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50 BY 2030 WATERLOO REGION

Working Towards Climate Justice and a Safe Climate Future

Southern Ontario Growth Conference

Many municipalities are trying to understand how to best integrate climate change into their municipal decision-making process, such as in the development of their official plan. Because plans for growth and infrastructure have far-reaching impacts on climate change, municipalities are seeking additional guidance to better understand how to integrate into practice various, seemingly competing, priorities.

With official plans currently being finalized, the goal of this conference is to lift up the voices of experts, organizations, individuals and community groups that may not readily have the ear of elected officials and municipal planners.

Part 1: Community Focus

Feb 17, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

The voices in our communities are extremely powerful. Learn why your voice is important, meet others taking action and get your hands on campaigning resources.

Part 2: Municipal Focus

Feb 18, 9:00 - 3:30 pm

Municipalities learn how to best integrate Climate Change into your Official Plan, from the voices of experts, other municipalities, as well as your community.

Press Conference

Feb 18, 4:15 - 4:45 pm

Watch the Recorded Speaker Presentations

In order to have a greater impact on the decisions made by our elected municipal councillors, more groups and people need to step forward to talk about important issues, such as housing, food insecurity, transportation, land use, farmland, ecological areas and more.

The voice of the community is extremely powerful and many federal, provincial, and local organizations are trying to help by offering additional support and resources.

Part 1: Community Focus

Learn about the resources available to help you and your group advocate
Hear stories of communities raising their voices
Understand why you as a person, or as part of a community group should care about the completion of your municipal official plan and how it impacts the health of your community

Part 2: Municipal Focus

Bringing forward the best evidence by other municipalities & organizations
Provide opportunities to network
Connect with available resources for municipalities
Learn specific policies that can be used

(Clip) Bill 23: Why Should You Care: Could Site Plan Control Make a Difference

02:48

50 by 30 Waterloo Region

(Clip) Bill 23: Why Should You Care: Could Site Plan Control Make a Difference

Site Plan Control is being removed by Bill 23 for developments of 10 units or less. This means that these developments will not need to be approved for design concept, where the entrance/elevator/garbage locations are located, drainage from the property, and "landscaping" which would include preservation of natural elements (aka trees/green space), as well as the expectation that buildings will meet Green Energy Standards (if a municipality has a standard in place) The government states that removal of the Site Plan Control process is to expedite new developments to remove NIMBYism. There are many reasons why communities fight development.Some of them are very valid and important, such as the preservation of green space/trees, and the potential increase in neighborhood flooding. This is a short clip from the 2nd part of our Nov 4th meeting, Bill 23: Why Should You Care. Watch the full recording: Part 1: https://youtu.be/eR6mWd_wYl0 Part 2: https://youtu.be/6DIqFdgxWns

(Clip) Bill 23: Why Should You Care: Growth Plan, Urban Sprawl, Infrastructure Deficit, & Taxes

01:49

50 by 30 Waterloo Region

(Clip) Bill 23: Why Should You Care: Growth Plan, Urban Sprawl, Infrastructure Deficit, & Taxes

Why Should You Care: Growth Plan, Urban Sprawl, Infrastructure Deficit, & Taxes This is a short clip from our Nov 4th meeting, Bill 23: Why Should You Care. Watch the full recording: Part 1: https://youtu.be/eR6mWd_wYl0 Part 2: https://youtu.be/6DIqFdgxWns

(Clip) Bill 23: Why Should You Care: How communities are planned & what is site control

09:27

50 by 30 Waterloo Region

(Clip) Bill 23: Why Should You Care: How communities are planned & what is site control

Bill 23: Why Should You Care: How communities are planned & what is a site control plan This is a short clip from the 2nd part of our Nov 4th meeting, Bill 23: Why Should You Care. Watch the full recording: Part 1: https://youtu.be/eR6mWd_wYl0 Part 2: https://youtu.be/6DIqFdgxWns

(Clip) Bill 23: Why Should You Care : What Are Green Development Standards

11:55

50 by 30 Waterloo Region

(Clip) Bill 23: Why Should You Care : What Are Green Development Standards

Why should you care about the removal of Green Development Standards in Bill 23. This is a short clip from our Nov 4th meeting, Bill 23: Why Should You Care. Watch the full recording: Part 1: https://youtu.be/eR6mWd_wYl0 Part 2: https://youtu.be/6DIqFdgxWns

Bill 23: Why Should You Care (Part 2 - Nov4)

01:15:08

50 by 30 Waterloo Region

Bill 23: Why Should You Care (Part 2 - Nov4)

This is the 2nd of 3 meetings to stay up-to-date on what Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, means to organizations, municipalities, and people across the province, as well as an opportunity to mobilize action. The focus of this meeting is on Green Development Standards, Municipal Planning, and Site Control Plan. Watch the recording of the 1st meeting here: https://youtu.be/eR6mWd_wYl0 Speakers: - Gabby Kalapos, Clean Air Partnerships - Jeff Henry, Waterloo city Councilor 2019-2022 and planner. Read Environmental Defense's Analysis of Bill 23: Ontario’s Housing Bill is Actually a Trojan Horse for Environmentally Catastrophic Rural Sprawl https://environmentaldefence.ca/2022/10/31/ontarios-housing-bill-is-actually-a-trojan-horse-for-environmentally-catastrophic-rural-sprawl/ Register for our newsletter to stay up to date. New information and meetings are always emerging https://www.50by30wr.ca/newsletter We need help getting more information out to organizations across Ontario and to the general public. Please contact us at 50by30waterlooregion@gmail.com if you can help.

Bill 23: Why Should You Care (Part 1 - Nov2)

59:07

50 by 30 Waterloo Region

Bill 23: Why Should You Care (Part 1 - Nov2)

Bill 23 is going through parliament at lightening speed. It went through the second reading in under a week. We have no time. Some of the key concerns in the bill are: 1. Removes key protections to our environment (wetlands, farmland, sensitive areas opened up and conservation authorities lose even more power). 2. Reduces affordable housing protection and money collected from municipalities to pay for affordable housing projects. 3. Significantly curtails all third-party appeal rights. 4. Reduces development fees which means our municipalities will have less money to fix roads, etc.Taxes will most likely increase because money will have to come from somewhere. 5. Allows the Minister to make amendments to an official plan. 6. Reduces the influence of conservation authorities that protect watersheds and green spaces and gives them much less say over where housing developments can proceed. 7. Weakens the rules on how to identify provincially significant wetlands so fewer of them would qualify for any protections that remain. 8. Potentially reduces all environmental review of all planning proposals by removing conservation authorities’ roles in development approval, planning, and environmental protection 9. The bill also proposes to allow development in currently protected wetlands, woodlands and wildlife habitat under a yet-to-be-defined “offsetting” program. 10. Conservation authorities will no longer be allowed to consider factors like pollution or land conservation when approving building permits, 11. Sharply limits 'Site plan control', which currently deals with design and compatibility issues like landscaping and drainage. Requirements for developments with less than 10 units would be removed, and site plan reviews for larger projects would focus only on health and safety issues rather than on overall compatibility and neighborhood impact 12. The bill sets a cap on the number of affordable units and the affordability period. 13. Nothing in the bill ensures new homes, built with public incentives, are kept affordable 14. Restricts who can engage in tribunal hearings, and what issues they can engage on, and increases the ability of the Tribunal to reject appeals, remove participants, and penalize those who raise concerns. Key Notes - Dianne Saxe: New Toronto City Councillor, Former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Environmental Lawyer - Phil Pothen: Environmental Defense Actions you can take: 1. Complete this form to help mobilize across the province. https://forms.gle/QAgQ3EwaeCJfHmvt7 2. Reach out to as many organizations as possible from affordable housing, protection of our environment, unions working on clean energy, neighborhood associations. Everyone needs to know about this Bill. 3. Email/call your MPP and MP, especially if they are from the Conservative party. 4. Amplify social media posts on the concerns about Bill 23, Other resources: https://www.osler.com/en/resources/regulations/2022/forget-everything-you-thought-you-knew-about-planning-approvals-in-ontario%E2%80%A6 https://environmentaldefence.ca/2022/10/31/ontarios-housing-bill-is-actually-a-trojan-horse-for-environmentally-catastrophic-rural-sprawl/

Ken Greenberg - Growing Resilient, Inclusive Communities

01:05:13

50 by 30 Waterloo Region

Ken Greenberg - Growing Resilient, Inclusive Communities

Southern Ontario Growth Conference - Feb 18, 2022 https://www.50by30wr.ca/sontarioconference Speaker Information: “Growing Resilient, Inclusive Communities - Climate Change is an Imperative and COVID 19 may be an Accelerator” Bio: Ken Greenberg is an urban designer, teacher, writer, former Director of Urban Design and Architecture for the City of Toronto and Principal of Greenberg Consultants. For over four decades he has played a pivotal role focusing on the rejuvenation of downtowns, waterfronts, neighborhoods and on campus master planning, regional growth management, and new community planning. Cities as diverse as Toronto, Hartford, Amsterdam, New York, Boston, Montréal, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, St. Louis, Washington DC, Paris, Detroit, Saint Paul and San Juan Puerto Rico have benefited from his advocacy and passion for restoring the vitality, relevance and sustainability of the public realm in urban life. He is the recipient of the 2010 American Institute of Architects Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Design Excellence and the 2014 Sustainable Buildings Canada Lifetime Achievement Award. He was selected as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2020 and was awarded a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from the University of Toronto. ----------------------- Southern Ontario Growth Conference - Feb 18, 2022 https://www.50by30wr.ca/sontarioconference Many municipalities are trying to understand how to best integrate climate change into their municipal decision-making process, such as in the development of their official plan. Because plans for growth and infrastructure have far-reaching impacts on climate change, municipalities are seeking additional guidance to better understand how to integrate into practice various, seemingly competing, priorities. With official plans currently being finalized, the goal of this conference is to lift up the voices of experts, organizations, individuals and community groups that may not readily have the ear of elected officials and municipal planners. In order to have a greater impact on the decisions made by our elected municipal councillors, more groups and people need to step forward to talk about important issues, such as housing, food insecurity, transportation, land use, farmland, ecological areas and more. The voice of the community is extremely powerful and many federal, provincial, and local organizations are trying to help by offering additional support and resources. Part 1: Community Focus Learn about the resources available to help you and your group advocate Hear stories of communities raising their voices Understand why you as a person, or as part of a community group should care about the completion of your municipal official plan and how it impacts the health of your community Part 2: Municipal Focus Bringing forward the best evidence by other municipalities & organizations Provide opportunities to network Connect with available resources for municipalities Learn specific policies that can be used

The Climate Reality Project : Cities and Communiy Climate Action in Practice

17:37

50 by 30 Waterloo Region

The Climate Reality Project : Cities and Communiy Climate Action in Practice

Southern Ontario Growth Conference - Feb 18 https://www.50by30wr.ca/sontarioconference Speaker Information: Title: Cities and Communiy Climate Action in Practice Our approach is rooted in the empowerment of citizens: we are dedicated to equipping them to be effective catalysts for change in their communities. How do we accomplish this? By training people of all walks of life to be strong communicators on climate science and solutions. Former US Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore regularly trains contingencies of citizens to join the Leadership Corps, a worldwide network of Climate Reality Leaders advancing solutions and raising awareness in their communities. We also develop tools and programs that are tailored to the Canadian context, in order to deepen citizens’ impact in their communities and to propel Canada towards carbon neutrality. -------------------- Southern Ontario Growth Conference - Feb 18 https://www.50by30wr.ca/sontarioconference Many municipalities are trying to understand how to best integrate climate change into their municipal decision-making process, such as in the development of their official plan. Because plans for growth and infrastructure have far-reaching impacts on climate change, municipalities are seeking additional guidance to better understand how to integrate into practice various, seemingly competing, priorities. With official plans currently being finalized, the goal of this conference is to lift up the voices of experts, organizations, individuals and community groups that may not readily have the ear of elected officials and municipal planners. In order to have a greater impact on the decisions made by our elected municipal councillors, more groups and people need to step forward to talk about important issues, such as housing, food insecurity, transportation, land use, farmland, ecological areas and more. The voice of the community is extremely powerful and many federal, provincial, and local organizations are trying to help by offering additional support and resources. Part 1: Community Focus Learn about the resources available to help you and your group advocate Hear stories of communities raising their voices Understand why you as a person, or as part of a community group should care about the completion of your municipal official plan and how it impacts the health of your community Part 2: Municipal Focus Bringing forward the best evidence by other municipalities & organizations Provide opportunities to network Connect with available resources for municipalities Learn specific policies that can be used

Clean Air Partnership

16:15

50 by 30 Waterloo Region

Clean Air Partnership

Southern Ontario Growth Conference - Feb 18, 2022 https://www.50by30wr.ca/sontarioconference Speaker Information: Title: “Bringing Climate Change into Official Plans and Growth Management Decisions - Emerging Leading Practices Clean Air Partnership (CAP) is a charitable environmental organization that works with municipalities and their partners to improve air quality, advance active transportation, and take bold climate action. We convene networks, lead research and knowledge transfer, and catalyze transformative action. CAP’s vision is that Canadian communities are sustainable, healthy and resilient. Gabriella Kalapos has advocated for local government action on advancing sustainable communities for more than 25 years through her work at the Toronto Environmental Alliance, ICLEI-Cities for Climate Protection campaign, and currently as executive director at the Clean Air Partnership. Her focus has been to encourage, support and monitor the implementation of clean air and climate change actions, and to build partnerships that enable collaboration among communities and all levels of government. Gabriella has a bachelor of science in environmental geography from Concordia University and a master's degree in environment and business from the University of Waterloo. -------------------------------------- Southern Ontario Growth Conference - Feb 18, 2022 https://www.50by30wr.ca/sontarioconference Many municipalities are trying to understand how to best integrate climate change into their municipal decision-making process, such as in the development of their official plan. Because plans for growth and infrastructure have far-reaching impacts on climate change, municipalities are seeking additional guidance to better understand how to integrate into practice various, seemingly competing, priorities. With official plans currently being finalized, the goal of this conference is to lift up the voices of experts, organizations, individuals and community groups that may not readily have the ear of elected officials and municipal planners. In order to have a greater impact on the decisions made by our elected municipal councillors, more groups and people need to step forward to talk about important issues, such as housing, food insecurity, transportation, land use, farmland, ecological areas and more. The voice of the community is extremely powerful and many federal, provincial, and local organizations are trying to help by offering additional support and resources. Part 1: Community Focus Learn about the resources available to help you and your group advocate Hear stories of communities raising their voices Understand why you as a person, or as part of a community group should care about the completion of your municipal official plan and how it impacts the health of your community Part 2: Municipal Focus Bringing forward the best evidence by other municipalities & organizations Provide opportunities to network Connect with available resources for municipalities Learn specific policies that can be used

Southern Ontario Growth Conference Day 1 Agenda.jpg

Southern Ontario Growth Conference Day 2 Agenda.jpg

Part 1: Community Focus

Future Ground Network: Divya Arora

Title: Opt-into Future Ground Network

Future Ground Network supports local groups taking action in their communities to secure healthier, more viable futures in the areas of climate justice, biodiversity, waste reduction and sustainable systems.

Joining the network means connecting with other community groups to share knowledge, find inspiration and work together to achieve common goals. As a network member, you can tap into a wealth of tools, resources and wisdom to help your community build a better future from the ground up.

Climate Reality Project Canada: Campaign Toolkit: Maheep Sandhu & Margo Burgess

Title: Cities and Communiy Climate Action in Practice

Title: Campaigning 101

Our approach is rooted in the empowerment of citizens: we are dedicated to equipping them to be effective catalysts for change in their communities. How do we accomplish this? By training people of all walks of life to be strong communicators on climate science and solutions.

Former US Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore regularly trains contingencies of citizens to join the Leadership Corps, a worldwide network of Climate Reality Leaders advancing solutions and raising awareness in their communities. We also develop tools and programs that are tailored to the Canadian context, in order to deepen citizens’ impact in their communities and to propel Canada towards carbon neutrality.

Climate Interactive: Stephanie Goertz

Climate Interactive is an independent, not-for-profit think-tank that grew out of MIT Sloan in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Based on a long tradition of system dynamics modeling, our simulations and insights help people see connections, play out scenarios, and see what works to address climate change, inequity, and related issues

Jane Fogal, Local & Regional Councillor for Town of Halton

Titlte: Maximizing Citizen Impact on Municipal Decision Making

Jane is serving her 5th term as a Halton Regional Councillor representing Halton Hills. She is committed to developing a liveable Halton Hills by championing trails and bicycle infrastructure. Currently she is the Chair of the Halton Hills Low Carbon Transition Committee and is a core member of Stop Sprawl Halton.

Divya Arora

.

Title: Official Plans - Your Voice at the Table

Sarah Syed: Youth Advocate

Title: Food Scraps become bioplastics - who knew?

Sarah has won first place at the Toronto Science Fair, the UTSC Best Environmental Award, was a finalist at the International GENIUS Olympiad and won the Nature Inspiration Finalist Award which is offered to only 4 youth across Canada. Sarah is a Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalist. Sarah loves sharing her passion and journey in STEM with other youth groups. She has organized a community STEM club and an international hackathon with over $42,000 in prizes and 1000 participants.

Kevin Thomason

Title: Municipal Official Plans

Land use planning decision, infill, ways we can see community members coming together to influence decisions regarding official plans. The new growth push by the provincial government.

Smart Growth Waterloo Region is a group of citizens of Waterloo who want to enjoy both thriving liveable cities and a sustainable countryside. We see the Ontario Municipal Board ruling against the Region of Waterloo Official Plan in favour of private developers and urban sprawl as a serious threat to our community’s vision of the future.

Kevin Thomason has worked in the technology and marketing fields for Apple Computer, KPMG, Quarry Communications, and as the co-founder of a leading high-tech start-up acquired by Google. Concerned with rampant growth and the destruction of the Waterloo Moraine, Kevin volunteered full-time for three years to help develop a Greenbelt Plan and protect thousands of acres of the most threatened and critical lands in Waterloo Region from development.

Kevin continues to coach a number of start-ups focussing on clean-tech, green-tech, and high-tech as a Sustainability Mentor at the Accelerator Centre in Waterloo, sits on numerous Board of Directors, and is actively involved with organizations such as the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance, SmartGrowth Waterloo, the Grand River Environmental Network, Youth Challenge International, and Medecins Sans Frontieres. He recently completed construction of an innovative zero-waste, net-zero sustainable home on the shores of Sunfish Lake where he lives with his wife and young children.

Please help by sharing the graphics with other organizations and community members.

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Southern Ontario Growth Conference Poster Community Focus.jpg