Protect Your Waterfront Investment Brochure
Turtle Lake Data Sheet 2009
Loon Lake Data Sheet 2008

New Comprehensive Zoning By-Law - Released April 2010

Muskoka Watershed Council's latest bulletin outlines the damages of boat wakes on sensitive shoreline habitats as well as contains information about the 2010 MHF Native Plant Sale: Muskoka Watershed Council's April 2010 MWC e-Bulletin

Article on climate change and phosphorus being to blame for excessive lake algae

Veridian vs Lakeland Hydro Rates - An interesting read on hydro rates in our community

The GGRA in partnership with the Lakes Associations of Gravenhurst led this initiative to have council change the ward structure.  Right now the population in the wards ranges from a high of  46% to a low of 7%.  In only one of the four wards is the population approx. 25%.  The GGRA and LAG feel that this is undemocratic and contravenes a basic Canadian charter right, the right to effective representation.

Everyone approached with this information signed the petition without reservations.  The formal delegation document was presented along with 579 signatures.  The text of the delegation follows.

We will keep you posted on what the Council is going to do.

Thanks to all who signed!

Click here to view the document presented to council on Thursday July 23rd

 FireSmart your forest home or cottage

Despite generally cool and wet conditions over much of Ontario this summer season, the recent events in Kelowna B.C. highlight the need for forest fire preparedness for everyone living in the forest.  FOCA and the Ministry of Natural Resources encourage every homeowner to reduce their risks from wildfire, and to plan ahead in the event of a disaster. To get a copy of the FOCA FireSmart Cottage fact sheet please contact info@foca.on.ca . For further information you can also visit the MNR FireSmart pages.

Restoring and Protecting the Health of Lake Simcoe

The Lake Simcoe Act and the accompanying Lake Simcoe Plan are now in place. This watershed initiative is an important and innovative approach to long-term management of a large inland lake in Southern Ontario.  If you live in this region, or have an interest in the kinds of approaches being contemplated to protect this resource, please visit the Ministry of Environment website.    

 Lake Planning

If you haven’t already ordered this valuable lake planning resource, please contact FOCA at 749-3622 or at info@foca.on.ca.  The Lake Planning Tool was developed by FOCA member associations in collaboration with French Planning.

 Water a priority for Canadians

Cottagers know the value and importance of clean and sustainable water supplies.  Recent research released by Nanos Research suggests that this is a strongly held view amongst all Canadians.  Read the interesting findings from this recent report here. This report was featured in a recent “water” edition of Policy Options, a publication produced by Institute for Research on Public Policy.

Annual General Meeting Minutes: Click here for 2009
Annual General Meeting Minutes: Click here for 2008
Bylaw 94-54 Click here to see the amended bylaw 94-54 (Adobe reader is required to view)

Development Charges affect taxes and debt

Background

Last year Muskoka District Council decided that Muskoka’s waterfront and rural residents will contribute through their taxes to the funds to reduce the 90 million dollar District debt.  The debt build up was caused by uncontrolled spending on infrastructure projects and too low development charges. The low development charges alone added 5% to the tax bill over the last few years.    When an area grows infrastructure is needed to support the growth and development charges are the fees charged to help pay for this infrastructure, the roads, water systems, sewer plants etc.   Every new residence or commercial structure pays development charges.   Last October, under pressure from the development industry District Councillors decided to maintain artificially low development charges for one year despite a consultant’s study that proved that they could be substantially raised and still be in line with other municipalities.   That means in one year the district lost revenue of  2.9 million assuming development has stayed at historic levels.    The result, more infrastructure costs are being added to the debt.  So we on the waterfronts will have to pay even more.

Current Proposal and its cost

The issue of development charges is once again before District council and once again the proposal is keep charges below the recommended level for the next 4 years.  The impact on taxpayers is significant.  .  I did a very high level calculation of the amounts which would be raised using the consultant’s recommended residential charges and the significantly lower 10% per annum increase charge favoured by the mayors committee.  The difference over the first five years of this regime is 9.6 million dollars.   This amount will go on the debt and taxation lines unless there is a drastic reduction in expenditure on infrastructure.     One other piece of information for you regarding expenditure, the tender documents are in for the new Bracebridge sewer plant, originally estimated at 32 million.  The tender responses are between 45 and 60 million.  In this context cost control is going out the window.

Action

The issue is very simple.  Either the taxpayer costs are lower and the developer who benefits pays or the developers' profits are higher and the public pays.  The mayors’ proposal is going before the full District council on June 22d.   If you want the councillors to vote for not increasing the debt and taxes, then you need to contact your district councillors and tell them the importance of adopting the charges recommended by the consultant.  A list with email addresses is at 

http://www.muskoka.on.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?PageID=67

An email is a good idea.  A deputation is even better.  And both is the best of the lot.  We urge you to act now.  June 22 is only one week away.

Our neighbour and we use a spot across the road for dumping leaves, in one corner of which live half-a-dozen or so red
trilliums. There are many thousands of white ones along our road but the red ones are, as far as I know, only in the one spot.
We do nothing to care for them although I try to avoid emptying large bags of dead leaves on their heads in the autumn.
Below is a picture and a good reference (American):
http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/53538.html.

- David and Mary Bryce