Municipal Drains-Local Initiatives-Codes of Conduct

 

Springwater Township – Municipal Drains and NVCA

There are multiple municipal drains throughout the township and many date back well over a century. They are intended to prevent flooding on some of the richest farmland in the Township especially in what I call the Minesing flatlands. The Township recently updated the municipal drain list and provided a report to Council. There is one major drain in the south of the Township called the Swaley which relieves flooding on farmland from about Horseshoe Valley Road on the west end of Anten Mills and drains various farms all the way southwest across Highway 26 to the Minesing Wetlands. The approved 1917 (Over 100 years ago) outlet in the Minesing Swamp is the Nottawasaga River. Over the years through build up of silt and fallen trees, the Swaley outlet is plugged, causing flooding and backup on farmland eastward as far as Vespra Valley Road and beyond. When I was on Council, I wanted this addressed as it has been lingering for about 20 years and one farmer on George Johnston Road was in regular contact with me (and knocked on my door this week) about Spring flooding impact on his 50 acres. When he complained, apparently someone at the County told him to think about growing rice! The Township engaged a specialist who came up with a solution and the Township wants to move forward. However the NVCA doesn’t want to allow any disturbance of the wetlands even though they are ultimately responsible to provide the outlet according to the original agreement. They are now the barrier in the Township’s initiative. Ironically the NVCA’s mandate is to prevent flooding and natural disasters but in this case the NVCA are part of the problem and a hindrance.  The Township and the Expert are appearing at the next NVCA Board Meeting to plead their case. Let’s see if the inconsistent decisions of the NVCA will continue or will they do the right thing and get this resolved once and for all.

Carson Ridge – AED – Automatic External Defibrillator

I was quite impressed with the presentation by the resident for the community group who are raising funds for a local AED in the Carson Ridge neighbourhood. They were simply asking that the Township to provide a location and permission in the local Park. These types of initiatives make our communities safer, especially as we age and might overexert ourselves and be the subject of a sudden cardiac arrest. I don’t particularly understand why some on Council wanted to jump in and pay the full cost even though the residents have agreed to fund the capital cost. I fully support the Township providing a location and even the power source, but let’s allow neighbours to fund worthwhile projects such as this and not be coughing up taxpayer money when not asked. Over my 25 years back in Springwater, I have seen many initiatives, especially our community pavilions, built as partners with the Township rather than just expecting a handout from the Township.  That is how we can have amenities in our local areas and not burden the general taxpayer with added debt.

Codes of Conduct – A Blessing or a Curse?

The township is working on an update of its Code of Conduct for Council Members. This was mandated by the Province, even though the MPP’s don’t have one. All you have to do is read the various reports, after complaints are filed, and see that they are a waste of time and tax dollars. What I find troublesome is the fact that the Codes themselves are being written by the Integrity Commissioner that is hired by the Township. (Springwater has already fired its first IC because of poor and inconsistent performance). I find it unusual that the law is effectively written by the Judge and their opinion is not subject to any appeal process, if the report is approved and acted on by the local Council, except for possibly a Judicial Review which is very expensive. The Codes are being used more for “Gotcha” moments rather than improving our local governance. To illustrate my point, read up on some of the reports for Barrie complaints. Municipal residents are well protected by the existing Municipal Act, the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and all the Anti Bullying and Harassment legislation that are on the books. To be frank, even though I had no problem having a code during my 4 years, Codes always are and will be a waste of time, money and will resolve nothing. I would be asking the Province to repeal that requirement instead of trying to improve it.

Springwater Second Units and Extreme Off Road Machines

 

Springwater Secondary Residential units – Approved!

I congratulate Council on the approval of secondary residential units on most properties. With the high cost of housing today, this is an opportunity for new or retiring families to remain on properties that have been owned by families for many years. Each lot, assuming it can meet the conditions, such as servicing and setbacks, can have two additional residential units. One has to be part of the main residential unit and the other in an accessory building. In either case the secondary units cannot be more than 40% of floor space of the primary residential unit. If you have a larger home on a large lot, you can effectively have two units if I stayed under the 1200 square foot limit in each. However, before getting too excited, if you live in one of the new subdivisions, there is a 90% chance this new bylaw won’t apply as many new residential units, being larger in size in new developments, are at the lot coverage limit. For those that can accommodate these units, remember, down the road you cannot sever the extra unit at some time and cash in. I have fully supported this concept and it will provide some much needed housing.

Extreme Off-Road Vehicles on Roads?

Just over a year ago Council approved a pilot program to allow Side by Side UTV’s and ATV’s on Township Roads. When I was on Council there was a request to do that and we had a number of open houses on the subject as it is both a blessing for the riders and a curse for those that live close by well travelled roads near trail heads. I had suggested a “toe in the water” approach which was to allow riders to travel from their homes to the closest trail head, travel to restaurants and gas stations close to trails, but this Council decided to open it up. I am not sure how it has worked out but I know there are a lot more ATV’s and dirt bikes on my road than ever before and most have no plates, travel well over the speed limit and are definitely not sporting stock muffler systems. What complicated the matter more is there are very few police patrols in the Township as Policing, except for some speed monitoring from time to time, is non existence. I know the bylaw amendment is meant to grant dirt bikes and 6 and 8 wheel Argo type vehicles with the same privileges as ATV’s, UTV’s and Side by Sides. I think the definition opens a can of worms. (“Extreme terrain vehicle” means an off-road vehicle, that, (a) Has six or eight wheels, the tires of which are all in contact with the ground, (b) Has no tracks that are in contact with the ground, (c) Has seats that are not designed to be straddled, and (d) Has a minimum cargo capacity of 159 kilograms). Is not a dually pickup or an old army vehicle with 6 or more wheels an extreme vehicle by the bylaw’s definition? This bylaw needs a maximum weight, width and length definition or it will be a nightmare. The local clubs do a great job at monitoring and policing their members, but the influx of GTA riders is becoming its own pandemic when it comes to riding these vehicles on our roads and trails. I guess we will see what happens.

Federal Budget-Where is the Budget Fairy?

As I predicted a year ago, by the end of this year we will have in fact almost doubled the National Debt in a short time period to just shy of $1.5 Trillion dollars. We have also went from a “Debt to GDP” ratio of around 45% in a slow growing economy to over 100% in a recessed economy. Canada now rivals the USA in debt ratios. Discussing concern about debts seems to fall on deaf ears regardless of political stripes. In two years we will have accumulated what took us 154 years to create in the past. In modern terms we are taking on roughly 100 years of a typical annual operating deficit in two fiscal years. I have found no one to explain how this will all work out in the end and how we can recover. I am shocked at the short sightedness of all of us in these times of COVID-19. It appears that we are all waiting for the budget fairy to solve our monetary crisis, because our Federal and Provincial Leaders seem to have no idea how to do it. I have an idea that stems from the good old days, before the budget fairy, when you ran out of money. Tighten your belt, cut your spending, don’t commit to any new spending you can’t afford (paid sick days, paid babysitting and environmental programs such as a carbon tax), and then see what happens. I guess that is too complicated!

 COVID - Question

I have a lot more to say with the changing status of COVID-19, but will save it for another article. However, I have a question. Why has New Zealand and Australia been able to control COVID-19 so well? Do some reading and you will be shocked at the simple approach they took from the beginning. In the meantime, lets do what we can by Wearing a Mask, Keeping Physical Distance and Sanitizing and consider seriously taking the vaccine if you are able.  I have followed the Barrie Meridian Place lockdown protests. I fully support their right to protest and the peaceful nature in which they have conducted themselves so far. However, if you want to be credible, at least follow the three aforementioned COVID health safety practices and more people will support you. By not doing so you become part of a problem rather than part of a solution.

What Can we do with COVID-19?

 

The Passing of Prince Philip – What can I do?

I was intrigued with some of the news reporting on Prince Philip after his passing. The one thing that struck me was a speech I believe he made in 1957 on one of his trips. He stated that as citizens let’s not depend on government for everything, let’s do our part individually to help the common good. His words were about three years prior to John F Kennedy becoming President of the United States. The words were not as eloquent as John F Kennedy’s famous phase, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”, but both hit on a point that we all should be reflecting on now as we fight this pandemic of COVID-19. We all seem to want the government to take care of everything and almost from a sense of, “It is their duty.” We as citizens make up Canada and elect leaders to represent us, not control us. We must challenge ourselves in this most difficult time of our history and ask, “What can I do as an individual to get through this and help my neighbour”. There are some tell tale signs that people will help. I am a member of St Mary’s Parish in Barrie and Family Director with the Knights of Columbus Council. Each year we do food drives for the Foodbank and have collected close to 7,000 pounds of food in the past. Of course, in the last year, because of COVID-19 we cannot do that. So instead of gathering actual food, on Palm Sunday Weekend at all the masses and on Holy Thursday celebrations we collected donations of cash, cheques and gift cards. The total contributions were $9,500 which equates to close to 20,000 pounds of food since $1 buys on average 2 pounds of food. So instead of joining the mobs attacking our governments, ask yourself, as prompted by both Prince Philip and John F Kennedy, “What can you do?”

 

COVID Control Restrictions - Confusing?

Now that we have entered a “stay at home” order and the restriction levels keep changing, I understand the frustration of our small retail businesses as they try to survive and cope with the impact on their business, while large retail and big box stores profit during this crisis. When you think about it, we have 7 levels of restriction under Ontario COVID restriction rules. They are Green which is meant to prevent; Yellow which is meant to protect; Orange which is meant to restrict; Red which is meant to control; Grey which is lockdown and of course, Stay at Home. Is that not a little confusing? There seems to be a lot of overlap. Green at a stoplight means you can go, so as a starter that is very confusing. So normal behaviour is not even classified except for the fact that at some point the government will be a lifting all restrictions. Let’s simplify it. The first level should be Yellow as we all understand that as a warning that there is danger ahead and to be cautious. If things are getting worse then yes, Red makes sense as it is asking us all to stop and take more control of our situations. When it becomes out of control as it is now, then let’s have Black which signifies things are in dire trouble and significant lives are being lost. If we attached appropriate controls to each of these classifications, and now with over a year of information, could we not put appropriate levels of restrictions attached to each? If we did our controls in a less confusing manner, we can and will get ahead of this terrible pandemic. But changing the rules and the sub-categories constantly is obviously meeting with frustration, resistance and a loss of confidence in our government at all levels. That will not help us overcome this crisis. In the meantime, lets do what we can by Wearing a Mask, Keeping Physical Distance and Sanitizing and consider seriously taking the vaccine if you are able.