President’s Message

 

Hello one and all and season’s greetings. I hope those of you who were able to spend your thanksgiving at the cottage had a spectacular time. I know those in my family and entourage certainly did. Those of us who get to spend time on the Georgian Bay have a lot to be thankful for.

 

The Executive has been busy on your behalf this fall. Most recently, Claudette Pintwala and I attended the annual Deerhorn conference: a gathering of cottagers associations that lie within the Township of the Archipelago, TOA representatives and GBA representatives. An impressive collection of interested parties. Below, I have reiterated some of the highlights. If you would like more information on any of these, it can be found in the GBA update, or by contacting your TOA council member, or send me an e mail at Tracy.Biggar@jus.gov.on.ca.  

 

 Comprehensive Zoning By-laws: Completion of the TOA Official Plan  means that the next step is to review the Comprehensive Zoning By-laws.  You would have received a notice of public consultations taking place in November and December – an opportunity for rate-payers to have input. The current by-laws are ten years old and the TOA has hired a consulting firm to update and review the by-laws.

 

Fishing Stewardship: The Georgian Bay North Channel Fisheries Stewardship Council has been formed whose goal is the rehabilitation of fisheries in the Georgian Bay. See instructions on attracting nesting bass to your shoreline, within the body of this newsletter.

 

Water Access Task Force: Changes are proposed to the TOA Official Plan to include recognition of our unique dependence on water to access our properties. Proposed changes were reviewed.

 

Outside Boat channel : Creation of an outside boat channel is under development, to encourage larger boat traffic away from the inner small boat channel. Donations to support this endeavor can be made through the Georgian Bay Foundation. Any donations should indicate “for outside channel Fund” on the cheques.

 

Alternative Green Energy: A review of alternative energy sources spoke to some of the pro and cons of Windmill generators. Also noted were the large number of small hydro-electric generating stations dotted around the Georgian Bay that currently produce a substantial amount of electricity.

 

Taxation:  A review of the current taxation system, and the impact of provincial  policy on municipal taxes.