April 27th, 2017

The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, M.P.P., Premier of Legislative Building Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1

Dear Ms. Wynne:

Re: Request for Provincial Support: Opioid Strategy

At the regular session of Lanark County Council held on April 26th, 2017, the Council of the Corporation of the County of Lanark adopted the following resolution seeking provincial support in relation to the opioid crisis:

MOTION #CC-2017-67

WHEREAS, communities across the province and country are responding to the escalating risk of opioid overdoses and deaths;

AND WHEREAS, Ontario alone has witnessed 13 years of increasing deaths due to opioid overdoses, to the point that deaths related to such overdoses are now double those from motor vehicle collisions (excerpt from Prescription for Life www.drugstrategy.com);

AND WHEREAS, according to the Regional Supervising Coroner East Region, Leeds, Grenville and Lanark (LGL), our region is not immune to the opioid problem, as there were 24 opioid related deaths between 2010 and 2014, as well as 7 suspected opioid-related deaths in the region in the past 12 months, and individuals participating in the Public Health Unit Harm Reduction Program have reported 23 non-fatal opioid related overdoses in the past 6 months;

AND WHEREAS, opioids, such as morphine and fentanyl patches, are prescribed by physicians to treat pain;

Page 1 of 4

99 Christie Lake Road, Perth ON K7H 3C6 613.267.4200 www.lanarkcounty.ca

/2

AND WHEREAS, fentanyl patches and other opioid pills are being diverted from their initial purpose, and are being sold illicitly to be smoked, chewed, ingested or injected for a high, which over time, requires more and more opioid to get the same high, which leads to overdose and potentially death;

AND WHEREAS, a particular concern with fentanyl patches, including illicit fentanyl and its related analogues, is that these drugs are available and easily imported illegally from other countries, and the amount of fentanyl varies on each portion of the patch leading to a higher risk of overdose;

AND WHEREAS, illicit fentanyl has been confirmed in many other street drugs such as heroin, fake oxycontin pills, cocaine, and crystal meth;

AND WHEREAS, police in our area have reported seizing diverted fentanyl (an opioid) patches, illicit fentanyl, and drugs laced with fentanyl;

AND WHEREAS, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit is working with the community to develop a community response plan to the opioid situation in collaboration with many stakeholders including police, fire, EMS, community organizations, municipalities, health service providers, and the education sector;

AND WHEREAS, the Health Unit has the lead in expanding surveillance of the problem, ensuring individuals who are using opioids and their family/friends have access to naloxone which can reverse respiratory failure from an overdose, and providing information and education to the public, in addition to working with municipalities and the community on the social determinants of health such as poverty, unemployment, lack of social supports, and inadequate housing, that can have a negative impact on the health of individuals and communities, as well as address the underlying root causes of substance misuse;

AND WHEREAS, in October of 2016, the Honourable Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Dr. Eric Hoskins announced the Ontario Provincial Opioid Strategy to tackle the public health crisis related to problematic use of opioids by looking at multiple sectors including physician prescribing, overdose monitoring, opioid prescription monitoring, and enhancing harm reduction and addiction services.

Page 2 of 4

99 Christie Lake Road, Perth ON K7H 3C6 613.267.4200 www.lanarkcounty.ca

/3

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Council of the Corporation of the County of Lanark respectfully requests the provincial government to enhance our local response to the opioid problem in our community, by enacting the following:

• Ensure all first responders, including police and fire, have access to provincially funded naloxone that can reverse an opioid overdose, and training in its use, due to the fact that in our rural region volunteer firefighters are often the first ones on the scene of an opioid overdose, and it is critical that the individual(s) who has overdosed receive naloxone as soon as possible to prevent death; and • Ensure all places that support vulnerable people in the community, have access to publicly funded naloxone, and training in its use; and • Provide a provincially funded public opioid education campaign, including social media to complement the efforts of individual communities; and • Provide additional provincial funding for addiction and mental health services that would assist in treating people with mental illness to reduce and/or eliminate self-medication with opioids, and would provide addiction services to help people overcome their opioid addiction.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington MP and MPP Randy Hillier, Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP Jack MacLaren, FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities), AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) and all municipalities in the Province of Ontario.

Honourable Premier, this is a crisis situation and we need strong leadership from the provincial and federal governments to coordinate with communities and urgently invest in the solutions to stop the epidemic, including addictions treatment, supportive housing, prevention and drug policy reform. We desperately need a nationwide emergency response as opioid addiction devastates families and communities and overdose deaths reach an even more horrific toll. We very much look forward to a favourable response.

Page 3 of 4

99 Christie Lake Road, Perth ON K7H 3C6 613.267.4200 www.lanarkcounty.ca /4

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Leslie Drynan, County Clerk/Deputy CAO at 613-267-4200 ext. 1502 or via email at [email protected] or Dr. Paula Stewart MD, FRCPC Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer for Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit (LGLDHU) at 613-345-5685.

Sincere regards,

Bill Dobson Warden

BD/ld cc: Honourable Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington MP Scott Reid and MPP Randy Hillier Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP Jack MacLaren FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) EOWC (Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus) All municipalities in the Province of Ontario Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health for LGLDHU

99 Christie Lake Road, Perth ON K7H 3C6 613.267.4200 www.lanarkcounty.ca April 28, 2017 VIA EMAIL

The Honourable Kathleen O. Wynne Premier of Ontario Queen’s Park, Rm. 281 Main Legislative Building Toronto, ON M7A 1A1

Dear Premier Wynne,

Please be advised that at its meeting held on January 23rd, 2017, Amherstburg Town Council passed the following motion:

Resolution # 20170123-554 - That Council SUPPORT the Town of Richmond Hill’s resolution regarding Postal Banking.

Regards,

Tammy Fowkes Deputy Clerk

cc: Taras Natyshak – MPP, Essex Tracey Ramsey - MP, Essex Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Ontario Municipalities

Attached: Town of Richmond Hill resolution re: Support Postal Banking

Website: www.amherstburg.ca 271 SANDWICH ST. SOUTH, AMHERSTBURG, ONTARIO N9V 2A5 Phone: (519) 736-0012 Fax: (519) 736-5403 TTY: (519)736-9860

December 9, 2016 Sent via email

To: Ontario Municipalities

Re: Richmond Hill Resolution - A Bank for Everyone – Support Postal Banking

Richmond Hill Town Council, at its meeting held on November 28, 2016, adopted the following resolution:

a) That the Town of Richmond Hill encourages the Federal Government to review the Banking Act to allow postal banking at Post; b) That the Town of Richmond Hill encourages the Federal Government to amend the Canada Post Act of 1981 to allow postal banking at Canada Post; c) That the Town of Richmond Hill encourages the Federal Government to instruct Canada Post to add postal banking as a service, with a mandate for financial inclusion either as a stand-alone bank or in cooperation with other financial organizations which may include the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC); d) That the Town of Richmond Hill call on the federal government to instruct Canada Post to add postal banking, with a mandate for financial inclusion; e) That Council direct staff to forward this resolution to other local governments in Canada for whom contact information is readily available, requesting favourable consideration of this resolution to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities; f) And further, that Council direct staff to forward this resolution to: 1. , Member of Parliament, Richmond Hill, Ontario 12820 Yonge Street, Suite 202, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4E 4H1, Canada; 2. , Member of Parliament (Richmond Hill) 9140 Leslie Street, Unit 407 Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 0A9, Canada; 3. Clark Somerville, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, 24 Clarence St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5P3; 4. Other local governments in Canada for whom contact information is readily available; …/2

225 East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4 T 905 771 8800 RichmondHill.ca December 9, 2016 Page 2

5. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities; 6. Judy Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Rm 18A1, 11 Laurier Street Phase III, Place du Portage, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0S5; 7. Mike Palecek, President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, 377 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 1Y3.

In accordance with Council's directive, please find attached a copy of the Council endorsed member motion.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Clerk, at 905-771-8800.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen M.A. Huycke Director of Council Support Services/Town Clerk

Attachment

cc: Leona Alleslev, Member of Parliament - Richmond Hill Majid Jowhari, Member of Parliament- Richmond Hill Clark Somerville, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities Judy Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Mike Palecek, President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers

Agenda Item 6.0 MEMBER MOTION

Section 5.4.4(b) of Procedure By-law

Meeting: Committee of the Whole □ Council x

Meeting Date: November 28, 2016

Subject/Title: A bank for everyone – Support postal banking

Submitted by: Councillor Muench

Whereas the Federal Government’s Canada Post Review will conclude, in the spring of 2017, with the government announcing decisions on the future of Canada Post, including whether or not to create a new service and revenue stream through postal banking; Whereas there is an urgent need for this service because thousands of rural towns and villages do not have a bank; Whereas nearly two million Canadians desperately need alternatives to high interest charging payday lenders including our residents in Richmond Hill; Whereas postal banking helps keep post offices viable and financial services accessible in many parts of the world; Whereas postal banking has the support of over 600 municipalities and close to two-thirds of Canadians (Stratcom poll, 2013); Whereas residents and businesses of Richmond Hill rely on mail service and see postal banking as an opportunity to improve the financial position of Canada Post while allowing the organization to continue its important service to Canadians including Richmond Hill without subsidy; Whereas small business in Richmond Hill and throughout Canada require more and different forms of banking services to assist in venture capital growth as well as other financial needs currently not being serviced; Whereas the Federal Government has prioritized, communicated, promoted, encouraged and challenged Canadians to be innovative, postal banking will allow customers of Canada Post to have access to banking services that will enhance productivity and quality of life for all stakeholders; Therefore Be It Resolved: a) That the Town of Richmond Hill encourages the Federal Government to review the Banking Act to allow postal banking at Canada Post; …/2

57 b) That the Town of Richmond Hill encourages the Federal Government to amend the Canada Post Act of 1981 to allow postal banking at Canada Post; c) That the Town of Richmond Hill encourages the Federal Government to instruct Canada Post to add postal banking as a service, with a mandate for financial inclusion either as a stand-alone bank or in cooperation with other financial organizations which may include the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC); d) That the Town of Richmond Hill call on the federal government to instruct Canada Post to add postal banking, with a mandate for financial inclusion; e) That Council direct staff to forward this resolution to other local governments in Canada for whom contact information is readily available, requesting favourable consideration of this resolution to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities; f) And further, that Council direct staff to forward this resolution to: i) Leona Alleslev, Member of Parliament, Richmond Hill, Ontario 12820 Yonge Street, Suite 202, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4E 4H1, Canada; ii) Majid Jowhari, Member of Parliament (Richmond Hill) 9140 Leslie Street, Unit 407 Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 0A9, Canada; iii) Clark Somerville, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, 24 Clarence St, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5P3; iv) Other local governments in Canada for whom contact information is readily available; v) The Federation of Canadian Municipalities; vi) Judy Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Rm 18A1, 11 Laurier Street Phase III, Place du Portage, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0S5; vii) Mike Palecek, President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, 377 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 1Y3.

Moved by: Councillor Muench Seconded by:

58 Severn Sound Environmental Association 2017 First Quarter Report/Update

Financial Donations, grants, budget, invoicing and revenue (fee for service)

Grants • Two Intern Grants. (confirmed) o Green Jobs - 80% wage subsidy for our Science and Technology Intern o Bio-Talent Canada - 50% wage subsidy for our Invasive Species Intern • Applied to County of Simcoe for Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant - $5000 capacity building towards updating SSEA’s strategic Plan. • Applied for a Canada Summer Jobs grant for two Climate Change Field Technicians

Budget • Completed first and second draft of the SSEA 2017 Operational Budget.

Invoicing • First Quarter Invoicing submitted = $530,434.10. An increase of $49.755.90 (10.4 %) over 2016 first quarter. Staffing/HR Administration, Staffing, Training and Volunteers

Administration • Time tracking system developed and implemented - provides enhanced reporting • Health and safety protocols/Standard Operating Procedures developed o “Water sampling through ice” o “Severe Food Allergies” • Job posting - Climate Change Field Technician (2 summer field students) o featured on Town of Midland website, Georgian College internal student job board – 20 resumes received

Staffing • Added Lead Environmental Monitoring Technician as full time position (total of 8 full time staff) • Interns o Aquatic Habitat (ends March 2017), Invasive Species (ends July 2017) • Contract Risk Management/ Data Management Technician (Feb. to Nov. 2017)

Volunteers • Kayla Berger volunteering April 2017 as part of Fleming College Ecosystem Management Program sorting/ID of benthic invertebrates, data entry, field work.

1 Training

• Intensive training workshop on Applied Environmental Statistics (Dennis Helsel) - provided by MOECC PWQMN (NO CHARGE) • Training on R studio (Statistics and graphing open source software) for analyzing PWQMN data (free webinar)

Education, Engagement, Outreach Presentations, Articles, Media, School Involvement and Events

Presentations • Presented at Lake Simcoe Georgian Bay Clean Up Fund (LSGBCUF) Science and Stewardship - Funders Forum • 2017 International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) Conference in Detroit, May 15-19 - Accepted for 2 posters and one oral presentations o Using Remote Sensing to Map and Classify the Condition of Nearshore Fish Habitat in Severn Sound, ON o Aisha - How and why do local climate signals vary in different ways? A case study in Severn Sound, Georgian Bay o Keith - SSRAP • “Algae trends in Honey Harbour” accepted for 50 Shades of Green – all about algae (May 12 2017 Port Carling Community Centre) - Muskoka Watershed council http://www.muskokawatershed.org/events/msc/2017-mse/

Articles/Publications • Articles submitted to Hoots (Honey Harbour Association Newsletter), also posted on our website - Tree Planting and Variability in Honey Harbour Water Quality

M&C/MEDIA • Feature story “concerns about the Great Lakes” on CTV Barrie news (March 16, 2017) http://barrie.ctvnews.ca/mobile/video ?clipId=1080168 • Activated the SSEA Twitter account @SSEA_ SSRAP o Hashtags #SSEAWatershed #SSEA_ SSRAP #SevernSound #GreatLakes

Twitter, Tweet, Retweet and the Twitter logo are trademarks of Twitter, Inc. or its affiliates.

2 Events • Georgian College Annual Meet and Greet for the Environmental Technician and Technology program - increased the applicants summer job field position, strengthened the partnership with Georgian College • Copeland Forest Friends AGM on Saturday February 18, 2017 o Display – SSEA and Invasive Species o SSEA gave Key Note presentation – ecological health & water quality issues

Tree Planting Planting and Distribution

Community Tree Planting • Seven planting sites planned for spring (3 in Tay, 2 in Severn, 2 in Midland) • 4,600 trees will be planted by volunteers [I may still add more trees prior to the date]

Tree Distribution • All nine municipalities are participating • 8,430 seedlings pre-ordered by 189 participants

Fish and Wildlife Habitat / Natural Heritage Natural heritage assessments, invasive species, wetlands, habitat and stewardship

Penetanguishene Natural Heritage project • Attended Town’s Open House with Poster displays • Prepared draft report and presentation for Council

Invasive Species – pilot project • Townships of Severn, Tay and Tiny approved funding ($29,000 total) – Midland and Penetanguishene still pending • Intern started January 16th 2017 o Created invasive species poster o Shared invasive species information at the following events: o Seedy Saturday (seed exchange) at the Orillia Farmer’s Market o Copeland Forest Friends Annual General Meeting, o Penetanguishene’s Winterama

3 o Sent survey to all SSEA municipalities - current invasive species protocols and where assistance is needed o Began collecting and mapping invasive species occurrence data

Wetland Evaluations • Tiny Bog wetland evaluation completed by SSEA in 2012-2013 was accepted by MNRF in January 2017 • Tay Bog/Gratrix Wetlands - interim report prepared for Ducks Unlimited (the funder) Land Use Planning Input and Review

Natural Heritage Reviews • Two each in Township of Tiny and Tay as well as Town of Midland • commented on Town of Midland’s tree planting policy Source Water Protection Education & Outreach, Risk Management

Education & Outreach • SSEA municipalities contributed from their Source Protection Municipal Implementation Funds (SPMIF) $23K to Regional E&O Promotional project, (total Regional contribution $86K). Materials include; New tagline/theme, primers/presentations, Infographics, Memes, videos, image library.

Risk Management • Contract Risk Management/ Data Management Technician Started Feb. 2017 o completing the 2016 Annual Reports to the Municipalities o threat verification for 2017 Monitoring Programs field/data collection, PGMN, PWQMN Tributaries, Open water, Inland lakes, Temp – thermal stability and Climate

Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN) (water chemistry, metals, temperature, Dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, turbidity)

• 2 sampling runs o high flow (snow melt and rain) • Winter sampling through ice o Orr Lake winter sampling (profiles/chemistry) (part of MOU agreement) o Cranberry Lake winter sampling (profiles/chemistry)

4 Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) • Re-signed agreement • 1 PGMN level logger data download (8 wells) and manual water level points collected at 10 wells

Climate • 2016 data from 4 rain gauges analyzed o Daily, cumulative, monthly rainfall, and rainfall intensity data was calculated.

Data Analysis and Reporting Statistics, data management & analysis, Benthic Invertebrate ID and GIS/mapping

Statistics/Data • Provided fish data from wetland evaluation projects to Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for their database and online mapping tool • Thermal stability - Finalised Metadata for intensive watershed surveys submitted to Township of Tiny, reference layer for Planning and Public Works Services • 2016/2017 Ice on observation records completed • 2016 climate and water level records completed • 2016 chemistry dataset completed • 2017 chemistry lab request submitted • Analysis of Copeland Forest Friends water quality data • 2016 algae dataset for North Bay & South Bay completed, preliminary analysis done • Zooplankton sample inventory completed • 2016 algae dataset for Farlain Lake completed

Benthic Invertebrate Identification • completed Hogg Creek, working on Coldwater River • 82 samples with a total of 10,084 bugs identified • Picking and ID Orr Lake samples (part of the MOU agreement) • Continued comparison between Benthic Biomonitoring protocols

5 GIS/Mapping • GIS support for the Penetanguishene Natural Heritage Assessment • coastal aquatic habitat o Developed a photo archive with hyperlink locations of underwater & above water images taken in Severn Sound. o Developed and implemented a method of interpretation to digitize and classify emergent vegetation and substrate cover in selected nearshore areas o Five GIS and data processing methodology reports (draft) developed in collaboration with U. of Windsor and DFO - 2015 to 2017 - Mapping, Evaluating, and Predicting Changes in Coastal Margin Aquatic Habitat in Severn Sound and Southeastern Georgian Bay

Partnerships New/Updated NGO partners and MOU’s

• Friends of Copeland Forest • Freshwater Futures • Provincial Ground Water Monitoring Network - signed new PGMN Partnership Agreement Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC).

Thank you from the SSEA Team

• Julie Cayley - General Manager • Aisha Chiandet - Water Scientist • Michelle Hudolin - Wetlands and • Paula Madill - Ecosystem Habitat Biologist Technologist • Gail Marchildon - Office Manager • Justine Lunt - Risk Management/ • Lex McPhail - IT Manager/GIS Data Management Technician Applications Specialist • Keith Sherman - Risk Mgmt. • Lauren Millar - Aquatic Habitat Intern Official/Special Projects Officer • Carl Lesperance - Lead Monitoring • Robyn Rumney - Invasive Species Technician Intern

Contact Information Mailing Address: 67 Fourth St. Midland, ON L4R 3S9 Phone Number:(705) 527-5166 General Email:[email protected] Website: www.severnsound.ca

6 Environment and Land Tribunals Tribunaux de l’environnement et de Ontario l'aménagement du territoire Ontario Ontario Municipal Board Commission des affaires municipales de l’Ontario 655 Bay Street, Suite 1500 655 rue Bay, suite 1500 Toronto ON M5G 1E5 Toronto ON M5G 1E5 Telephone: (416) 212-6349 Téléphone: (416) 212-6349 Toll Free: 1-866-448-2248 Sans Frais: 1-866-448-2248 Fax: (416) 326-5370 Télécopieur: (416) 326-5370 Website: www.elto.gov.on.ca Site Web: www.elto.gov.on.ca

May 1, 2017 VIA: Email

The Clerk Township of Georgian Bay 99 Lone Pine Road Port Severn, ON L0K 1S0

Email:

Subject: Case Number: PL140356 File Number: PL140356 Related File Number(s): PL120402, PL140355, PL140740, PL141430 Municipality: Township of Georgian Bay Official Plan Number/ New Comprehensive OP, OPA 24, Removal from reference: Appendix 9-5 (Modification 129) Zoning By-law By-law 2BL-02-12, By-law 2014-75 Number/reference: Property Location: Island 136, 136A and 136B Appellants: Fred Havers and Darlene Havers

I am writing to advise that the appeals by Fred Havers and Darlene Havers were withdrawn by letter dated April 27, 2017.

File numbers PL120402 (2BL-02-12), PL140355 (OPA 24) and PL140740 (Appendix 9-5) are now closed.

The Board will proceed to process the remaining appeal(s) where any Order has been withheld therefore PL140356 and PL141430 remain open.

Yours truly,

Johnpaul Loiacono Case Coordinator, Planner (416) 326-5598 c.c. Neil Davis Mary Flynn-Guglietti Kim Mullin District Clerk OMB Coordinator, MMA

Assessment Review Board - Board of Negotiation - Conservation Review Board - Environmental Review Tribunal - Ontario Municipal Board Niagara Escarpment Hearing Office - Office of Consolidated Hearings THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ADJALA – TOSORONTIO

7855 Sideroad 30 * R.R.#1 * Alliston, Ontario * L9R 1V1 Telephone: (705) 434-5055 Fax: (705) 434-5051

Office of the Clerk BY E-MAIL ONLY

April 20, 2017

The Right Honourable Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau:

Re: Canada’s 150th Birthday

Please be advised that Council at their meeting of April 10, 2017 passed the following resolution:

A motion was made by Deputy Mayor Little, seconded by Councillor Keenan:

RESOLVED THAT in recognition of Canada’s 150th birthday, the federal and provincial governments be requested to wave the taxes payable on the purchase of a Canadian Flag or Canada 150 Anniversary flag for the year 2017; and further,

THAT this motion be forwarded to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Premier of Ontario and Ontario municipalities for their support.

Yours truly,

Barbara Kane Township Clerk c.c. Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne Ontario Municipalities Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Sport Transportation

Minister Minister

9th Floor, Hearst Block 3rd Floor, Ferguson Block 900 Bay Street 77 Wellesley St W. Toronto, ON M7A 2E1 Toronto, ON M7A 1Z8

Monday, May 8, 2017

Dear Valued Cycling Partners:

On April 27th, Ontario tabled the 2017 Budget. This budget returns the government to balance while continuing to make investments that make everyday life easier for people all across Ontario.

We are very proud that our budget includes an investment of $50 million for commuter cycling infrastructure in 2017–18 to give Ontarians a safe and low‐cost commuting alternative between residential communities, workplaces, major transit stations and other destinations and while enhancing their safety and well-being through investments in infrastructure. This will enable people to take bikes and transit for their daily commute instead of personal vehicles, effectively reducing GHG emissions.

Your advocacy contributed to the creation of #CycleON -- Ontario's cycling strategy -- which serves as a blueprint to help us create healthy, active and prosperous communities that have better cycling infrastructure and safer streets and highways.

At the recent Share the Road Cycling Coalition annual Ontario Bike Summit, we reiterated our government’s commitment to implement Ontario's Cycling Strategy, #CycleON. Through #CycleON, the province is working to identify a long-term network of cycling routes across Ontario that will:

 Promote recreational cycling and cycling tourism;  Connect municipal cycling routes and places of interest;  Identify areas of provincial infrastructure that should accommodate cycling; and,  Prioritize future cycling infrastructure investments on provincial highways.

The draft network we’ve identified includes over 8,000km of cycling routes that connect the regions of the province – and the people that live there providing access to major communities and destinations. We invite you to view and submit comments on the draft network at www.ontario.ca/cycling. The comment period has been extended until May 26, 2017.

Over 70 per cent of Ontario’s population resides within 5km of these cycling routes. The province-wide network has the potential to enhance tourism and recreation opportunities across the province. And in urban areas, the network is also an opportunity to look at developing routes that will serve both recreational and commuter routes in the years to come.

1 It was around this time last year that our government announced our commitment to provide $10 million under the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure program to 37 cities and towns across the province that are working to build new or improve their existing cycling infrastructure in ways that make sense locally. This includes urban, suburban and rural communities like Brampton, Niagara, Ottawa, Chatham-Kent, Kingston, and Thunder Bay among others.

In 2015, we also announced an additional commitment of $15 million for routes along provincial highways so that cyclists have a connected and continuous network.

The cycling investment in Budget 2017 builds on the recent cycling initiatives that the government has made. This unprecedented investment promotes cycling and walking as part of a healthy, active lifestyle while making commuter cycling easier and safer.

Last month, we were pleased to introduce Ontario’s first Cycling Tourism Plan: Tour by Bike. It’s no secret that cycling tourism in Ontario is experiencing rapid growth as more people realize what a fun and healthy form of transportation cycling can be. Ontario is home to an extensive cycling and trails network that stretches across the province, connects our communities and offers unique views of our urban and rural landscapes. Through this plan, we will continue to work to increase and promote cycling as a tourism draw in Ontario communities. Tour by Bike builds on the work we began with the Tourism Action Plan and the Strategic Framework for Tourism in Ontario.

We all have the same goal. We want to continue making Ontario a safe place to cycle, and to stand out as a world-class cycling destination. Our work to date has positioned us well as we move forward with the Tour by Bike and our new commuter cycling infrastructure investment. Of course, your input and collaboration is invaluable to this process. We are excited to keep working with you, and look forward to continuing to grow cycling in Ontario together.

All our best,

Eleanor McMahon Steven Del Duca Minister Minister

2

Jessica Gunby

To: Laurie Belsey Subject: RE: Honey Harbour public school

Good morning

We recently attended several meetings about the proposed closure of the Honey Harbour Public School, we thought it was a done deal, but we persevered and the Trillium Lakelands District School Board relented and finally agreed to a five year moratorium on the fate of our school. In the meantime the Catholic school, Our Lady of Mercy School, will be closing at the end of this school year and rumour has it that most or all of the students may register to attend the Public School instead of busing all the way to Victoria Harbour. This will put our attendance up over the capacity of the little 2-room + 1-portable school.

It is the contention of a lot of Honey Harbour families that the, soon to be empty Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School, should be the best location of a joint School Board school, like suggested in the Rural Community Schools Survey. This will be the topic of a meeting to be held at the Baxter Ward Community Centre May 23rd, 2017, 6:30 to 8:30 https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-ontarios-rural-education-strategy

I certainly hope lots of people attend this meeting

Laurie Belsey

1