Dear Mr. Walker:

As citizens of Grey-Bruce who are members of local Climate Action Teams, we are working hard to find ways to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change. There are at least 8 other groups in Grey Bruce and vicinity meeting on a regular basis. (greybruceclimateaction.ca) In addition, numerous municipalities have declared a climate emergency, and Grey County has initiated their own climate action plan. With such an abundance of intense interest and activity alive in our community, we felt it was time to alert you to specific local issues under provincial jurisdiction, some of which are currently under review, and discover your personal views. So we are looking forward to our conversation with you, our representative in the provincial legislature, on Friday. We understand that we have 45 minutes so have planned an agenda to make the best use of our time together.

First of all, we’d like to hear from you. Given such a high level of concern here in Grey-Bruce about climate change, can you tell us in five minutes two or three priorities on this file that you would like to achieve before the next election in 2022?

After we hear from you, we will raise four specific topics, provide some background and ask a question. We propose that this part of our meeting be moderated by Barry Randall, Managing Director of the Grey Bruce Sustainability Network. With your permission, we would like to record our conversation and share relevant aspects with the Owen Sound Hub. The four topics, with background notes, are as follows:

Environmental oversight. As expressed in several letters to the Premier and Environment Minister, with you copied, we were very concerned about the suspension, last April, of processes for citizens to have input around government initiatives that could impact the environment, not to mention putting the Environmental Bill of Rights on hold. While we were relieved when that directive was rescinded, we would like you to clarify where you stand on the right of Ontarians to be informed and consulted, without exception, around all decisions that will impact the environment. Will you help us find out what plans were introduced and decisions made during the April 3 to June 19 period that the suspension of citizen input was in effect?

Family farms, Challenge and Opportunity. There is widespread agreement that Ontario must preserve and promote small-scale family farms, a vital segment of the Grey-Bruce economy. But within a decade many smaller farms will be passed on to younger family members – or sold mainly to agribusiness. Speculators continue to gobble up land, pushing prices beyond what young farming families can afford. On the positive side, modern farming methods have demonstrated that good soil health has many benefits: produces nourishing food that is free of chemicals, keeps water in the soil during droughts and heavy rain, helps pollinators and wildlife, and improves carbon capture in the ground. All this points to the need for active support for the small farm community including the formation of land trusts and long-term leases; training for new farmers about best soil health practices; and a creative, innovative approach to land transfers. Mr. Walker, does your government have a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy for the preservation of small-scale farms, and if not will you advocate for one?

Changes to the Aggregate Resources Act proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) under Bill 132, Section 16: undefined key terms; need for community consultation.

Changes to the Conservation Authorities Act. Last fall many people from Grey-Bruce wrote to the Ministers of Natural Resources and the Environment to challenge a directive that Conservation Authorities should wind down all education and environmental stewardship programs that were not part of the CA’s primary flood control mandate. Now it appears that Ontario has reduced funding for flood programs by half and requested that programs be wound down as the province apparently prepares to reduce funding, programs and services. This would be extraordinarily destructive for the work of all CAs including Grey Sauble; and astoundingly unreasonable given that the province only funds about five per cent of the CA budgets, with the remainder coming from municipalities and fees. Are you prepared to be a champion of Conservation Authorities by advocating that their budgets and full activities be preserved?

These are complex issues to discuss in 45 minutes. And there are other, equally important topics. However, we look forward to making a start to promote strong provincial legislation to mitigate climate change and build healthy communities for future generations in Grey-Bruce.
Yours sincerely,

Joyce Hall, Barry Randall, Michael Craig, Danuta Valleau (presenters); David Walton, Judy Halpern, Lesley Lewis, Vitold Kreutzer