Saturday, November 16, 2019 the Boulevard Club, Toronto
What’s in a name? Also, the proposed title “Topics that keep you up at night” didn’t test well …
Current Issues & Updates Terry Rees FOCA Executive Director
The FOCA Staff foca.on.ca/team
A busy year foca.on.ca/latestnews/
A busy year foca.on.ca/member-services/ association-members/
A busy year foca.on.ca/about/our-work/
A busy year foca.on.ca/events/
A busy year Working on behalf of the waterfront community: foca.on.ca/about/our-community/
Carbon offsets for today
FOCA’s Strategic Vision 2018 -2020 An Overview https://foca.on.ca/our-work/
FOCA’s Dual Personality: Water Quality & Financial Environmental (Pocket-book) Issues Issues “focus on back -to-basics issues: “lobby on provincial issues – water quality, environment, anything that is too much for stewardship responsibilities.” local associations!” > Citizen science > Taxation > Septic systems > Rural utilities
November 16, 2018 This time, last year, Terry was in Queensland, AU
Queensland in 2019…
Ontario in 2019… High Water & Flooding November 2019: A new forecast from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office suggests that Great Lakes levels are likely to remain unusually high and may set additional records. ~ High water also continues in the Lake of the Woods region Links & tips for high water events: https://foca.on.ca/high- water-flood-events-in- cottage-country/
Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) ~ Overarching guidance ~ Contains policies to direct land use decisions involving matters of provincial interest, such as: • building strong & healthy communities • ensuring wise use & management of resources and • protecting public health & safety. The proposed 2019 PPS update includes changes to current policies related to natural heritage, water, agriculture, mineral aggregate resources & hazards. Read FOCA's response: https://foca.on.ca/land-use-planning-overview/
Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) Changes to the ARA are being considered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, that would amend some permitting requirements, and limit some rights of appeal and the application What FOCA’s hearing from our members: of municipal zoning. • conflicts with neighbouring land uses • impacts on water and biodiversity • and more… Find out what was proposed, and read FOCA's comments , here: https://foca.on.ca/land-use-planning-overview/ Image: Unimin mine site, cambium-inc.com
Bill 132 - Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2019 Bill 132 is an omnibus bill that contains changes that will revise over a dozen of Ontario's most Safe Drinking Water Act important environmental statutes Waste Diversion Transition Act Building Code Act Local Planning Appeal Support Aggregate Resources Act Centre Repeal Act Crown Forest Sustainability Act Mining Act Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act Northern Services Boards Act Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act Environmental Protection Act Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act Nutrient Management Act Public Lands Act Ontario Water Resources Act Highway Traffic Act Pesticides Act FOCA will be commenting; due date is Nov. 27 ERO 019-0774
Electricity Pricing Proposed elimination of the H1 “Seasonal Class” of Customer At the request of the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), Hydro One submitted a “Motion of Change” on October 1, 2019, recommending AGAINST the elimination of the Seasonal Class of customer. Ongoing shift to all-fixed distribution rates is already underway. Follow this issue: https://foca.on.ca/electricity-pricing/
Hydro One Of the @154,000 “Seasonals” that would be reclassified: • 84,000 as R2 Low Density • 70,000 as R1 Medium density • 300 as Urban High Density
What next? • OEB is considering Hydro One’s suggestion to keep the seasonal class (by moving to fixed delivery charges, the low use customers will be paying their fair share) • If and when OEB makes a decision it will likely be subject to Intervenor hearings • FOCA will weigh in as appropriate and engage our members accordingly Ensure you are on the FOCA Elert list to receive updates
What next? • Effective Nov. 1 newly formatted bills will expressly show the “25%” rebate that the Liberals introduced and the PCs kept • This new layout for electricity bills, ordered by the Province Oct. 2019 will not change the price we pay • Electricity rates (/kwh) are currently frozen for 4 years
Algonquin Land Claim • $300 million transfer to the Algonquins of Ontario • Transfer of not less than 117,500 acres of provincial Crown land to Algonquin ownership • New recommended approaches to address: - Algonquin harvesting rights: wildlife, fish, migratory birds, plants, forestry, parks and protected areas; Algonquin heritage and culture https://foca.on.ca/algonquin-land-claim- agreement-in-principle-signed/
Asian Carps Asian carps were brought to North America in the 1970s. Since their introduction, they have migrated north through U.S. waterways towards the Great Lakes. Preventing Asian carps from entering the Great Lakes is the best way to protect native fish populations. https://foca.on.ca/asian-carp/
Video on Asian Carps FOCA & partners ~ Fisheries & Oceans Canada Please share this video with your members: https://youtu.be/2oCiwbrlAuc
The Lake Partner Program: Tracking Long Term Trends foca.on.ca/ lake-partner-program-overview/ FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
The Lake Partner Program: Tracking Long Term Trends Largest volunteer-based • water quality monitoring Each year, > 600 volunteers program of its kind in Canada monitor water quality and water clarity in 550 lakes at over 800 sites • Volunteers send water samples to DESC chemistry lab for analyses • Data are updated and shared annually online • Data used to assess and report on water quality across Ontario FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
The Lake Partner Program: What we measure, and why Total Phosphorus Calcium Chloride Water clarity (since 2008) (since 2015) (TP) Important nutrient • Estimated using a • Essential element • • There have been controlling the growth Secchi Disk that is required by increases in of algae in Ontario all living organisms chloride Lakes concentrations across the province due to road salt FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
Protecting our homes, boats, cars ... and our volunteers! One of our most significant member benefits: https://foca.on.ca/insurance- risk-management/
FOCA Publications – share these! visit: foca.on.ca/publications
FOCA Report: Septic Re-inspection Programs across Ontario Download the Report (37 pages) from the FOCA website: https://foca.on.ca/septic-systems/ FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
FOCA Report Septic Re-inspection Programs across Ontario The goal of this research was to highlight promising practices and rural policy implications for municipal re-inspection programs for residential on-site wastewater systems in Ontario. This 1 page infographic is also posted on the FOCA website: https://foca.on.ca/septic-systems/ FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
FOCA Report Septic Re-inspection Programs across Ontario Project partners: see separate slide set: SEPTIC RE-INSPECTION SESSION SLIDES FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
FOCA’s work Videos on YouTube – share these resources! See videos here: youtube.com/focaprograms/ Share these resources! FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
Strengthening Associations FOCA survey 2018 ~ “pinch - points”: short-term rentals boating issues and safety finding & keeping volunteers waterfront “etiquette” FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
Short-term Rentals (STR) Municipal responses to STR This session introduced by Terry Rees of FOCA With in-person comments from Bob Carter (lake association representative and municipal councillor, Minden Hills) And written input from additional municipal partners in: • Blue Mountains • Whitestone • Huntsville • City of Kawartha Lakes See separate slide set: SHORT TERM RENTAL SESSION FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
Short-term Rentals Links & resources FOCA posts information & updates on our webpage: https://foca.on.ca/responsible-cottage-rental/ FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
Lunch & Open Discussions
Saturday, November 16, 2019 the Boulevard Club, Toronto AFTERNOON SESSION SLIDES
Under the Radar: Dr. John Smol, introduced by Terry Rees John Smol & Terry Rees were each featured in 100 voices for Canadian Science Communication
Under the Radar: long-term perspectives on ecological changes in lakes Dr. John Smol Queen’s University For more about Dr. Smol, see: https://biology.queensu.ca/ people/department/professors/smol/ See separate slide set: JOHN SMOL SESSION FOCA Fall Seminar 2019
FOCA Road Survey 2019 See separate slide set: Michelle Lewin ROAD SURVEY SESSION FOCA Communications Special cial Than anks ks to: Mike Hammond (Belmont Lake Association) for interim data analysis that was presented at a Kawarthas- region “Road Summit” event in June 2019 FOCA Fall Seminar 2019 Image: David Cornish, Talpines Property Owners Association
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