Rising electricity costs, preparing for spring water levels, last call for the AGM!

Elert - late February 2017

LAST CALL to register

FOCA A.G.M. & Seminar for Lake Associations

Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the Boulevard Club, Toronto

Has your association registered a representative to vote in the Annual General Meeting? Don't delay - the event is this weekend!

Click here for the Agenda & to register

In addition to the AGM at 1:00pm, the day includes presentation of the FOCA Achievement Award, and speakers on the topics of electricity pricing and stressors on lake environments.

This is a must-attend event for lake representatives: an opportunity to network with your peers, collect current information about top issues, and begin planning for a year of success for your association!

If you cannot attend in person, contact FOCA about participating by webinar.

Policy Updates from FOCA

Electricity Rates

Rising electricity rates are a growing concern for waterfront property owners (and everybody else). Read FOCA's letter to the Premier: https://foca.on.ca/news-rising-electricity-costs-feb-2017/

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Septage

A new review is underway on hauled sewage (septage) policy in Ontario. Get details: https://foca.on.ca/septage-management-plans/

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Fisheries Act

Strengthened approaches are recommended by the Federal Fisheries Committee. Read the details: https://foca.on.ca/fisheries-act-revisions-overview/

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Climate Change

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is looking for input into their Climate Resilience Plan. See: https://foca.on.ca/climate-change-and-waterfront-ontario/

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Antibacterials

Renewed call for action to ban antibacterial substances, to protect aquatic and human health. See: https://foca.on.ca/foca-calls-for-antibacterial-chemical-ban/

FOCA's Gold-level Sponsors

Lake Environments

Preparing for the Spring Freshet


	image Kay Soares

Find information and links about water management and possible flooding from the FOCA website: https://foca.on.ca/high-water-flood-events-in-cottage-country/ and through this link to Trent Severn Waterway: click here.

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Invasive Species Awareness Week

February 27-March 3, 2017 - Trips to the cottage provide potential pathways for the spread of invasives. Find out what you can do, and get your own Cottage Plan by clicking here. #InvSpWk

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Lake Simcoe Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

O n February 17, 2017, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change released the Lake Simcoe Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. This strategy is an adaptive management approach to drive actions in the Lake Simcoe watershed to adapt to our changing climate.

Upcoming Events

Ottawa Cottage and Backyard Show

March 3-5, 2017 - Ottawa. Get a jump-start on summer at this trade show with a wide range of cottage country exhibitors. FOCA members get a special 2-for-1 admission to the Ottawa show, by clicking here.

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Haliburton Reptile Road Show

March 18, 2017 - Haliburton. Visit the knowledgeable folks from Scales Nature Park at the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust's Reptile Road Show! Lots to see, touch, and learn about. Click here for details.

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Spring Cottage Life Show

March 30 - April 2, 2017 - Toronto. Plan to visit FOCA's booth at the Spring Cottage Life Show. Don't miss FOCA's Executive Director speaking on the main stage on Friday and Saturday! FOCA members can get $4 off regular one-day adult tickets, by ordering online before the show. Click here and use our promo code : foca17

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Frontenac Stewardship Foundation

April 20-21, 2017 - near Chaffey's Lock. This annual environmental forum will spread over two days this year, with the theme " Confronting Changes in Aquatic Ecosystems." Save the date, and plan to participate with community leaders from across eastern Ontario. Details to follow.

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Muskoka Stewardship Conference

Friday, May 12 - Port Carling. FOCA will once again participate in this year's Muskoka Stewardship Conference, titled "50 Shades of Green: all about algae." Click here to register at a discounted price, until April 15!

FOCA's Silver-level Sponsors

Notices & Opportunities

Native Plant and Tree Sales

Haliburton cottagers can order native plants online before April 15, 2017 at haliburtonstewardship.ca, for pick up in May!

Bancroft area cottagers can order native trees and shrubs through the online store, here: https://bascstore.ecwid.com/

For Lake of the Woods and region, see: http://www.lowdpoa.com/events/seedling-day-1

For Muskoka, visit: https://www.mla.on.ca/Seedling%20Day

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Speak Up for the Great Lakes

The International Joint Commission (IJC) wants public input about their draft 3-year assessment (TAP) report on Great Lakes water quality. Add your voice throughout March at a series of six public meetings in Great Lakes communities, including Sault Ste. Marie, Sarnia, and St. Catharines, or comment in writing by April 15, 2017. Get links to the draft report, and dates for the in-person sessions by clicking here .

See more background and info on the Great Lakes on the FOCA website: https://foca.on.ca/great-lakes-strategy-and-action/

Lake Association Support

New transition deadline for Federal Corporations

Is your organization federally incorporated? Change is imminent! On February 13, 2017, Corporations Canada published a notice, stating that the final deadline to complete the transition to the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (CNCA) is extended to July 31, 2017. ( The CNCA was proclaimed into force in 2011, replacing Part II of the Canada Corporations Act, a law that had governed the internal affairs of federal not-for-profit corporations for close to a century.) Corporations that do not transition by the new deadline will be dissolved. Learn more from the BLG backgrounder: http://blg.com/en/News-And-Publications/Publication_4835

Please note that this is separate from ONCA, which affects provincially incorporated not-for-profit organizations. CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario) reiterated in January 2017 that ONCA remains on hold indefinitely. Get that update here: https://foca.on.ca/onca-on-hold/

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We want you to share FOCA news updates and fact sheets. Members are always welcome to reproduce FOCA materials from Elerts, Newsletters and our extensive online resources. Please credit FOCA as the source, and include our web address, where possible: https://foca.on.ca

There are lots of additional resources from FOCA that are tailored to lake associations' needs. Start your search here: https://foca.on.ca/toolkit-overview/

FOCA's Bronze-level Sponsors

Cade's Corner

Members in over fifty FOCA member Associations have already taken advantage of this FOCA benefit: access to the CottageFirst group insurance package.

When will you get your quote, to find out if you could be saving too?

Come talk to us at the FOCA AGM on March 4th!

FOCA is the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations,

the voice of the waterfront for over 50 years

[email protected] | 705-749-3622 | https://foca.on.ca

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