes in our region … for their future.

• #FridaysforFuture
• #climatestrike

This event will be held the 1st Friday of every month.

Fridays for Future Climate Strike: Kitchener-Waterloo | Facebook

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Just Eat It – A Food Waste Story

 

The Nith Valley Ecoboosters are pleased to present an event about food waste. Recent media attention has focused on the amount of food that is wasted each year in Canada. Join the Ecoboosters on Wednesday, March 20th, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Zion United Church, 215 Peel St., New Hamburg (Map) to view the film “Just Eat It – A food waste story” and hear from three expert panelists who will share their thoughts on this issue.

The panelists include Dr. Alison Blay-Palmer, the director of the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at Wilfrid Laurier University; Dr. Mike von Massow, the OAC Chair in Food System Leadership at University of Guelph; and Jennifer Pfenning, Director of Human Resources and Marketing, Pfenning’s Organic Farms, New Hamburg. Following the panel discussion, there will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

This event is free but registration is required. To register, use the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/just-eat-it-film-screening-and-panel-discussion-tickets-53254237859

For more information, email nvecoboosters@gmailcom

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UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Join CROSS CULTURES magazine’s 18th annual commemoration of the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination for the entire Waterloo Region

Open to everyone!

From 8:45am to 11:00pm at Kitchener City Hall Map

• we start with indigenous prayer, O Canada and greetings from dignitaries
• morning – focus on students from public, Catholic and private schools
• afternoon – open interactive roundtable and panel discussions, documentaries
  • the meaning of being indigenous to a land
  • what is race? why racism?
  • youth identity
  • open for more suggestions and speakers
• evening – peace concert and arts and culture extravaganza

Open invitation to all artists . . . music, drama, spoken word / poetry, dance, visual … and crafts, fashion show ???

CROSS CULTURES has been working on a MUTUAL RESPECT campaign

and last year unveiled the prototype for what is hoped will be completed by March 21st for a monument to be placed at the clock tower entrance of Victoria Park ..

This event is always a work in progress, and we would love to hear from you!

Gehan D. Sabry
Editor / Publisher
Cross Cultures magazine (since 1991)
POB 20002 Kitchener ON N2P 2B4
email: crosscultures@bellnet.ca
www.crosscultures.ca

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These are not Green Party events, but you can be sure Greens from Waterloo Region will be there. All these events and more can be found on the KWPeace calendar of Peace and Social Justice events.

Our Water Our Future

Doug Ford’s government for the developers has introduced a new disturbing piece of legislation. Bill 66 would allow developers to bypass important environmental protections and land use controls established under other provincial laws, plans and policies, such as the Clean Water Act and the Greenbelt Act, that protect our environment and our health.

The Canadian Environmental Law Association has said that Bill 66 together with other recent “laws to eliminate or dilute important environmental statutes, regulations and programs … constitutes the biggest and most significant environmental rollback to occur in a generation in Ontario.”

Join us to learn more about the implications of Bill 66 for our water and for our future.

What: Our Water Our Future
When: Thursday, 7 February 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: First United Church
Location:16 William St W, Waterloo, ON N2L 1J3 Map

Please REGISTER — admission is free

While we appear to have made important progress on turning back one of the most egregious components of Bill 66, there remain significant problems in this bill, including Schedule 5 repealing the Toxics Reduction Act. Major concerns remain that the Ford ‘government for the developers’ may reduce the support for monitoring and enforcement of legislation that protects our water, land and air quality.

Join us on February 7th at First United Church in Waterloo at 7pm to celebrate our progress on Bill 66 and to engage with experts as they explain other current dangerous proposals and corresponding calls for action.

We have two powerful keynote speakers: Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association, former water policy advisor for Ministry of the Environment, and legal representative for citizens in the Walkerton Inquiry; and Bruce Davidson, Co-founder and Vice-Chair of Concerned Walkerton Citizens.

There will be lots of time to have your questions answered, as well as presentations from Susan Bryant of APT Environment on Elmira’s ongoing water contamination; Kevin Thomason of Grand River Environmental Network on countryside protection; and Arlene Slocombe of Waterloo Wellington Water Watchers on source water protection.

Refreshments will be served; please bring along your travel mug or water bottle.

This event is being organized by the following community partners:

• APT Environment
• Citizens’ Climate Lobby — Waterloo Region
• Divest Waterloo
• Grand River Environmental Network
• Hold The Line
• Kitchener Waterloo Climate Save
• RISE WR

Bill 66 Community Group Meeting

From Kevin Thomason of GREN:

Happy New Year!

While the holidays have been a wonderful break from Bill 66, we don’t have much time to send a strong, clear message to Premier Ford about our concerns this Bill could have on our community, farmland, green space, and natural resources.

I’d like to remind you of the upcoming meeting this Thursday at the same room at CIGI as our initial community meeting. Details are as follows:

Date: Thursday, January 3, 2019
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Room A142, CIGI – Centre for International Governance and Innovation – 67 Erb Street West, Waterloo Map
Access: Through main West doors (facing Erb St) near Caroline St. Intersection

A tentative agenda for the meeting is as follows:

• update/status of groups working to book Council delegation appearances at municipal and regional councils
• update/status of groups working to book MPP meetings in local ridings
• time for groups to meet in breakout sessions and figure out next steps/activities
• planning/discussion of January 12th Bill 66 training event/protest in Ajax
• planning/preparations for January 15th event at Kitchener City Hall with ECO Dianne Saxe and other speakers
• other business

We had a tremendous turnout at our initial meeting and It will be important to have at least one delegate from each community group at this next meeting to help ensure a strong, co-ordinated response to Bill 66.

Please share any questions or ideas and I hope to see you on Thursday evening.

Cheers,
Kevin.

P.S. There is a draft Citizens Toolkit for Bill 66 that is coming together as groups across the province aggregate their materials and efforts. It is evolving daily and contains some good background and supporting material against Bill 66.

P.P.S Also attached below are some initial social media images and video that are under development provincially:

Bill 66 Social Media Video:

YouTube: Save The Greenbelt – Stop Bill 66

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Kevin Thomason
Vice-Chair, Grand River Environmental Network

Phone: +1–519–888–0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: +1–519–240–1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason@mac.com

CANCELLED: Post-Holiday Event with @WR_Greens

CANCELLED: Tonight’s Post-Holiday Event

Bad news, our Post-Holiday Event for tonight needs to be cancelled.

An unfortunate combination of last-minute cancellations, car troubles, and unavailability means that expected attendance is down to a handful of people. Rather than having a few people bring potato salad for dozens and having it go to waste, it’s better to cancel now, and have another event later in the spring when more of us can meet each other.

My apologies for the late notice; these things sneak up on you and then explode.

–Bob Jonkman
Event Planning Committee Chair

Hello Waterloo Region Greens! Merry Belated Christmas and Happy Upcoming New Year!

The holidays are half over, and in the usual Christmas madness we’ve only now been able to get ourselves coordinated for our Holiday Event. Bryan Izzard has offered to host at his farmhouse in Baden on Saturday, 5 January 2019, starting at 6:00pm. I guess that makes it a Post-Holiday Event!

Join all your friends of the Waterloo Region Greens for a final celebration of the holidays and 2018’s accomplishments — and since it was an election year, there were many accomplishments!

It’s a potluck event, so bring an appetizer, sweet or savoury snacks, salad, fancy beverages, dinner entree, or dessert. And when you come, please label your dish if it contains wheat, nuts, eggs, dairy, meat, &c.

What: WR Greens Post-Holiday Event
When: Saturday, 5 January 2019 at 6:00pm
Where: Bryan Izzard’s house
Location: 3876 Sandhills Road, Baden, Ontario
Map: https://osm.org/go/ZXnSv4rx-?m=

If anyone needs a ride you can ask your fellow WR Greens on this Discussion List, or send me an e-mail to say whether you need a ride or can offer one, and I’ll sort ride-givers and ride-takers, make a list (and check it twice). Don’t forget to include your address!

And shortly after our Post-Holiday Event we’ll have another regular WR Greens meeting on Wednesday, 9 January 2019. We need to set up candidate nomination dates for the EDAs (there’s a federal election in 2019!), and start planning for the summer’s festival events and other political happenings.

What: WR Greens Regular Meeting
When: Wednesday, 9 January 2018 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, followed by Social Night
Where: Innovation42 Co-Working Space (tentative)
Location: 2nd Floor, 283 Duke Street West, Kitchener, Ontario
Map: https://osm.org/go/ZXnwU_oa?m=

I’ll send out a reminder early that week with confirmation of the meeting location.

See you all at Bryan’s house on Saturday, 5 January!

–Bob Jonkman
Event Planning Committee Chair

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Bob Jonkman mailto:bob.jonkman@greenparty.ca
Green Party Member in Kitchener — Conestoga +1-226-476-4529
Web: https://bobjonkman.ca/ Twitter: @BobJonkmanGPC
Vote for the person who will best represent you in your riding!

—–

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Contact the list owner at wrgreens-owner@wrgreens.ca

Mobilize resistance to Bill 66

Laura Hamilton from Divest Waterloo writes:

I’m writing with some urgency today as we have very little time to mobilize resistance to Bill 66, known as Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act. I have included more information about this Bill below.

GREN is planning a preliminary meeting next Tuesday December 18th at 7pm at CIGI (67 Erb Street West, Waterloo, Ontario Map) in room A-142 to discuss the environmental implications of this legislation and to plan next steps for January.

Please extend this invitation to others whom you feel would be interested and able to support our efforts.

I apologize for the short notice and appreciate the difficulty of this request coming so close to the holidays. Our next meeting in January will be on Thursday the 3rd. Consultation closes on January 28th, so we really cannot delay.

Background on Bill 66

Last week, the Doug Ford government introduced Bill 66, known as “Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act.” Among its targets is the Greenbelt Act. Bill 66 would allow municipalities to circumvent Greenbelt protections by enacting “Open for Business” bylaws under which they could approve factories and business parks within the Greenbelt. Smaller municipalities (under 250,000) would simply need to show the Ford government that their Greenbelt development would create 50 jobs. For larger cities the requirement would be 100 jobs.

Related measures in Bill 66 would empower municipalities to exempt developers rules designed to protect wildlife and municipal water supplies, including the Clean Water Act, which was enacted following the Walkerton water tragedy in 2000 when seven people died after drinking the town’s contaminated water.

–Geoffrey Stevens, The Record Dec 10/18: Doug Ford’s hypocrisy on the Greenbelt

Other Acts targeted by the Ford government in the astonishing broad scope of Bill 66 include:

• Toxins Reduction Act
• Great Lakes Protection Act
• Oak Ridges Moraine Act
• Places to Grow Act
• Lake Simcoe Protection Act

and * numerous other protections.

Bill 66 if approved could destroy our environmental regulations, contaminate our drinking water and circumvent good planning by haphazardly opening up farmland and natural areas for development with no requirement for public meetings or communications and no opportunity for appeal to any decisions.

It is a reckless bill to enhance the profits of only a few large businesses and corporations who would bypass important rules and safely regulations at a huge cost to every Ontarian.

We have just 42 days to stop this major threat to public safety, our environment, and natural resources we all depend on before the Ford government will attempt to approve this Bill. It is been called the biggest and most significant environmental rollback in a generation and we need to act now to mobilize as a community and kill Bill 66.

• Tories’ Bill 66 would undermine clean-water protections that followed Walkerton tragedy, victims and advocates warn
• CBC: Hamilton and Burlington mayors won’t sacrifice greenbelt for Ford’s open for business bill
• Globe and Mail: Ontario bill would open up Greenbelt, activists warn
• Canadian Labour and Employment Law: Ontario’s War on “Red Tape” Continues

* Other Laws impacted by Bill 66

• Agricultural Employees Protection Act, 2002
• Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
• Education Act
• Employment Standards Act, 2000
• Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993
• Highway Traffic Act
• Labour Relations Act, 1995
• Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007
• Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act
• Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998
• Pawnbrokers Act
• Pension Benefits Act
• Personal Property Security Act
• Planning Act
• Private Career Colleges Act, 2005
• Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000
• Wireless Services Agreements Act, 2013