13 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2023 In this issue of UPDATE, you will see how GBA addressed issues associated with Bill 23, which amends the Development Charges Act. You will also find new information about projected water levels based on the recently published report by Environment and Climate Change Canada. In addition to these matters, I wanted to bring to your attention a number of other issues of importance: Planning Bill 109, also known as the More Homes for Everyone Act, has implications for your municipalities on the Bay, particularly regarding maximum permitted processing times for planning applications. Issues related to this came to a head in the Township of Georgian Bay (TGB), which is on the front line of development pressure as the population of southern Ontario increases. GBA weighed in with this letter: bit.ly/ GBAletterTGB to support the excellent submission to TGB by Beth Halpenny of Cognashene, see here: bit.ly/HalpennyTGB In this regard, our primary concern is to support the integrity of TGB’s planning regulations, particularly as they relate to mitigating potential environmental impact. We also supported the West Carling Association and the Township of Carling regarding a cottage built on Morlock Island without planning permission and without any effort to abide by Carling’s planning regulations. See: bit.ly/ GBA_Morlock. In the end, a deal was reached between Carling and the property owner that allowed the cottage to remain and avoid a potential loss at the Ontario Land Tribunal. Given the outcome of recent OLT decisions, this was a pragmatic course of action, albeit disappointing. Floating Cottages GBA’s Floating Cottages Committee is seeking to persuade the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) to take a lead role in pursuing appropriate regulation for these units. A template was developed by the committee, and GBA has sent the following letter: bit.ly/GBA_Floating_MNRF. Township of Severn has submitted a similar letter and we expect letters soon from the TGB and the Township of the Archipelago. We will then be reaching out for more support from other municipalities and stakeholders. GBA plans to follow up with Minister Graydon Smith, who is also MPP for Parry-Sound Muskoka. Gloucester Pool Cottagers’ Association (GPCA), represented on the Floating Cottages Committee, also managed to get the CBC to report on the issue. They interviewed a number of people for the piece, including: TGB Mayor Peter Koetsier; Cheryl Elliot Fraser, president of GPCA; Dianne Bonnell, GPCA cottager; Peter Frost, member of the National Recreational Boating Advisory Council; Joe Nimens, Live Outside the Box owner; and me. This gave us a good opportunity to broadcast our views on this issue. It can be found here: bit.ly/GBA_CBC_Floating. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) As previously reported, GBA is a founding member of the Great Lakes Ecoregion Network (GLEN) formed in the spring of 2022. We participated by submitting detailed comments to the Canadian and US governments regarding the updated Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). GLEN has a number of well informed and experienced members and their skills and knowledge shone through in this submission. See here: bit.ly/GLEN_GLWQA. The recommendations included: ≥`Creating new initiatives, rather than repeating the largely ineffective strategies employed over the last 50 years ≥`Adding watershed management to the objectives and incorporating climate change considerations in all future action plans ≥`Delivering on groundwater commitments made three years ago ≥`Bolstering follow-up action for shoreline areas that have been cleaned up but still need ongoing work to prevent future pollution ≥`Identifying and prioritizing chemicals of emerging concern to add to the (official) Chemicals of Mutual Concern list, which needs to be significantly expanded, and working towards elimination of hazardous chemicals in the Great Lakes basin ≥`Implementing wide-ranging improvements to the assessment, monitoring, and reduction of all sources of nutrients going into the lakes ≥`Seeking input/partnership with the public on all aspects of the GLWQA so we work together to find solutions ≥`Adopting a commitment to measurable outcomes and timelines, rather than open-ended commitments ≥`Expanding Indigenous involvement and input ≥`Expanding the remit of the Lakewide Action and Management Plans (LAMPs) to cover relevant GLEN recommendations We could not do this without the great support from our volunteer directors, many helpful hands on our committees, and you and your associations. By working together, we will prevail! By Rupert Kindersley, Executive Director ED ADVOCACY REPORT
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