 |
|
Policy Updates from FOCA
New Dock Permit Rules
After more than a year, the MNRF have recently proposed new regulations under the Public Lands Act to enable certain occupations of public land without the need for permits, leases etc. This will essentially be "back to the future," allowing certain activities like docks, through a "free use" approach. Read FOCA's background on this issue, and provide your comments on the proposed regulations by May 18, 2017:
https://foca.on.ca/municipal-authority-over-boathouses-decision/
_______________
FOCA speaks out against increasing capital gains taxes
As a solution to a red-hot GTA housing market, Ontario's Finance Minister recently floated the idea of increasing the capital gains tax on real property transfers. FOCA strongly opposes this clumsy, ineffective and short-sighted approach, and has grave concerns about the impacts on families who transfer waterfront property ownership to the next generation in the coming years. Read our letter:
https://foca.on.ca/focas-property-tax-position-overview/
_______________
Electricity Issues
_______________
Nuclear Waste
In other news, the Ottawa Riverkeeper is watching the plan for a "Near Surface Disposal Facility" proposed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories for radioactive waste generated at their Chalk River, Ontario, facility. Find out more about the issue and the related federal environmental assessment, by clicking here.
|
|
FOCA's Gold-level Sponsors
|
|
|
|
Safety
Emergency Preparedness
In advance of Emergency Preparedness Week (May 7-13), FOCA reminds you to get yourself, your family, and your waterfront neighborhood prepared for emergencies.
Adapt this handy example sheet from FOCA, and post it prominently at your waterfront property!
As Spring water flows continue, we all need to be mindful of water conditions on and around our lakes, the perils of unpredictable and high water flows, and the dangers of cold water immersion. Please watch this short reminder video from FOCA:
______________
In Memoriam
FOCA joins in mourning the loss of two hard-working and dedicated community volunteers: Rideau Lakes Township Councillor Doug Good and his friend Mike Carty passed away Friday, March 10, 2017, as the result of a tragic accident on Big Rideau Lake. To honour Doug's life and his longtime commitment to the
Big Rideau Lake Association (BRLA) and surrounding community, the BRLA is creating the Good Family Memorial Reserve Fund, in support of the BRLA shoal markers program, something very near and dear to Doug's heart.
|
|
Cade's Corner
Members in over fifty 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?
|
|
Lake Environments
_______________
Celebrate Earth Day
This Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day. Find a friend and get outside!
|
|
FOCA's Silver-level Sponsors
|
|
|
|
Municipal Affairs
FOCA's Challenge to You:
|
|
|
image: Tony Caldwell, Ottawa Sun |
Want to make a difference in your rural community? Have leadership skills? Think you have something to contribute to the local community?
Consider running for municipal office!
Local elections are often decided by only dozens or a few hundreds of votes.
The most important quality-of-life decisions happen at the municipal level, including recreation, access, social services, safety and security.
Help to bring the focus onto the issues that matter most to you and to your lake association. We need more lake and river champions in municipal office, where they can stand up for healthy, thriving and sustainable communities.
|
|
Study Release:
Annual R.B.C. Canadian Water Attitudes Study
The latest edition of this annual study reveals that Canadians take water for granted.
Quotable from recent coverage on the study, by
Water Canada
:
While the survey reflected Canadians belief that the federal government--79 per cent--should be responsible for water-provincial and municipal responsibility following at 64 and 57 per cent--they are muddled as to their own responsibility. "They did a generation breakdown, between Baby Boomers, Gen X'rs, and Generation Y, and each one of them said that their generation was doing a lot for the environment and the other two were wasteful," said Haller. "In reality, we are all doing very poorly." [Robert Haller, executive director of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association]
|
|
Recent Events
FOCA at the Spring Cottage Life Show
FOCA's Terry Rees spoke twice on the Main Stage during the Spring Cottage Life Show (
March 31-April 2) about what we can expect to see in cottage country as a result of our changing climate.
Member Associations may contact FOCA for a copy of Terry's slides from this event.
_______________
Trent University Career Centre Talk
FOCA's Terry Rees was a Keynote Speaker at an
early April event in Peterborough for a "
Campus to Career Bootcamp." His talk was titled, "Closed Doors and Opening Windows: Linear Career Paths Are Overrated."
|
|
Upcoming Events
Kawartha Lake Stewards Association
Saturday, May 6 -
plan to attend the annual Spring Meeting of KLSA at the Bobcaygeon Arena beginning at 10am. Guest presentations by Dr. Eric Sager on "swimming with plants" and Doug Kennedy on the important role of "shorelines and streams."
Click to download the event poster.
(PDF, 1 pg)
_______________
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 for info and to register.
_______________
Summer Solstice Lakeshore Festival
|
|
Regional Notices & Opportunities
Planning for Health Care in Muskoka
The Muskoka and Area Health System Transformation (MAHST) is working proactively to ensure local health services, programs and care are coordinated, organized and integrated. Today's health care system will not be able to meet local needs in the future, and your input is needed. The MAHST initiative wants to hear about your experiences with health care in Muskoka, as well as your ideas. Find out more, here:
https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/community-and-social-services/MAHST.aspx
_______________
City of Kawartha Lakes Notice
Our municipal partners at the City of Kawartha Lakes remind seasonal property owners returning to the area that the transition to clear garbage bag collection has occurred (effective January 1, 2017). Clear garbage bags are required for curbside waste collection and at City landfill sites. Find lots of tips in the
2017 Recycling & Waste Calendar, or call 705-324-9411 if you have questions.
_______________
Spring Ice Conditions on Lake of the Woods
If you love aerial pictures of cottage country as much as we do (and that's a LOT), you need to check out the "Ice Patrol" blog, with pictures and running narrative on spring ice conditions around Kenora, Ontario:
https://icepatrol.wordpress.com/.
_______________
Share the Gift of the Cottage
Cottage Dreams is a registered charity that offers recent cancer survivors a week away at a private, donated cottage to recover and rejuvenate with family and friends after completing cancer treatment. The program was created so cottage owners like you could lend their cottage during the work week, when it might otherwise be empty.
Here's a recent testimonial:
"Our Cottage Dreams vacation was wonderful! Our time away afforded our family some time together to heal, relax and spend time with one another. We are so so thankful!"
With your support, Cottage Dreams can do even more!
Find out how to get involved: http://www.cottagedreams.ca/
|
|
FOCA's Bronze-level Sponsors
|
|
|
|
Partner Profile
Experimental Lakes Area (ELA)
|
|
|
TVO's the Water Brothers |
The IISD-ELA is a unique scientific research organization located in Canada that undertakes whole-ecosystem research on environmental issues.
Find great video resources about the IISD-ELA, here:
https://foca.on.ca/saving-the-ela/, including a link to the TVO video of the visit to ELA by the Water Brothers, which aired last month.
|
|
About FOCA
FOCA's Board of Directors held their Spring meeting in Peterborough last week, to review the 2017 events already under our belts, and discuss plans for the year ahead.
Welcome to our new FOCA Board members: Wendy Sue Lyttle, Terry Beettam, Daryle Moffatt, Bev Thorpe and Tony Lepine.
Learn more about the cottage stories of your Board of Directors, and the whole FOCA team, here:
https://foca.on.ca/about/team/
|
|
|
|
Stay Connected with FOCA:
Didn't receive this message in your Inbox?
Join 10,000 Elert subscribers:
FOCA believes everyone has the right to hear about issues that affect waterfront Ontario.
Those who have an existing relationship with FOCA may receive email from us,
based on principles of
Express or Implied Consent
in Canadian Anti Spam legislation.
You can unsubscribe from Elerts at any time, using the 'Safe Unsubscribe' link below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
