Week of August 3, 2026 - Brantford Airport Land Grab Paused, Ecojustice Supreme Court Victory, New Events, And More!

Good Day,

Lots continues to happen this summer with a new Supreme Court victory, the very troubling Brantford Airport Land Grab meetings cancelled and the entire scheme paused, local former MP Mike Morrice announcing a national leadership campaign for the Green Party, Ford's popularity continuing to fall in the wake of yet more scandal, and lots of new events being announced that you will want to attend.

Here's the latest:

1) Ecojustice Supreme Court Victory!

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled this week that governments cannot place themselves above the law. The ruling for Democracy Watch vs. Attorney General Of Canada reinforced the role of courts as the primary guardians of the rule of law in our constitutional framework.

This ruling will help hold governments to account - particularly Ontario and Alberta which try to shield their anti-environmental decisions from accountability. Hopefully this victory will lead to better environmental decision-making.

Learn more at:

https://ecojustice.ca/news/heading-to-scc-to-support-government-accountability-through-the-courts/

2) Brantford Airport Land Grab Paused!

It's fantastic to see that the negotiations to annex more than 800 acres of County of Brant land into the City of Brantford have been paused until after the municipal election due to public feedback and pressure. The public meetings that were scheduled to take place in Brantford and the County of Brant next week have been cancelled and it appears that things are going to be put off until after the municipal elections. With neither Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis or County of Brant Mayor David Bailey running again it provides opportunity for change and better future outcomes.

CTV News - Plan paused to bring Brantford airport within city boundary

https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/plan-paused-to-bring-brantford-airport-within-city-boundary/

Hamilton Spectator @thespec1846.bsky.social - Brantford and County of Brant halt airport annexation negotiations:

https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/brantford-and-brant-halt-airport-annexation-negotiations/article_6ca4b30d-6393-5c6c-8ff9-4bf5363c8299.html

Action Required - Keep speaking up and providing feedback for the best possible outcomes.

3) Waterloo Water Crisis Continues

The solutions our community organizations have been calling for have been ignored for months and the root causes have not been addressed despite the claims of “Solving of the Water Crisis”.

This week the Region of Waterloo released an article on well optimization and how they are squeezing more water out of existing wells:

Region of Waterloo Well Optimization Helps Unlock More Water Capacity:

https://aroundtheregion.ca/progress-update-restoring-and-boosting-water-capacity/

ICYM: The Globe and Mail ran a huge, national front page article on the Waterloo Water Crisis. It is an excellent synopsis of the current water situation, how it arose, what can be done, and how it provides insights into a national water problem:

Globe and Mail - Drying Times: Waterloo Region’s Struggle To Get Enough Water:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-waterloo-region-ontario-water-crisis-wells-population-growth/

Well Interference Committee and Wilmot Concerns - Following up the Region's lack of any regional assistance to all the Wilmot citizens facing well and water issues in the areas where water taking has been increased so dramatically, Citizens for Safe Groundwater and other Wilmot groups have expressed concerns and are calling for better solutions. The Region held recent meetings to receive feedback on the review process and the Well Interference Committee. More information should be available for the August 12th Regional Council Meeting to decide the details of the Well Interference Committee.

Action Required - This water crisis is far from solved and we need to continue to demand better solutions. Continue to speak up for water security by writing Regional Councillors and area MPPs (contact information at end of update).

4) Concerning Martin Grove Gateway Industrial Park Proposal Makes Front Page News

What happens to the future of the St. Jacobs Farmers Market if it is no longer surrounded by farms, but found in the middle of a huge industrial area instead?

Community members from Martin Grove have raised concerns about an alarming proposal for a 100 acre industrial development that would breach both the Countryside Line and the firm City of Waterloo boundary, sprawling onto southern Woolwich Township farmland. This large industrial development is not part of the current Woolwich 30 year Official Plan, or the new draft Woolwich 30 year Official Plan, and it isn’t part of any City of Waterloo Official Plan either. There is no demonstrated need for designating new industrial land since there are thousands of acres of shovel-ready vacant industrial lands already designated across Waterloo Region - with much of it sitting vacant and unused for decades.

It was fantastic to see the entire front page of this week's Woolwich Observer devoted to the concerns local residents have about this proposed industrial park:

The Woolwich Observer - Concerned Residents Speak Up About Proposed Woolwich Industrial Park:

https://www.observerxtra.com/concerned-residents-speak-up-about-proposed-woolwich-industrial-park/

This attack on farmland is consistent with the patterns seen elsewhere like Wilmot's Mega-Industrial Land Assembly where farmland is targeted by land speculators due to its relatively low cost with the intention of rezoning it to increase its market value dramatically. Woolwich has eliminated the important Countryside Line concept from its next Official Plan and already developers and land speculators are seeking to purchase Woolwich farms for development presuming the success of this current industrial park development application.

If this plan were to be approved, it risks opening the floodgates - potentially thousands of acres of farmland could be lost to development with little the Township could do about it - beginning the destruction of Woolwich Township as we know it. This is a watershed moment. The choices are: continue to protect the productive rural, agricultural countryside as it has been for decades in this area, or allow an onslaught of development that will primarily benefit land speculators despite the fact this has not ever been, nor is it part of any current long-term planning.

We need to ensure that everyone in the community understands the importance of the firm urban boundary (it has held successfully for over 50 years!), the Countryside Line, and that breaching it would imperil agriculture for the huge rural area of Woolwich Township.

The absence of the stability and protection that Countryside Line provides is one shortcoming of the otherwise excellent Woolwich new Official Plan draft. It is critical to return the Countryside Line to the new Woolwich Official Plan before it is finalized this autumn.

Learn more at the Township of Woolwich Engage Page:

https://www.engagewr.ca/cra-lands-limited

Action Required - Speak up to protect Woolwich countryside and for food security, water, sustainability, and ensuring our farmers markets and agri-tourism isn’t comprised by the floodgates opening to the City of Waterloo industrial areas sprawling into Woolwich Township.

5) Concerns Continue Over Wilmot Official Plan Approval

The repercussions and fallout from the premature approval of a very concerning Wilmot Township Official Plan continues. On Monday, July 27th Wilmot Council Chambers was packed to standing room only as concerned citizens fought for the stronger, better plan Wilmot will need in the years ahead. Despite many outstanding citizen, expert planner, and community group delegations, Wilmot Council ignored all the concerns and issues that were raised, rejected the need to take more time to get it right, and approved the inadequate, minimalist Official Plan by just a single vote.

The disappointment and concern of so many citizens and groups that had worked so hard for a better Official Plan was significant. What was very clear was most of the citizens in the room knew more about the Official Plan, planning, and had put more time into the Wilmot Official Plan than any of the elected officials. The elected officials asked so many basic questions that it demonstrated, in public view, a lack of understanding of even the basics of the Official Plan process, the concerns with the plan, and the fact there had been only three weeks to review/address the final draft that contained so many changes, errors and omissions - mislabelled maps, missing concepts, etc.

Wilmot is now committed to a weak, insufficient, and very problematic Official Plan - a plan that will force massive development, do little to address the water crisis, create even more financial turmoil, and leave farmland/nature with inadequate protections. These protections pale in comparison to other municipalities - making Wilmot easy pickings for developers and land speculators.

Kudos to Councillors Kris Wilkinson and Harvir Sidhu who tried to have the vote deferred until later this autumn like other municipalities are doing so that issues could be properly addressed and decided upon by the newly elected Council.

The only hope for a better plan now is for us to work to ensure that a new Mayor and new Councillors are elected this autumn who will work for the greater public good, and protect the small, rural, agricultural community that Wilmot citizens desire, rather than undermining it by supporting efforts by Doug Ford, land speculators, and greedy developers who are so determined to destroy Wilmot and turn it into a large urban industrial centre (similar to the rapid transformation Milton has undergone over the past 15 years).

Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette - Wilmot approves new official plan but not without opposition:

https://www.granthaven.com/post/wilmot-approves-new-official-plan-but-not-without-opposition

Action Required - Vote this autumn for candidates who will revoke this inadequate, minimalist Wilmot Official Plan written to please the province and Doug Ford and replace it - ensuring the better, robust, stronger Official Plan that Wilmot needs to protect our farms and rural ways of life and help our community thrive into the future.

6) Devil's Creek Development Concerns

It is encouraging to see fantastic grassroots community organizing to oppose development at Devil's Creek. There is a proposal to try to force 30 townhouses into a property that even the developer acknowledges is so environmentally sensitive that at least three-quarters of the site can't even be developed and must be protected. We need to ensure that entire natural areas are protected - not just some parts. A petition is online, and a Facebook group is now up and running:

https://www.ipetitions.com/p/stop-devils-creek-destruction/ https://linktr.ee/savedevilscreek

Action Required - Speak up and help to ensure this important part of Cambridge is protected and that new town houses are built in a better location without such environmental impact and threatening water aquifers.

7) Recent Articles

Includes former Kitchener-Centre Member of Parliament Mike Morrice running for the leader of the Green Party of Canada to replace Elizabeth May, Doug Fords ratings continuing to fall, new rural transit funding, developers trying again for a second time at the OLT to force their massive development on Cambridge communities who have made it clear that they don't want farmland destroyed for unnecessary Hespeler urban sprawl, Ontario's concerning push to speed up mining approvals, and free trees for Trick or Tree in Woolwich this Halloween along with the opportunity to be a volunteer Forest Steward:

The Hamilton Spectator - Mike Morrice Running For Leader Of The Green Party Of Canada:

https://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/mike-morrice-running-for-leader-of-green-party-of-canada/article_d057cded-a03f-58c6-9a0b-81b3dd5471a1.html

The Hamilton Spectator - Doug Ford’s Popularity Dips In Wake Of Expenses Scandal:

https://www.thespec.com/politics/provincial/doug-fords-popularity-dips-in-wake-of-expenses-scandal-poll-suggests/article_d30a1e77-9906-5755-8800-0206907a6b9d.html\

The Trillium - Ford Government Staging Official Announcements Without Inviting Reporters:

https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/ford-government-staging-official-announcements-without-inviting-reporters-12631960

The Waterloo Record - $3.4M Of Transit Funding Connecting Waterloo Region Rural And Urban Areas:

https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/34m-transit-grant-to-help-connect-regions-townships/article_6b35fd23-b5b2-529a-aa58-afedc8c21cab.html

The Waterloo Region Record - Developers Back At OLT After Cambridge Council Nixes Maple Grove Road Project:

https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/developers-back-at-olt-for-nixed-maple-grove-road-project/article_9fc5e683-020f-516f-911e-b03f2b7ae682.html

The Narwhal - "It's Moving So Fast": Inside Ontario's Push To Speed Up Mine Approvals:

https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-1p1p-mining-conference/

Trick Or Trees And A Need For More Forest Stewards:

https://www.observerxtra.com/trick-or-trees-and-a-need-for-more-forest-stewards/

8) Wildfires And Fallout Continue

In our last update there were several articles that mentioned calls for a public inquiry into the province's dismal response to the wildfires in northern Ontario:

Ricochet @ricochetmedia.bsky.social - Ford government won’t commit to forest fire inquiry as Chiefs demand change

https://ricochet.media/indigenous/ford-government-wont-commit-to-forest-fire-inquiry-as-chiefs-demand-change/

National Observer @nationalobserver.com - Not an inquiry, but an audit: Ontario to review its wildfire response

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/08/04/news/ontario-auditor-general-wildfire-response-audit

It is worth noting that the 2024 the Auditor General’s review of the recommendations from a 2022 performance audit revealed serious deficiencies:

Source: Ontario Auditor General: https://auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en24/1-10FU_mgmthazards_en24.pdf

Across Canada - Wildfires are spreading in BC.

CBC News - BC Wildfires Rage:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/livestory/bc-wildfires-august-4-2026-9.7295843

Action Required - Speak up and demand that province and country are better prepared for the future disasters that are only going to be increasing under global climate breakdown.

9) Another Provincial Failure: Little Response To Severe Flooding After Intense Storms In Niagara

Once again the response by the province is lacking. Out of frustration the St. Catharines Mayor posted a request for help on social media on Sunday. The flooding has likely devastated some important crops, and may have caused leaks of toxic waste in addition to flooding thousands of homes:

CBC News - Shock, grief and a city on the edge as St. Catharines, Ont., deals with massive flooding

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/tsnumai-severe-flooding-people-rescued-9.7296198

St. Catharines Standard - ‘A week or two later is too late’: St. Catharines mayor demands immediate provincial and federal help for flood victims

https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/provincial-federal-government-aid-sought-st-catharines-floods/article_8269be1a-c04a-5cbc-8377-dc171484f421.html

CTV News - State of emergency declared in St. Catharines and Lincoln due to severe flooding:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/local/niagara/article/state-of-emergency-declared-in-st-catharines-lincoln-due-to-flooding

St. Catharines was “hit with three intense storms in the last 10 days, two that occurred in the last five and all of which brought more than 100 mm of rain.”

CHCH News - Flooding prompts state of emergency in St. Catharines and Lincoln

https://www.chch.com/chch-news/flooding-prompts-state-of-emergency-in-st-catharines-lincoln/

https://www.chch.com/chch-news/lincoln-ont-declares-state-of-emergency-after-historic-flooding/

Global News - St. Catharines declares state of emergency after 'hurricane's worth of rain'

https://globalnews.ca/news/12008150/st-catharines-state-of-emergency-hurricanes-worth-of-rain/

10) Streamlining?

The Government of Ontario has made an announcement proposing changes to ‘modernize and streamline 13 natural resource permits’, impacted are Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Crown Forest Sustainability Act and Public Lands Act:

https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1007833/ontario-proposes-new-changes-to-streamline-permitting

ERO postings (closing date Sept 21):

https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/026-0539

https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/026-0698

https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/026-0696

https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/026-0693

https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/026-0676

https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/026-0692

11) New Provincial Media Strategy - Ford Government Is Not Inviting Media

The provincial government continues to try to deceive voters by staging media events without inviting reporters. This approach limits access and scrutiny - no questions asked if members of the media aren’t there!

The Trillium @thetrillium.bsky.social - Ford government staging official announcements without inviting reporters:

https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/ford-government-staging-official-announcements-without-inviting-reporters-12631960

The Trillium - Federal and provincial officials delivered prepared remarks at ‘photo op’ with no media:

https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/federal-and-provincial-officials-delivered-prepared-remarks-at-photo-op-with-no-media-12636999

12) Together For Nature Tour

We are lucky that the Grand River Watershed is one of the stop locations for the Together For Nature Tour by LAND, Ontario Nature, and others, which creates the opportunity to hear directly from Indigenous land protectors and youth leaders about the growing challenges facing lands, waters, and wildlife. Learn how communities across Ontario can work together to support nature and a healthier future for all. Details are as follows:

Date/Time: Thursday, September 17th from 7pm to 9:30pm

Location: St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 54 Benton Street Kitchener

Tickets are a great deal for the musical line up including Susan Aglukark, Okinawa, Here We Stand and Friends of The Attawapiskat River at $30 - https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ontario-nature/events/together-for-nature-tour-kitchener/

13) Applying The Drainage Act To Communal Green Infrastructure

Join municipal staff, developers, and landscape architects in a webinar to explore how the Ontario Drainage Act impacts communal green infrastructure. Hosted by GreenWR and engineers from the Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA), this presentation explores how communal green infrastructure and rainwater harvesting systems can be implemented across multiple properties to address stormwater, flooding, water conservation, and climate resilience challenges in both new and existing urban developments.

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 23rd from 11:00am to 1pm

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/shared-solutionsapplying-the-drainage-act-to-communal-green-infrastructure-tickets-1995817390541

14) Build the Future - Not Pipelines

The Federal government has announced a public consultation process for the recently announced West Coast Pipeline. We have until September 18th to speak up, push back and tell the federal government our concerns. Environmental Defence has created a great one-click letter for you to send to Prime Minister Mark Carney and tell him to reject the proposed tax-payer funded West Coast pipeline and restore key environmental protections:

https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/194584/action/1

Action Required - Speak up for the sustainable energy and future we need - not more pipelines.

15) 2026 Municipal Elections

Nominations are open for candidates to seek public office. We need to ensure strong local governance and do everything possible to encourage people to run to serve their communities. However, there are still too many empty positions in municipalities across Ontario including Ward 2 in Woolwich, Ward 2 in Wilmot, and many others. Please consider serving your community and supporting those who are stepping forward.

It's great to see more people announcing their intention to run in Woolwich:

The Woolwich Observer - Chane Ballantyne Makes It A Three-Way Race For Mayor:

https://www.observerxtra.com/chane-ballantyne-makes-it-a-three-way-race-for-mayor/

Recent Media:
The Waterloo Region Record - Want To Run For Municipal Office? You Have One Month Left:

https://www.therecord.com/news/municipal-elections/2026-kitchener-waterloo-election/article_b6c71c0a-125c-5f1f-8604-b850bfcefd54.html

CBC News - Municipal candidate numbers have been sliding in Ontario for years. Will this election buck the trend?

"Fewer people on the ballot also creates a “feedback loop” that suppresses voter turnout."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-2026-election-candidate-deadline-9.7291011

Candidate Nominations - Learn who the nominated candidates are for your municipal (& regional) council so far:

City of Guelph:

https://guelph.ca/city-government/mayor-and-council/municipal-elections/candidates-of-the-2026-municipal-and-school-board-election/

Wellington County:

https://www.centrewellington.ca/township-services/2026-municipal-election/

Waterloo Regional Council - Note: Regional Chair is no longer an elected position:

https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/government-and-council/elections/2026-municipal-election/#RegionalCouncillor-Waterloo

City of Waterloo:

https://www.waterloo.ca/council-and-committees/municipal-elections/find-election-candidates/

Kitchener:

https://app2.kitchener.ca/election/candidates.aspx

Cambridge:

https://www.cambridge.ca/mayor-city-council-government/elections/nominations-candidate-profiles/

Woolwich Township:

https://www.woolwich.ca/learn-about/election/list-of-candidates-financial-statements/

Wilmot Township:

https://www.wilmot.ca/township-office/elections/

Wellesley Township:

https://www.wellesley.ca/council-and-administration/election/

County of Brant:

https://www.brant.ca/council-and-county-administration/elections/certified-candidates/

Brantford:

https://brantfordvotes.brantford.ca/en/candidates/candidates.aspx

Haldimand County:

https://www.haldimandcounty.ca/government-administration/elections/2026-municipal-election/registered-candidates/

Norfolk County:

https://www.norfolkcounty.ca/vote/filed-candidate-nominations/

Caledon:

https://www.caledon.ca/en/government/election-landing-page.aspx

If your municipality is not listed above, visit the official municipal website and search “candidate list 2026”.

Also, if you are in Waterloo Region check out Bob Jonkman’s excellent detailed overview of candidates for Regional government and the seven municipalities:

https://poliblog.jonkman.ca/Poliblog-Elections/2026-10-26-Municipal-Election/

Finally, check out the ALO Municipal Election Toolkit on 10 Actions Municipal Governments Can Take To Help Build Liveable Communities:

https://www.liveableontario.ca/alliance-resources/roadmap

Action Required - Get involved, step forward, or assist however you can to ensure that we get the representation we need for the greater public good in October.

16) Bring Back 570 NewsRadio

There is a new one-click petition to bring back 570 NewsRadio to the Grand River watershed. Speak up at:

https://www.change.org/p/bring-back-570-newsradio-to-kitchener-waterloo

17) ClimateFest 2026 - Sunday, September 13th 1pm To 7pm

Join ClimateActionWR and dozens of community groups again this year at ClimateFest in downtown Kitchener. There will be lots of booths, workshops, cooking demonstrations, a climate supermarket, repair cafe and much more.

Date/Time: Sunday, September 13th from 1pm to 7pm

Location: Gaukel Block, Downtown Kitchener

18) Next GREN ZOOM Meeting

Please make plans to join our next meeting online on Friday August 21st at 5:30 pm. Enjoy a few weeks off between now and then.

Topic: Grand River Watershed Zoom Meeting
Time: Friday August 21, 2026 at 5:30pm EST.
Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

Meeting ID: 826 4469 5701
Passcode: 713374

Thanks for all the great efforts so far - please share any questions or ideas.

Cheers,

Kevin Thomason @kthomason.bsky.social , Mike Marcolongo @mikemarcolongo.bsky.social

and Joan Faux @joantelferfaux.bsky.social on behalf of all our community groups.

A) Upcoming Events

Get out and get involved! And keep us posted on your events so we can share them.

July 30th to August 9th - "Rachel Carson", An original theatrical production at the Registry Theatre, Kitchener

https://registrytheatre.com/event/rachel-carson-2/

Friday, August 21st at 5:30pm - Next GREN Update Zoom meeting -

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

Sunday, September 30th from 1pm to 7pm - ClimateFest, Gaukel Bloc,

Sunday, September 20th from 9am to 1pm - rare Trail Party, Riverbluffs Park, Cambridge

https://raceroster.com/events/2026/130591/2026-trail-party-walk-hike-or-run-for-rare

B) Waterloo Moraine - Our Water Is Not For Sale

Learn more and send a message:

https://gpo.ca/action_campaign/protect-waterloo-moraine/?source=C26.E.PWM1

C) Rachel Carson - An Original Registry Theatre Production July 30th to August 9th

Final Week! - Learn more & purchase tickets: https://registrytheatre.com/event/rachel-carson-2/

D) Sustainable Cooking Classes - Sunday, Aug 16th:

E) Rare Trail Party - Sunday, September 20, 2026

Learn more and register: https://raceroster.com/events/2026/130591/2026-trail-party-walk-hike-or-run-for-rare

F) Some Humour - Theo Moudakis, The Toronto Star

G) Contact Info: