For Our Kids Niagara

We have been offline for several months but today Shannon recorded this video, while in isolation due to covid-19 exposure, because it is so, so important and urgent to stop the proposed changes to the Conservation Act. These changes are hidden in Ontario's omnibus budget bill and will gut the Province's Conservation Authorities and give developers free reign. Conservation Authorities were created in 1946 to prevent the impacts of poor planning that led to flooding, erosion a...nd deforestation and loss of life through the impacts of these events. The proposed changes will allow the Minister to override CAs decisions on permits for development; will no longer allow them to defend their decisions at Local Planning Tribunals; will not allow them to issue stop work permits when violations occur; will no longer allow citizens to be members of the CA boards; will require that only elected Councillors be members and, flying in the face of good governance and their fiduciary responsibility, will require Councillors as board members to make decisions on the basis of what's best for their own municipality rather than on the basis of what's in the best interest of the CA. The Bill has passed second Reading and action is urgent. Thousands of people and organizations around Ontario have sent emails to the Ford government telling them to protect our Conservation Authorities and the important work they do. Please join them. Here's what you can do: Go to Ontario Nature's site that automatically sends a letter to the Premier, the relevant Ministers and your local MPP asking them to remove Schedule 6 from Bill 229: https://ontarionature.good.do/conservationauthorities/send/ Here's one more thing you can do: The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs is meeting on Nov. 30th and Dec. 1st and 2nd. You can email the members of the standing committee. Their emails are: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] The message can be as simple as: "I support the important work done by Conservation Authorities to protect people and property from harm and to protect Ontario's natural assets for current and future generations. Please remove Schedule 6 in its entirety from Bill 229." Thank you.

In the coming months, Niagara's Regional Council will have a once in a lifetime chance to vote to preserve Niagara's natural heritage for the future or to conti...nue to allow it to be destroyed and paved over, leaving a devastated ecosystem to our children and grandchildren. As part of the Official Plan review, the Region must develop a Natural Heritage System and a Water Resource System. To be effective in preserving what little is left of Niagara's natural ecosystems, the Region will need to map and protect environmentally significant areas and water resources, sufficient buffers to protect them and linkages to connect them into a resilient and sustainable system that can foster and enhance local biodiversity into the future. Unfortunately, Regional staff are recommending options that will not meet this objective, largely because it leaves all settlement areas (municipalities and their designated development lands) out of the equation. Natural systems do not recognize lines drawn on a map. They are either considered in their entirety or you don't have a "system". Not only should the Regional Council select the Natural Heritage System and Water Resource System that best protects the environment, they should also select the ones that provide the most benefits for the Region's citizens. People need nature where they live. As COVID has taught us, they need nature close to home as a respite from stress and as a place to recreate and exercise. And they need it for the sheer beauty it provides. Our urban areas also need the green infrastructure benefits that natural spaces provide such as flood and erosion protection, pollution mitigation, pollination services and water quality improvements. Our cities’ citizens deserve the shade and urban cooling effects that will become even more important as the impacts of Global Warming increase. Our citizens need the oxygen produced by green spaces and the improved air quality benefits they provide, especially since so many of our citizens live near major highways. Our citizens, now and in the future, deserve the best option for the Natural Heritage System. You can watch a short presentation Liz Benneian made to the Region's Planning and Economic Development Committee on the issue at https://www.youtube.com/embed/RY_1gIdVSN0 For more information and to find out how you can help please contact the Biodiversity and Climate Action Committee at [email protected]

The Ontario government is trying to have a landmark climate change lawsuit thrown out. Sophia, Zoe, Shaelyn and four other courageous young Ontarians are going to court to fight for their Charter-protected rights to life, liberty and security in the face of the climate crisis. Show your solidarity now with these young people fighting for climate action.... #climateemergency #greenfuture #greenrecovery #forourkids

"Under the new regulation, government ministries do not have to consult the public or consider environmental values as they make decisions. The regulation doesn’t specify that those decisions must be related to COVID-19." This is very, very bad news. Using a state of emergency to push through legislation to weaken environmental protections is reprehensible. Please share. #climateemergency #climateaction #greenrecovery #forourkids #greenfuture

Canada is spending tens of billions to weather the impacts of Covid-19. One global crisis is enough for our kids' lifetime. Let's make the economic recovery a green one. Please read and sign. #climateemergency #greenfuture #greenrecovery #forourkids #forourkidsniagara