Brock Township – Lake Simcoe Watch

Mayor

Debbie Bath Hadden (candidate for Mayor)

1. Should municipalities in the Lake Simcoe watershed work with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and the Government of Ontario to develop and implement a plan to reduce Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus loadings to 44 tonnes per year by 2026?

Yes.

Phosphorus reduction is the watershed responsibility as a whole. The health of our lake is beyond important. Municipalities of the lake and watershed areas have a responsibility to work with the LSRCA to reduce their phosphorus footprint. The Ministry of the Environment also has a huge responsibility to enforce control on sediment runoff. It is beyond disappointing that it has taken so long to get them to the table

2. Should municipalities in the Lake Simcoe watershed work with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and the Government of Ontario to develop and implement a plan to ensure that by 2026, at least 40% of Lake Simcoe’s watershed consists of high quality connected forests, wetlands and meadows?

Yes.

Forest, wetlands and meadows are of significant importance to our watershed and our environment as. Whole. Sustainability where possible, with potential growth in areas. Is this achievable, possibly with a future wetland plan

3. Should the LSRCA establish a process for receiving and reviewing submissions from the public with respect to all Section 28 permit applications pertaining to Lake Simcoe’s wetlands, floodplains and shorelines?

Yes.

Public input is always of vital importance on all section 28 applications. As past Chair of LSRCA, I see this as a huge step forward

4. Should the Development Charges Act amended to allow municipalities to recover 100% of their additional infrastructure costs to service new residential and commercial projects from their developers?

Maybe.

There is a possible connectivity here. There is a fine line between a Development and a single building lot. Consultation would have to have a definition between the two

Councillor and Regional Councillor

Michael Jubb (candidate for Councillor Ward 1)

Yes.

The health of Lake Simcoe is of extreme importance to me. I am a Simcoe enthusiast. I believe municipalities of the Lake Simcoe watershed should work in conjunction with the LSRCA to aid with phosphorus reduction. The MOE has also requested the Township of Brock's partnership in helping with reducing pollutants going into Lake Simcoe. Having worked with many Ward One residents over the last many months, I have a large concern for issues that our effecting Eastern Lake Simcoe. I will continue to work with all levels of Government to effectively protect the health of our most precious asset, Lady Simcoe.

Yes.

Forests, wetlands and meadows are an extremely important part of the health of Lake Simcoe and the watershed in general. The Township of Brock is currently negotiating with a private company with possible plans of clear cutting Township land, on the Trent Canal, in order for the private company to lease. I am not for plans like this. Forests, wetlands and meadows need to be sustained and protected, not clear cut.

Yes.

I am a firm believer that the public should be consulted on permit applications pertaining Lake Simcoe's wetlands, floodplains and shorelines. Public input always helps organizations such as the LSRCA. The LSRCA should establish a process for receiving and reviewing submissions. The timeframe for many applications is currently unacceptable to say the least.

4. Should the Development Charges Act be amended to allow municipalities to recover 100% of their additional infrastructure costs to service new residential and commercial projects from their developers?

Maybe.

I am a firm believer that development charges should be used to recover additional infrastructure cost to service new residential and commercial projects. With taxes already the third highest in the GTA for Brock Township, developers need to pay their fair share. We need to plan accordingly and development fee income is an extremely large part of Brock Township's budget and will be for years to come.

gord lodwick (candidate for Councillor Ward 1)

Yes.

Lowering of phosphorus loading is a worthy goal and municipalities should always look for ways to work with various entities to achieve this.

Maybe.

I am aware this would certainly help the leg however not yet knowing how or if this is achievable I had to place a maybe.

Yes.

Leveraging the expertise at LSRCA will be key in moving us in the right direction.

Maybe.

I would have to see an example of this in action as I am not certain a developer should have to complete an entire upgrade to the system if they are only utilizing a tenth of what is to be put in by the municipality as compared to what they wish to develop. If it is only for the percentage of what the developer would utilize then I would be in favor.

Claire Doble (candidate for Councillor Ward 2)

Yes.

Municipalities should absolutely be working with Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and the Ontario Government to help develop and implement a plan to keep our lake clean. Maintaining a clean lake is not only important for preserving our environment and the animals that inhabit and depend on that lake, but our tourism market will thrive when we have a beautiful and well conserved lake as a point of interest!

Maybe.

I am not well versed on the importance of having connected forests, wetland and meadows within the watershed, although if this proves to be important for preserving our precious resources, then I would support this goal.

Yes.

This is definitely something that I think would bring value to our residents. Especially as we are a small population with a large geographic area, our taxes are one of the highest in the province with what feels like very little to show for them. By having all infrastructure costs related to new buildings being covered by the developers, this allows more funds to be utilized for other services and improvements that are so desperately needed.

Walter Schummer (candidate for Councillor Ward 3)

Yes.

Reducing phosphorus levels is the responsible thing to do and the levels should be reduced to generally accepted scientifically proven safe levels making sure that actions taken are done with all stakeholders in mind. Funding for doing so should largely be the responsibility of The Province as municipalities already carry enough unfunded liabilities passed down by The Province.

Yes.

Generally speaking this sounds like a wise plan but more research would have to be done by myself to justify the statement.

No.

Your statement appears to only imply that LSRCA should essentially "receive and file" and that does not serve the public well. Perhaps your statement is incomplete.

No.

Not simply on its own. The DCA probably needs more of an overhaul than simply making the proposed change here. Major consultations with municipalities and other stakeholders should take place to gather information that would better define purposes of The Act and possibly provide flexibility to municipalities which find themselves in unique development circumstances (many of which are a result of The Province and its various agencies)

Ralph Maleus (candidate for Councillor Ward 4)

Yes.

Stop the bleeding first i.e. stop the polluters immediately being Good Year Farm and/or others. Set intermediate goals to monitor progress and, if required implement corrective actions to achieve the target no later than 2016.

Yes.

This and other measures must be implemented to make sure the target phosphorous level and ultimately the improved water quality is maintained.This and other measures must be implemented to make sure the target phosphorous level and ultimately the improved water quality is maintained.

Yes.

It is very logical that LSRCA receives and reviews application to make sure no future polluters are surfacing.

Maybe.

The municipality should have the option to recover 100% of the direct incremental infrastructure costs. Having said that, there are probably some costs that are indirectly incremental that should not be recovered through development charges.

Cria Pettingill (candidate for Councillor Ward 4)

Yes.

In Brock Township we have been concerned with spills from one very large farm in particular. Contaminated sediment has caused enormous brown plumes and the lake floor is becoming “squishy.” We would like to work with the LSRCA to ensure these events are not permitted to happen.

Yes.

For sure. We understand that clean water comes from naturally cleaning systems.

Yes.

Extreme weather events are becoming more regular. Lakeside residents want to protect their shoreline and prevent erosion, and sometimes they wish to retain the situation they have despite it being less tenable than ideal. The LSRCA has recently offered to work with groups of neighbours at once, reducing individual fees. New ratepayers associations ar forming on lake issues. The key to future readiness is communication. Brock Township recently held a meeting with Parks Canada, the LSRCA and lakeside residents. It was highly informative for us all.

Maybe.

If the municipality is helping with infrastructure to help ameliorate erosion on the lake or pollunts going in or if certain lands are being kept aside from development to help preserve the integrity of the watershed, an attempt to recover costs should be pursued.

Ted Smith (candidate for Regional Councillor)

Yes.

This will not be easily attainable considering that a significant portion of the phosphorus loading is from atmospheric deposits but nevertheless it is a worthwhile goal.

Maybe.

Once again, a worthwhile goal but much easier said than done, considering that most of the land is held privately. Significant incentives would have to be in place.

Maybe.

This sounds like a good proposal but I would need more information before making any further comment

Yes.

This would be an ideal situation.

Judi Forbes (candidate for Regional Councillor)

Yes.

Lake Simcoe is a jewel in the Trent-Severn waterway. We must do all we can to keep it clean and continue to preserve the lake. I am currently working with a small group of concerned and highly connected individuals to bring pressure on the government to shut down industrial farming operations that are contributing to the pollution of this lake. I am appalled by the condition of our beaches this past summer and expect our municipal government to keep putting pressure on our provincial and federal governments until they step up and stop this tragedy from continuing.

Maybe.

I agree the three areas must work together to impliment a plan for appropriate green space. I would like to have a closer look at where the forests, wetlands, and meadows would be befoe I commit to 40%.

Yes.

Jay Yerema-Weafer (candidate for Regional Councillor)

Yes.

Absolutely … it is all of our responsibility to protect the environment now and for future generations. Lake Simcoe, its tributaries and the entire watershed area must be better managed, so developing and implementing a plan to reduce phosphorus loadings to 44 tonnes per year by 2026 will go a long way in helping ensuring a healthier, safer lake.

Yes.

Forests, wetlands and meadows play an important role in groundwater recharge and ultimately, water quality. They also provide a valuable natural habitat for many species and can even help combat climate change. Environmental concerns in Brock have never been treated as a high priority and we need to do a much better job protecting diverse ecosystems. Therefore, I believe that a 40% goal is both achievable and very necessary to be part of the solution.

Yes.

The fact that the LSRCA does not currently have an established process for receiving and reviewing submissions from the public with respect to Section 28 permit applications is shocking. Resident concerns need to be heard and public consultations should be the norm because engaged citizens help keep all levels of government and organizations accountable for any decision being made on their behalf.
We have a number of serious problems in Brock Township. In Beaverton there is a very large farming corporation that draws thousands of gallons of water every day from Lake Simcoe to irrigate their fields, and then such high levels of agricultural runoff/discharge result in huge polluted brown plumes on the surface of the lake. Cannington and Sunderland do not have a proper sewage treatment plant, and human waste is managed using open-air sewage lagoons that are discharged twice a year into the Beaver River, which then flows to Lake Simcoe. The Lake Simcoe Protection Act and Lake Simcoe Protection Plan recognize this environmental risk and have restricted any expansion of these lagoons for population growth in the watershed areas. However in 2017, Durham Region constructed an additional “maintenance pond” in Sunderland and recently it was utilized so that the sludge from one of the existing lagoons could be removed, transported and spread on fields in Ramara Township. Technically both Sunderland and Cannington have reached maximum sewage capacity, but rather than investing in proper infrastructure upgrades, Durham Region hired a consultant to explore chemical use to break down human waste faster, and a large developer has applied to the Ministry of Environment to build 30 – 60 additional houses beyond the defined maximum sewage capacity in Sunderland. For many citizens, these actions are cause for serious concerns regarding the impact on the health & safety of people and our sensitive aquatic systems … therefore, public input is very important.
As the population in the Lake Simcoe area continues to grow, multiple stressors on key ecological functions will also increase. Therefore, investing in better treatment technology, engaging in ongoing scientific investigation and monitoring, while improving communication by encouraging citizen engagement as part of the collective decision-making process would be a meaningful step in an effort to protect the shoreline and these important natural heritage areas.

Yes.

The Development Charges Act should definitely be amended to allow municipalities to recover 100% of additional infrastructure costs from developers because “growth should pay for growth”. Depending on the overall size and impact of a development, a municipality should also be allowed to hold bonds to recover future maintenance costs if construction defects are discovered within the first few years after completion. Currently, Brock Township is experiencing increased pressure for residential development as more and more people choose to move away from heavily populated urban areas in search of a caring community with more affordable housing and room to breathe. This level of unprecedented growth can be positive if good planning principles are applied, but without the ability to recover 100% of the development charges there remains a very real risk that this model will become unsustainable over time if the residential taxpayers becomes burdened with the cost of escalating infrastructure expenses … in essence, forced to subsidize large developers.
However, each application should be reviewed and assessed individually as this new authority should not applied as a “one-size-fits-all” approach to development. For example, an individual applicant (either residential or commercial), a not-for-profit organization or a small company building an ecologically friendly, thoughtful residential design should be treated much differently than a multi-million dollar firm constructing a large subdivision development that has a destabilizing impact on the existing community because significant infrastructure upgrades are required to support the increased level of density and growth. Municipalities should also be allowed to make exceptions for commercial, industrial, agriculture and agri-tourism development in order to attract applicants while promoting job creation, tourism and potential economic benefits in their efforts to create complete communities.