first newsletter of environmental defence : connecting citizens groups across Ontario

 Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter!

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Dear Chris,

Welcome to the first edition of our Ontario: Yours to Protect newsletter, a monthly round-up of a few of the latest issues and threats facing this province's environment, and how you can help protect it.

Yours to Protect is an initiative bringing together local citizen groups and environmental organisations from across Ontario to support clean water, farmland, biodiversity and healthy communities.

Thank you for being part of the movement.

In solidarity,

The Yours to Protect Team

 

ORBIT DEVELOPMENT: INNISFIL MEGA-PROJECT THREATENS LAKE SIMCOE
The Orbit is a giant proposed “new city in a cornfield” development near the shores of Lake Simcoe. This mega-project is slated to pave over farmland and radically change how Innisfil will grow, placing an impossible pollution burden on nearby Lake Simcoe. Last month, the Ontario government issued a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) to override local planning rules - including requirements for affordable housing - and permit the destruction to go ahead. Visit the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition webpage to learn more and take action.

SAVE THE CLEARVIEW WETLANDS
Amidst the scenic hills of the Niagara Escarpment in Simcoe County, a municipality is attempting to destroy an area of rare wetlands and old growth forests by paving and widening a seasonal dirt road to benefit a private quarry. Read this blog by local activist Wendy and take action.

 

5000-ACRE YORK REGION LAND-GRAB DELAYED BY PEOPLE-POWER
York Region’s plan to pave over 5,000 acres of its remaining farmland hit a roadblock - but it’s not over yet. Last week the council met to approve its sprawl agenda in a surprise special meeting, but thanks to a strong response from residents pushed the decision back to October 21. Read more and take action.

 

WE WENT TO THE HIGHWAY 413 COMMUNITY WEBINAR SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
The Ontario government’s Highway 413 project team is holding their second community engagement webinar next week. Environmental Defence’s Programs Director Keith Brooks attended the first meeting and found minimal public interaction, and a series of misleading statements about the proposed megahighway. Learn more in this blog.

 

LEARN MORE
CAMPAIGNS WE'RE WORKING ON
Ontario doesn't need another megahighway. #Stopthe413
 

TAKE ACTION
Stop the Big Sprawl - build livable, walkable communities.
TAKE ACTION
Learn more about the Yours to Protect initiative at YourstoProtect.ca
 

LEARN MORE
YOURS TO PROTECT IS AN INITIATIVE

OF ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING CLEAN WATER,

FARMLAND, BIODIVERSITY, AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.   
  

Environmental Defence Canada
33 Cecil St, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1N1

You are subscribed to this list as zenriver@sympatico.ca. You received this email because you made a donation, opted-in to receive updates when you signed a petition, or signed up directly.
 

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Hello Yours to Protect Team,

Congrats on this first informative newsletter. It's a great idea to have a forum so the many citizens groups forming across Ontario can keep each other updated on our various campaigns and projects.

Our local conservation area, Callaghan's Rapids, has been under attack from ATV vandals driving up and down the river bed for several years now. Although motorized vehicles are prohibited, they have become so emboldened they've created their own "mudding road" through over a hundred metres of forest.

Our group formed just over a year ago, and we've already had some minimal success with stopping the ATV destruction and are starting some restoration projects and improved parking lot access.

best wishes,
Chris Faiers

Marmora, Ontario

zenriver@sympatico.ca


Here's a post from my blog last year about our group: