Mayor
Tony Veltri (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?
Maybe.
And, I only qualify what would otherwise lean more to "yes" is to know first what's involved in reaching that goal. I'm definitely not opposed to actions reducing phosphorus in our waterways.
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.
I believe there is a strong desire among our residents to protect and enhance our forests, wetlands and meadows. It's one of the easiest actions we can take to combat climate change and protect our environment.
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.
The LSRCA should absolutely play an active role in permit applications. I would expect it's a broader part of the approvals process.
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.
Initially, that seems a simple answer. On the residential side, I'd suggest yes, 100 per cent. But municipalities are turning to DC type incentives to attract industrial and commercial development, particularly in their downtown cores. So, while the rule is development should pay for itself, there has to be leeway in the system to attract the economic benefits that generate assessment and jobs. I do however believe DCs should be expanded to include hospital rates where they exist and for public transit.
Deputy Mayor
J.J.Paul Whiteside (candidate for Deputy 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.
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?
Maybe.
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.
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?
Yes.
Councillor and Regional Councillor
Chris Rapin (candidate for Councillor Ward 3)
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.
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.
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?
Maybe.
I'd have to research this a bit more than taking someone's word for it.
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?
Yes.
Gayla McDonald (candidate for Councillor Ward 4)
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.
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.
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.
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?
No.
While I believe the Act should be more flexible and provisions for soft costs should be included, it is unrealistic to expect that all infrastructure should be paid by new development. You must remember that the developers themselves only upfront the fees and charges and those costs are passed on to the purchasers or end users. This would drive prices to unreasonable levels and limit opportunities for affordable housing. It would make smaller municipalities less competitive in securing new commercial investment. Development charges are only a tool, not the ultimate solution. The provincial government has downloaded so many costs onto municipalities and reduced grants to rural communities and this is what has made infrastructure improvements so unaffordable for municipalities.
Dave Wood (candidate for Councillor Ward 7)
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.
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.
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.
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?
Yes.