FALL GREETINGS FROM THE FEDERATION
As the leaves turn colour and we all prepare our cottages for the winter, the Federation of Tiny Township Shorelines Associations sends greetings to all recipients of the Tiny Cottager.
This has been a busy year for the Federation. Many serious and complex issues face cottagers in Tiny Township. We have tried to study them carefully and make effective representation on behalf of all Tiny cottagers.
A brief résumé of activities of The Federation
Newsletter This Spring’s second issue of the Tiny Cottager was mailed on the May 24th weekend to 7200 households, with additional copies distributed through local stores. This Fall’s third issue is planned to reach about 7400 households who own property in the shoreline residential areas of Tiny Township, by mail to their permanent home address.
Most of the cost of producing and distributing the Tiny Cottager is borne by its advertisers. We urge you to do business with these fine enterprises and thereby help the local economy of Tiny. Donations from individuals and beach associations also have helped defray costs of the Tiny Cottager, which have been affected by hefty hikes in postage rates. Such donations are gratefully received by the Federation Treasurer, Charlene Lowes. If you wish to help in this way, a convenient coupon is provided later in these pages.
Restructuring The restructuring of Simcoe County, involving the “giveaway” of Tiny’s commercial tax base to Midland, and all sorts of other unpleasant consequences for your taxes, has been brewing since 1990. Federation President Jack Ellis made several formal presentations during the study phase, and several representations since then. Frank Hughes, Wymbolwood Beach, has made a number of well-documented presentations.
Tiny Council, particularly Reeve Hastings, has pushed FOR restructuring of late, so our attempts to stop the restructuring madness were redirected to Queen’s Park. Jack Ellis wrote to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Premier of Ontario, and various government officials on many occasions opposing the Simcoe County Act. Most recently, Federation directors made four appearances before the Legislative Committee urging them to respect the wishes of over 90% of Tiny voters who opposed restructuring, but to no avail.
As the passage of the Act by the NDP government (to take effect January 1, 1994) seems inevitable, our recent efforts have been devoted to at least getting a ward system for municipal elections in Tiny Township, which has the largest number of electors in the County, thanks to the large population of seasonal residents. The Act exempts Tiny from having a ward system. Why? Because Tiny Council voted (in early 1992, immediately after getting elected) to retain the old one-ward system which has for the last 50 years systematically kept cottagers from having councillors who are responsive to their interests. We will be working more on this issue in future.
Official Plan Review The Official Plan of Tiny Township has been under review for about a year now. The Federation held an information meeting on the topic in August 1992, at which a guest speaker helped all present to understand the important role of Official Plans, and to appreciate the purpose of the review. Subsequently, Jack Ellis prepared a detailed brief to Council, noting that the existing Official Plan lacks explicit goals (so no-one really can understand and agree with what it is trying to accomplish for Tiny); it projects excessive populations for the shoreline areas; and it does not provide enough environmental protection.
A number of studies, including those called for in Jack’s brief, are now under way.
The Recreation Master Plan The Township started a Recreation Master Plan in 1990. Bill West and Jack Ellis from the Federation, along with inland representatives, sat on the initial steering committee that drew up the terms of reference and got the study under way. The study was stopped by the Council of the day because the tax impacts of restructuring were unclear, and the question of shoreline ownership was coming to court. In 1992, a new Council brought new politics to bear, and re-started the study anyway. The rest is history, with a report being received that does not come close to fulfilling the original terms of reference. Shoreline planning dollars have been squandered, in the opinion of many who attended the final presentation of the plan in August.
Tiny Council Meetings Pat O’Driscoll and Frank Hughes try to attend and monitor the twice monthly meetings of Tiny Council. An update article appears in this issue.
What’s new in this newsletter?
This issue of the Tiny Cottager contains several articles of updated information of interest to all of its readers. Two of the other main themes are:
* An overview of the big tax increases facing Tiny if restructuring brings in 1992 market value assessment, along with what you can do about it. We also look at the impact of the skyrocketing school taxes, which sponge up 3/4 of your tax dollars.
* A fascinating article reveals plans drawn up by MNR in the early 1970s to “develop” the shoreline of Tiny. Seventeen miles of Tiny shore were to be “improved” over a 10-year period. What do you think of 32 THOUSAND cars parking along 17 miles of Tiny shore? This article should teach us the old adage: “those who are unaware of history may be condemned to relive it”.
Enjoy the Tiny Cottager!
Sincerely,
Jack Ellis, President Federation of Tiny Township Shoreline Associations.
