The District Municipality of Muskoka
District Council Meeting 1(2021) – Electronic Meeting
Agenda
3:00 p.m., Monday, January 18, 2021
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and requirements for physical distancing, this meeting will be held electronically in accordance with section 238 of the Municipal Act.
As part of the District's response to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Municipal Office remains closed to the public until further notice.
Members of the public are encouraged to view the Council proceedings through webcast. District webcasts can be accessed at the following link: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/district-government/webcasts.aspx
Call to Order
Acknowledgement of Supplementary Agenda
Declaration of Pecuniary Interests
Ceremonial and Invited Presentations
Oral Presentations (Deputations/Delegations)
Previous Council Meetings – Review of Minutes for Correctness a) District Council – 19(2020) – December 21, 2020
Committee Reports a) Finance and Corporate Services – FCS-11-2020 – December 22, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report b) Community and Planning Services – CPS-14-2020 – December 21, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report c) Community and Planning Services – CPS-15-2020 – December 21, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness ii) Committee Report
This meeting will be Webcast and Video Recorded Correspondence/Written Submissions
All correspondence listed is a matter of public record. Should any member of Council or the public wish to receive full copies, please contact the Clerk’s department.
Motions
Councillors S. Clement and P. Kelly requested that the following motion be considered by Council:
Moved by S. Clement and seconded by P. Kelly
WHEREAS COVID-19 vaccinations began in Ontario on December 15, 2020;
AND WHEREAS due to limited doses of the vaccine availability, the Province of Ontario has prioritized health care workers in hospitals, long-term care homes and retirement homes, other congregate care settings and remote Indigenous communities and residents and essential care givers in long-term care homes and retirement homes;
AND WHEREAS Paramedics have been and continue to serve on the front- line of health care and have been instrumental in the delivery of COVID-19 assessments, testing, and are actively delivering vaccinations to priority groups;
AND WHEREAS Paramedics are not yet considered as a prioritized group eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination;
AND WHEREAS Paramedics should not be further delayed in being vaccinated as vital members of the front-line healthcare system;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the District Chair write the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Health, and Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health to advocate for the immediate inclusion of Paramedics as a priority group to receive COVID-19 vaccinations;
AND FURTHER THAT copies of the letters be sent to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Board of Health, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and to the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs.
Unfinished Business
New Business a) Indigenous Awareness Training Update and Outcomes Report 1(2021)-1
This report is provided for information.
b) Council Strategic Priorities Report Card for 2020 Report 1(2021)-2
This report is provided for information. c) COVID-19 Update Verbal Report d) Watermain Break in the Town of Bracebridge Verbal Report e) Additional New Business Items
By-laws (2 readings)
Implementation By-laws (2 readings)
Where an implementation by-law is required, and a resolution has been adopted by Council regarding the matter, that by-law regardless of whether it is brought forward at the same or subsequent meeting, shall only be reviewed and/or debated for accuracy and conformity with the applicable resolution.
2021-1 Being a by-law to requisition interim financing from the Area Municipalities before the adoption of the estimates for 2021
2021-2 Being a by-law to authorize the borrowing of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) on an interim basis, if necessary
2021-3 Being a by-law to authorize the borrowing of funds from the Bank of Nova Scotia
Closed Session
Recommendation
THAT we do now retire to Muskoka District Council in closed session to discuss collective bargaining with the Ontario Nurses’ Association (The Pines); and a potential Provincial Initiative pursuant to the following subsection(s) of Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended:
(d) labour relations or employee negotiations; and
(h) Information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency or any of them.
Recommendation
THAT we do now rise from Muskoka District Council in closed session and immediately reconvene in open session. Confirming By-law (1 reading)
2021-4 Being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka at this meeting held on the 18th day of January 18, 2021
Adjournment
This agenda can be viewed in a larger font by increasing the magnification of the page. Please note that hearing-assistive devices are available in the Council Chamber. The District Municipality of Muskoka
District Council Meeting 19(2020) – Electronic Meeting
Minutes
The Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka met electronically at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 21, 2020.
This meeting was held electronically in accordance with section 238 of the Municipal Act, as amended. Members of the public were encouraged to view the Council proceedings through the District’s webcasting platform.
Present: District Chair J. Klinck and all other members of Council
Officials Present: J. Stevens, Chief Administrative Officer; N. Barrette, Commissioner of Health Services; S. Hastings, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services; F. Jahn, Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works; J. Clow, District Solicitor; A. Landry, Director, Human Resources; A. Back, District Clerk
Also Present: S. Donald, Director of Budgets and Financial Planning; C. Doyle, Director of Environmental and Watershed Programs; J. Yeo, Director, Facilities and Support Services; L. O’Connor, Airport CEO; T. Kilbourne, Team Lead, CIU; K. Boyle, Climate Change Initiatives Coordinator; K. Cowden, Finance Analyst; B. Purves, Chair, Airport Board of Directors; C. Hammond, Deputy Clerk
Call to Order
Chair Klinck called the meeting to order at 3:11 p.m.
Acknowledgement of Supplementary Agenda
Chair Klinck noted that while there were no supplementary agenda, there was a need to discuss a potential motion resulting from an earlier Community and Planning Services Committee meeting. He received permission from a minimum of two-thirds of Councillors present to consider the matter.
Declaration of Pecuniary Interests
None were declared. Ceremonial and Invited Presentations
a) New Leaf Muskoka Climate Action Plan Christy Doyle, Director of Environmental and Watershed Programs Kevin Boyle, Climate Change Initiatives Coordinator Presentation 19(2020)-1
Ms. Doyle and Mr. Boyle provided a digital presentation which highlighted the District’s Climate Action Plan. She confirmed that District staff engage and consult with neighbouring jurisdictions and work collaboratively with lower-tier municipalities.
Oral Presentations (Deputations/Delegations) a) Climate Action Muskoka Climate Emergency Declaration Melinda Zytaruk
Moved by M. Peppard and seconded by N. Alcock P198/2020
THAT the request by Melinda Zytaruk on behalf of Climate Action Muskoka for leave to make a delegation/deputation with respect to a declared Climate Emergency be granted.
Carried.
On behalf of Climate Action Muskoka, Ms. Zytaruk expressed support for the District’s Climate Action Plan.
Previous Council Minutes – Review of Minutes for Correctness
a) District Council – 17(2020) – November 16, 2020
No errors or omissions.
b) District Council – 18(2020) – December 4, 2020
No errors or omissions.
Committee Reports
a) Engineering and Public Works – PW-10-2020 – November 16, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness
No errors or omissions.
ii) Committee Report
Councillor Harding highlighted the minutes of the November 16, 2020 meeting of the Engineering and Public Works Committee.
Moved by P. Harding and seconded by R. Lacroix P199/2020
THAT all recommendations contained in the minutes of the Engineering and Public Works Committee meeting PW-10-2020 held on November 16, 2020 be adopted.
Carried. b) Joint Engineering and Public Works and Finance and Corporate Services – PW- 11-2020 and FCS-9-2020 – November 18, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness
No errors or omissions.
ii) Committee Report
Councillor Harding highlighted the minutes of the November 18, 2020 joint Committee meeting.
Moved by P. Harding and seconded by G. Smith P200/2020
THAT all recommendations contained in the minutes of the joint Engineering and Public Works and Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting PW-11-2020 and FCS-9- 2020 held on November 18, 2020, be adopted.
Carried. c) Health Services – HS-6-2020 – November 19, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness
No errors or omissions.
ii) Committee Report
Councillor Clement highlighted the minutes of the November 19, 2020 meeting of the Health Services Committee. d) Joint Engineering and Public Works and Community and Planning Services – PW-12-2020 and CPS-11-2020 – November 19, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness
No errors or omissions.
ii) Committee Report
Councillor Harding highlighted the minutes of the November 19, 2020 joint Committee meeting.
Moved by P. Wiancko and seconded by K. Terziano P201/2020
THAT all recommendations contained in the minutes of the joint Engineering and Public Works and Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting PW-12-2020 and CPS-11- 2020 held on November 19, 2020, be adopted.
Carried. e) Community and Planning Services – CPS-12-2020 – November 19, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness
No errors or omissions.
ii) Committee Report
Councillor Alcock highlighted the minutes of the November 19, 2020 meeting of the Community and Planning Services Committee.
Moved by N. Alcock and seconded by A. Edwards P202/2020
THAT all recommendations contained in the minutes of the Community and Planning Services Committee meeting CPS-12-2020 held on November 19, 2020 be adopted.
Carried. f) Community and Planning Services – CPS-13-2020 – December 3, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness
No errors or omissions. ii) Committee Report
Councillor Alcock highlighted the minutes of the December 3, 2020 meeting of the Community and Planning Services Committee. g) Joint Engineering and Public Works and Finance and Corporate Services – PW- 13-202 and FCS-10-2020 – December 4, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness
No errors or omissions.
ii) Committee Report
Councillor Harding highlighted the minutes of the December 4, 2020 joint Committee meeting.
Some Councillors expressed a disappointment regarding drop-off organics collection at transfer stations being deferred and urged Council to prioritize the initiative in 2022.
Moved by H. Lorenz and seconded by P. Koetsier P203/2020
THAT all recommendations contained in the minutes of the joint Engineering and Public Works and Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting PW-13-2020 and FCS-10- 2020 held on December 4, 2020, be adopted.
Carried. h) Municipal Modernization – MM-5-2020 – December 4, 2020
i) Review of Minutes for Correctness
No errors or omissions.
ii) Committee Report
District Chair Klinck highlighted the minutes of the December 4, 2020 meeting of the Municipal Modernization Committee. He confirmed that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing had granted the District and other upper-tier municipalities an extension to March 31, 2021. Correspondence/Written Submissions
All correspondence listed is a matter of public record. Should any member of Council or the public wish to receive full copies, please contact the Clerk’s department.
1. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing circulated correspondence on November 16 and December 15 regarding Enforcement of Orders under the Reopening Ontario Act 2020. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-398 and 20-436)
2. The Township of Howick circulated a request to the Province to lower the interest rates on Tile Drain Loans. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-399)
3. The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services circulated correspondence that the process for acquiring and distributing PPE will not change with respect to the announced Ontario Government Procurement of Personal Protective Equipment. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-400)
4. The Township of Essa circulated a resolution requesting the repeal of Schedule 6 of the Budget Measures Act and that the Province continue to work with Conservation Authorities, provide financial resources and create conditions for growth. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-403)
5. The Township of Muskoka Lakes circulated a resolution requesting the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility to grant a request for an AODA Website Compliance Extension. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-404)
6. The Town of Shelburne, the Townships of South Frontenac, Central Frontenac, Puslinch, the Cities of Greater Sudbury and Orangeville and the Municipalities of Marmora and Lake and Chatham-Kent circulated resolutions regarding Bill 229 and Conservation Authorities. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-405, 20-408, 20-410, 20-415, 20-416, 20-425, 20-426, 20- 428 and 20-429)
7. The Region of Peel circulated a resolution regarding property tax exemptions for veteran clubs. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-406)
8. The Office of the Premier and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing circulated correspondence acknowledging receipt of the District’s request for an extension of the timeline for Council Composition Review. (Referred to District Chair, CAO and District Clerk) (Reference 20-409 and 20-414)
9. The Township of Muskoka Lakes circulated a resolution outlining concerns regarding charges that broadband providers pay in rural Ontario to attach broadband infrastructure to hydro poles. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-417) 10. The Township of Muskoka Lakes circulated a resolution regarding support to the Provincial Government in developing tougher laws related to unauthorized car rallies (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-418)
11. The Simcoe County Poverty Reduction Task Group circulated a letter to the Prime Minister regarding Basic Income for income security during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20- 421)
12. The City of Hamilton circulated a letter to the Minister of Energy regarding a Request for an Interim Cap on Gas Plant and Greenhouse Gas Pollution and the Development and Implementation of a Plan to Phase-Out Gas-Fired Electricity Generation. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-422)
13. The City of Hamilton circulated a letter to the Premier and MPPs requesting a Temporary Cap on Food Delivery Service Charges. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-423)
14. The Region of Peel circulated a resolution regarding Eliminating Violence Against Paramedics – A Call to Action. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-426)
15. Mr. D. Abernethy circulated correspondence regarding transit in the Town of Gravenhurst and delivery costs for seniors during the pandemic. (Referred to CAO and Community and Planning Services department) (Reference 20-427)
16. The Township of Matachewan circulated a resolution requesting that provincial application deadlines be extended for any future grant programs. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-432)
17. The Town of Carleton Place circulated a resolution regarding COVID-19 and Childcare Funding Impacts. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20- 433)
18. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, circulated correspondence confirming an extension of the deadline for council composition review to as soon as possible before March 31, 2021. (Referred to District Chair, DSLT and District Clerk) (Reference 20-434)
19. The City of Port Colborne circulated a resolution regarding Schedule 11 to Bill 108 (Ontario Heritage Act). (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20- 435)
20. The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) circulated the 2020 Municipal Partnership Report. (Referred to CAO) (Reference 20-437)
Council reconvened at 4:36 p.m. following a brief recess. New Business a) Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Update and Next Steps Report 19(2020)-1
This report was provided for information. b) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) – Program Update Report 19(2020)-2
A discussion occurred regarding the transfer of the program’s responsibility to producers; options for collection for those residents who can’t make it to a transfer station; lack of compensation in the regulation for municipalities; and a lack of program expansion. When questioned, Councillor G. Smith confirmed he would inquire with AMO staff to see if any municipalities had expressed similar concerns with the program.
Moved by P. Harding and seconded by H. Lorenz 204/2020
WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has issued the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016;
AND WHEREAS the regulation identifies the transition date for these materials to be January 1, 2021;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The District Municipality of Muskoka continue to collect these materials on behalf of producers or their representatives.
Carried. c) CAO Delegation of Authority Update Verbal Report
Ms. Stevens confirmed that no additional contracts had been awarded. The CAO delegation is set to expire on December 31, 2020, and staff confirmed that in the world of virtual meetings, a further extension is not required. d) Additional Upcoming Meetings
• Municipal Modernization Committee – January 18, 2021 – 10:00 a.m. • Committee of the Whole Council – Airport Master Plan – January 29, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. • Potential Public Meeting – Municipal Modernization Council Composition – February 4, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. • Committee of the Whole Council – 2021 Tax Supported Budget – February 26, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. e) Additional New Business Items
i) Gravenhurst Against Poverty
Resulting from the Community and Planning Services Committee meeting earlier that day, the following motion was prepared for Council’s consideration (with the permission of Council earlier in the meeting):
Moved by P. Kelly and seconded by A. Edwards 205/2020
THAT the Commissioner of Community and Planning Services and Chief Administrative Officer be delegated authority to enter into discussions with the owner of 141 Main Street, Gravenhurst, to identify options, requirements and costs to sublet a portion of the lease premises to Gravenhurst Against Poverty or designate;
AND THAT Staff report back to Council in January with an update on investigation efforts, estimated renovation costs and implications to the 2021 operating budget, if any.
Carried.
It was confirmed that while Council was in full support of the motion, additional conversations needed to occur between the District and the landlord to obtain approval and determine any renovation requirements, insurance regulations, and public health standards are achieved.
ii) Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Grant Application
With the permission of two-thirds of Councillors present, an additional new motion without notice was introduced, which was subsequently carried.
Ms. Kilbourne noted that a new stream of funding had been made available and confirmed that a Council resolution would support the District’s application.
Moved by J. Gordon and seconded by N. Alcock 206/2020
WHEREAS The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) is a cost-shared infrastructure funding program between the federal government, provinces and territories, and ultimate recipients that will see more than $30 billion in combined federal, provincial and other partner funding, under five priority areas, including the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream;
AND WHEREAS the District Municipality of Muskoka (District) has been allocated $480,992 for this new stream and is not required to contribute project dollars;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff be authorized to submit applications under Category 1: Retrofits, Repairs and Upgrades;
AND THAT funds be directed to upgrade the emergency generator at the Pines Long Term Care Home, as well as various upgrades to the District’s Main Administration Building at 70 Pine Street, creating new and accessible washrooms, replacing the existing boiler and modernizing the building’s automation system;
AND THAT the District Chair and District Clerk be authorized to execute all transfer payment agreements with the Province.
Carried.
By-laws/Implementation By-laws
Moved by P. Koetsier and seconded by N. Alcock P207/2020
That by-laws for first and second reading be numbered and entitled:
2020-43 Being a by-law to update municipal water and sanitary sewage services user rates
2020-44 Being a by-law to update certain fees (use of solid waste disposal sites)
2020-45 Being a by-law to update By-law 2018-35 (a by- law to establish speed limits on Muskoka Roads) AND THAT the by-laws be read a first and second time, and finally passed.
Carried.
Closed Session
Moved by R. Nishikawa and seconded by J. Gordon P208/2020
THAT we do now retire to Muskoka District Council in closed session to discuss a proposed acquisition of land; potential appointments to the Muskoka Airport Board of Directors; and a collective bargaining update and pursuant to the respective following subsections of Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended:
(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees;
(c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board; and
(d) labour relations or employee negotiations.
Carried.
Moved by F. Jaglowitz and seconded by S. Cairns P209/2020
THAT we do now rise from Muskoka District Council in closed session and immediately reconvene in open session.
Carried. a) Muskoka Airport – Board of Directors Appointment
Moved by P. Kelly and seconded by D. Smith 210/2020
WHEREAS on January 15, 2018, Muskoka District Council approved the creation of a seven (7) person Board of Directors for the Muskoka Airport through Resolution 16/2018, appointing directors with staggered board membership terms;
AND WHEREAS the terms of two Board members are set to expire on January 15, 2021;
AND WHEREAS the Muskoka Airport Board of Directors has identified highly qualified potential candidates for each of the anticipated vacancies; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Muskoka District Council approve the new appointment of Mr. Ashwin Jadhav and the re-appointment of Ms. Selma Lussenburg to the Board to take effect on January 15, 2021, and continue until the end of the respective terms as noted or until this resolution is amended or repealed:
Member Term Appointment Expiry
Ashwin Jadhav 3-years January 15, 2024
Selma Lussenburg 3-years January 15, 2024
Carried. b) Potential Land Acquisition
Moved by T. Withey and seconded by R. Maloney 211/2020
THAT staff be authorized to proceed with the direction provided in the preceding closed session regarding a potential land acquisition matter as outlined in confidential report 19(2020)-4.
Carried.
Confirming By-law
Moved by A. Edwards and seconded by B. Thompson P212/2020
THAT By-law 2020-46 being a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka at this meeting held on the 21st day of December, 2020 be amended by the addition of resolutions 204/2020; 205/2020; 206/2020; 210/2020; and 211/2020;
AND THAT the by-law, as amended, be read and passed.
Carried.
Adjournment
Moved by S. Clement and seconded by P. Wiancko P213/2020
THAT we do now adjourn to meet again on Monday, January 18, 2021 or at the call of the Chair.
Carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
______District Chair District Clerk The District Municipality of Muskoka
Finance and Corporate Services Committee – Electronic Meeting
Meeting FCS-11-2020
Minutes
This meeting was held electronically in accordance with section 238 of the Municipal Act, as amended. Members of the public were encouraged to view the Committee proceedings through the District’s webcasting platform.
Place: Electronic Meeting
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Date: December 22, 2020
Present: Committee Chair G. Smith; District Chair J. Klinck Members J. Gordon, F. Jaglowitz, P. Koetsier, R. Lacroix, K. Terziano
Officials Present: J. Stevens, Chief Administrative Officer; S. Hastings, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services; A. Back, District Clerk
Others Present: Councillor T. Glover; L. Bissonette, Director of Finance; C. Denstedt, Director, I.T. Services; S. Donald, Director of Budgets and Financial Planning; J. Yeo, Director, Facilities and Support Services; W. Matthews, Project Coordinator, Muskoka Employment Partnership; D. Sword, Team Lead, Muskoka Economic Recovery Task Force; J. Binkley, Administrative Assistant; C. Hammond, Deputy Clerk
Call to Order
Committee Chair G. Smith called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m.
Declaration of Pecuniary Interests
None were declared.
Facilities and Support Services
a) Manager of Fleet Services Report FCS-11-2020-1
Mr. Yeo highlighted the report and outlined the intent of the position that has been included in the 2021 Tax Supported Budget. He added that there are a number of benefits to be achieved by having a dedicated position responsible for the District’s fleet.
A discussion occurred regarding the exclusion of the paramedic fleet from the portfolio; a need to review the job descriptions that would be impacted by the new position; how this position will be benchmarked to support its existence; and the need to manage fleet to minimize maintenance costs so those dollars could be put into reserves.
Information Technology Services a) Emergency Purchase for Computer Laptops Report FCS-11-2020-2
In response to a question regarding whether the costs could be covered through COVID-19 funding, Ms. Stevens noted that the eligible expenses are not specific, but stated that staff would review the possibility.
Finance
a) 2021 Interim Tax Levy Report FCS-11-2020-3
Moved by P. Koetsier and seconded by J. Gordon R52/2020-FCS
THAT a by-law be prepared to requisition interim financing from the Area Municipalities before the adoption of the estimates for 2021.
Carried.
b) 2020 Quarterly Investment Report – Q3 Report FCS-11-2020-4
Moved by F. Jaglowitz and seconded by R. Lacroix R53/2020-FCS
THAT Report FCS-11-2020-4, 2020 Quarterly Investment Report – Q3 be received.
Carried.
c) Authorization of Borrowing of Funds Report FCS-11-2020-5
Ms. Bissonette highlighted her report; confirmed that the District has not had to borrow any funds since 2018; and added that corporate charge cards do not have an annual fee and are paid off monthly to avoid incurring interest charges. Moved by K. Terziano and seconded by J. Klinck R54/2020-FCS
THAT a by-law be prepared to authorize the borrowing of up to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) on an interim basis, if necessary;
AND THAT a by-law be prepared to authorize the borrowing of funds from the Bank of Nova Scotia.
Carried.
Administration a) Broadband Update Report FCS-11-2020-6
Mr. Sword highlighted his report and confirmed that any provincial and/or federal funding would not be paid to the District, but rather internet service providers. In response to a question about next steps, he indicated that a report would be presented at a future meeting outlining funding options available; and report to the Committee on proposals and opportunities at a later date.
In response to a question regarding the status of the funding for this project, Ms. Stevens noted that a full accounting review had yet to be completed; however, a report would be prepared for a future meeting with the results of the task force group. b) Muskoka Industry and Employment Data Report FCS-11-2020-7
Moved by P. Koetsier and seconded by K. Terziano R55/2020-FCS
THAT Report FSC-11-2020-7, Muskoka Industry and Employment Data, be received;
AND THAT custom datasets be purchased from the Conference Board of Canada to support activities and events associated with the Muskoka Employment Partnership and charged to the Economic Development division.
Carried.
Budgets and Financial Planning
a) 2020 Internal Loans Report FCS-11-2020-8
Moved by J. Gordon and seconded by R. Lacroix R56/2020-FCS
THAT the Finance and Corporate Services Committee recommend to Muskoka District Council to approve the transfer of funds from the Debt Reduction Reserve Fund to finance project 450073 Rosewarne Cell Development – Cell 2 in the amount of $2,042,261.88 and the replenishment from the Rate Supported Solid Waste Operating Budget to the Debt Reduction Reserve Fund as shown in Schedule “A” of Report FCS-11-2020-8.
Carried.
Information Items a) FCS-11-2020-Info-A – MFOA Provincial Budget 2020: Ontario’s Action Plan: Project, Support, Recover - November 5, 2020
When Councillor Jaglowitz asked a question regarding the provision for municipalities to define an optional sub class for small business properties, Ms. Stevens had unfortunately lost connectivity and could not respond. It was confirmed that a response to the question would be circulated to the Committee following the meeting.
b) FCS-11-2020-Info-B – News Release, Ontario Provides More Relief for Municipalities during COVID-19, December 16, 2020
c) FCS-11-2020-Info-C – AMO, Phase 2 Restart Agreement Municipal Funding, December 16, 2020
Ms. Stevens noted that the District wasn’t successful in its application; however, noted that d) FCS-11-2020-Info-D – Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing letter Re: Safe Restart Agreement, December 16, 2020
Ms. Stevens noted that through the Phase 1 funding stream, the District had received $3 Million dollars; and had more recently been unsuccessful in an application for Phase 2 funding. She was happy to announce that the most recent stream of funding for 2021 had just been announced with the District receiving $601,000, as well as the lower-tier municipalities receiving funds. New Business a) COVID-19 Vaccinations
District Chair Klinck advised that the Emergency Control Group had met earlier that day, and noted that within the next ten days, up to 84 employees at The Pines would be receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccinations.
Adjournment
Moved by F. Jaglowitz and seconded by J. Klinck P57/2020-FCS
THAT the Finance and Corporate Services Committee adjourns to meet again on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. or at the call of the Chair.
Carried.
The meeting adjourned at 2:27 p.m.
______District Clerk
To: Chair and Members Finance and Corporate Services Committee
From: Jeff Yeo Director, Facilities and Support Services
Date: December 22, 2020
Subject: Manager of Fleet Services
Report: FCS-11-2020-1 ______
Recommendation
This report is provided for information.
Origin
This report is the result of a staff recommendation to create a Manager of Fleet Services position to manage the purchase, maintenance, operation and administration of the District’s fleet. Staff have included the cost of this recommendation in the 2021 Draft Tax Supported Operating Budget for the consideration and approval of District Council.
Background
The District currently has 96 different fleet assets with a current estimated replacement value of $9.9 million excluding Muskoka Paramedic Services (MPS) Fleet. The following chart and table provides a summary breakdown of the type of fleet assets currently in service:
Utility Backhoe Compact Excavator Van Snow Removal Pass. Equip. Car/Van Heavy Duty Tractor Loader Heavy Light and Duty Medium Utility Tandem Trailer Duty Vehicle Dump Truck
Page 1 Type Quantity Backhoe 6 Compactor 3 Excavator 1 Heavy Duty Snow Removal Attachment 1 Heavy Duty Snow blower 1 Heavy Duty Tractor 5 Heavy Duty Trailer 5 Light Duty Truck 54 Loader 3 Medium Duty Truck 2 Passenger Car 4 Passenger Van 2 Salt/Sand Attachment 1 Tandem Dump 4 Utility Van 3 Utility Vehicle 1 Total 96
The total annual operating expenditures included in the 2020 Tax Supported Operating Budget are $1.9 million. The following pie chart provides a summary breakdown of these annual expenditures:
Salaries and Transfer to Fuel 23.4% Reserve Benefits 32.4% 1.3%
Operating Supplies 0.4% Insurance 1.8% Consultant 0.7%
Maintenance and Repairs Finance 25.9% Services Internal Preventative 6.9% Leased License Maintenance Equipment 3.2% 1.3% Fees 2.8%
Page 2 Analysis
Current Fleet Resourcing
Elements of fleet have historically been managed by a combination of the following positions:
• Manager of Purchasing and Risk Management; • Supply and Support Services Clerk; and • Divisional operators and their supervisors.
The Manager of Purchasing and Risk Management has been responsible for fleet related policy administration, budgeting, acquisition, disposal and reporting on fleet.
The Supply and Support Services Clerk has been responsible for the day to day administration of fleet operations including coordination of maintenance and repairs, licensing, tracking and assisting in the acquisition and disposal of fleet.
The Divisional fleet operators and their supervisors have been responsible for developing fleet specifications, assignments, operator training and daily inspection.
The current fleet resourcing has a number of drawbacks related to the fact that there are a number of different individuals involved in the lifecycle management of the fleet, some of which are summarized below:
• Inconsistent use, specification and maintenance of fleet across the Divisional operators resulting in higher operating costs; • Possible underutilization with missed opportunities to share resources; • Challenge to keep all staff current in changing fleet technologies and safe operating requirements; • Daily operating pressures overshadow the importance and limit the resources necessary to provide a timely review and identify the optimal replacement of fleet.
Staff has previously attempted to hire a position that had combined knowledge of both procurement and risk management, as well as, fleet. These attempts were unsuccessful and generally the market includes individuals that have either a procurement and risk management or a fleet focus, but not both.
Given the size, scale and scope of the District’s fleet operations, as well as the issues identified above, staff is recommending to create a dedicated Fleet Manager position to ensure consistency and support to the departments served.
Proposed Dedicated Fleet Manager
The proposed Fleet Manager position will be responsible for the maintenance, repair and administration of District Fleet including the development and reporting on District
Page 3 Fleet Operating and Capital budgets and make recommendations regarding fleet management and procurement to staff, management, Committee and Council.
Below is a summary of specific fleet objectives this position will focus on:
• Review, develop, update, recommend and maintain the District’s fleet policies; • Review, update and recommend the appropriate strategy for procuring fleet based on fleet type, use and value (purchase vs. lease); • Update, optimize and standardize fleet specifications based on use; • Review fleet inventory and update current life cycle and replacement guidelines based on type and use to effectively control the overall cost of fleet; • Develop appropriate contingencies to support operations in the event of equipment breakdown (service contracts, short term replacement lease agreements, contract equipment support); • Pursue opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the overall carbon footprint of fleet operations; and • Investigate opportunities and develop recommendations to partner with local municipalities to reduce the cost of District Fleet.
Staff believe that there are a number of benefits to be achieved with a dedicated Fleet Manager. With the appropriate qualifications, skills and experience this position will have a full view of fleet resources, create consistency in fleet specifications, maintenance and repairs, increase fleet reliability and allow fleet operators to focus on the services they provide.
In addition, there are opportunities to reduce the life cycle cost of the fleet through a combination of increased preventative maintenance, a review of fleet use and operating procedures and optimizing fleet specification and life cycle replacement timelines.
MPS is currently managed separately from the other District fleet and has developed fleet management policies based on Ministry requirements. In the short term, the proposed position will look to these policies for best practices to apply to the balance of District fleet. In the long term, as District Fleet practices are further developed, this position will work with MPS staff to find opportunities to provide fleet management support.
Lastly, there is an opportunity for this position to work with local municipal fleet managers to share resources and best practices with the goal of reducing overall fleet life cycle costs across all municipalities.
In order to be successful in achieving the above-noted benefits related to purchase specification, administration, coordination and recommendations for maintenance and repairs, an experienced individual with technical and dedicated knowledge of fleet is required.
Page 4 This position will report to Director of Facilities and Support Services within the Finance and Corporate Services Department and be supported by the Supply and Support Services Clerk position.
Financial Considerations
The table below provides an overview of the expenditures associated with this position:
Gross Expenditures 2021 (Part Year) 2021 (Annualized) Salaries and Benefits $91,659 $122,568 Supplies and Operating Costs $2,735 $2,915 Total Expenditures $94,394 $125,483
For 2021, these expenditures will be charged to the Fleet Operating Budget. Fleet rates will be adjusted in the 2022 budget process to include these expenses and allocate them between the departments with fleet. Although preliminary, staff is considering a reduction in the contribution to reserves of $60,000 to reflect that the goal of the position is to achieve an overall reduction in the fleet life cycle costs. This cost reduction also serves to partially offset the cost of the service level change that will be considered during budget deliberations.
Communications
This position will be included for consideration in the 2021 Budget process. The recruitment process will be coordinated so that hiring of the incumbent will align with and remain subject to District Council approval of the 2021 Budget.
Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area.
~ iit
A
• s 2.2, 2.3, • s 1.6 2.4
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Yeo, A.Sc.T., Director, Facilities and Support Services; Sharon Donald, CPA, CMA, Director of Budgets and Financial Services; Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 5
To: Chair and Members Finance and Corporate Services Committee
From: Chantelle Denstedt Director, IT Services
Date: December 22, 2020
Subject: Emergency Purchase for Computer Laptops
Report: FCS-11-2020-2 ______
Recommendation
This report is provided for information.
Origin
In accordance with Procurement Policy FI-007-2020, this report is to provide information on an Emergency Purchase exceeding the allocated budget of $96,500 for capital project 130335 Computer Equipment Lifecycle Replacement 2020, by $56,900.
Analysis
In February 2020, IT Services depleted the majority of the approved budget for capital project 130335 Computer Equipment Lifecycle Replacement 2020 with a purchase of 35 desktops, laptops, docking stations and 70 monitors, in support of the Windows 10 upgrade project for a total of $88,200, leaving a remaining $8,300 available.
In March 2020, IT Services worked with staff to support a work from home situation due to COVID-19. Staff that had laptops were able to take them home and work remotely, however staff with corporate desktops either had to work from a personal home computer, or find an alternate solution. Approximately 60% of the IT Services computer fleet for the District of Muskoka, Towns of Bracebridge and Gravenhurst and the corresponding Public Libraries are desktops.
Staff that had corporate laptops as well as a personal home computer, lent their laptops to staff that were assigned a desktop and did not have a system at home to work from, as a temporary measure to support others. IT Services quickly depleted its surplus of loaner laptops and training laptops to staff, as well to support COVID-19 testing at the Long Term Care Home and Paramedic community stations.
Page 1 As staff continue to work from home longer than originally anticipated, the demand for laptops continues to increase. Some home computers do not have sufficient resources to run a virtual desktop effectively. Service levels are being impacted by IT Services’ inability to quickly provide a laptop for new staff, or those with failing personal systems.
Staff have requested $92,000 for capital project 130314 Computer Equipment Lifecycle Replacement 2021, however, it is anticipated that budget approval for this capital project will not be received until early 2021. The current lead-time for ordering computer systems is between 8 to 12 weeks. The last two recent orders for five (5) laptops and one (1) laptop respectively, took 9 weeks and 13 weeks to receive from the date they were ordered.
In order to react to the extended lead-times being experienced and support ongoing remote work, a purchase order for 45 laptops has been placed and the laptops will be deployed to staff when received in the new year. The Chief Administrative Officer has authorized this procurement as an Emergency Purchase in accordance with Procurement Policy FI-007-2020, section 9.3.3.; meeting the following criteria:
i) Prevent or alleviate serious delay; and ii) Maintain essential services or to prevent the disruption of essential services.
Financial Considerations The recent computer order through the vendor of record for 45 laptops is approximately $56,900 over budget for the capital project 130335 Computer Equipment Lifecycle Replacement 2020. Staff will reassess future Computer Equipment replacement budgets based on this emergency purchase.
Communications This report will be shared with the members of the Technical Advisory Sub-Committee for IT Services to be communicated with staff that are waiting for a corporate laptop.
Strategic Priorities Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area.
~ iit
A • s 2.3, 2.4 •
Respectfully submitted,
Chantelle Denstedt, Director, IT Services Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 2
To: Chair and Members Finance and Corporate Services Committee
From: Laurie Bissonette Director of Finance
Date: December 22, 2020
Subject: 2021 Interim Tax Levy
Report: FCS-11-2020-3 ______
Recommendation
THAT a by-law be prepared to requisition interim financing from the Area Municipalities before the adoption of the estimates for 2021.
Origin
Section 316(1) of The Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c. 25 (Act), authorizes the Council of an upper-tier municipality to requisition, by by-law, a sum from each lower-tier municipality not exceeding 50% of the prior year’s levy to be used for interim financing. The lower- tier municipality is authorized to collect this amount from all properties through the issuance of the interim tax bill.
Analysis
Under the provisions of the Act, lower-tier municipalities may pass a by-law to levy an interim amount against assessed properties. The Act further provides that interim taxes are to be based on no more than 50% of the annualized taxes levied on a property in the previous year.
Annualized taxes reflect taxes levied against the property on the final tax billing as well as adjustments due to supplementary, omitted and appealed assessments. For new properties that were assessed for only part of the year in 2020, 50% of the 2020 tax rate for that class will be applied to the property’s assessed value to generate an interim levy.
The Act requires that an interim tax levy by-law be passed in the year to which it applies or in November or December of the previous year if the by-law provides that it does not come into force until a specified day in the following year.
Page 1 All six Area Municipalities in Muskoka pass by-laws to authorize an interim levy at 50% of the annualized taxes levied in the previous year. Five of six municipalities have instalment payment dates at the end of March. However, one municipality (Lake of Bays) has two installment dates; one in February and one in April. It should be noted that all six municipalities also offer payment plans to collect property taxes over 11 months.
The Area Municipalities remit the applicable tax instalments to both The District Municipality of Muskoka (District) and various School Boards each year. Payments to the School Boards are made quarterly, with the first payment on or before March 31st. The District consults with the Area Municipalities to determine an acceptable due date which is April 6, 2021 for next year.
The interim levy is required to provide the Area Municipalities, the District and the School Boards with cash flow for operating and capital expenditures until the budget is approved and the final tax bills are issued.
The 2021 final tax bills will be prepared mid-2021, following approval of the budgets and tax rates by Area Municipalities, the District and the School Boards. The interim levy will then be deducted from the final levy for final billing purposes.
Alternatives
Council could recommend an amount lower than 50% of the prior year’s levy to be collected. Since the District receives taxes from the Area Municipalities only twice in each calendar year, the split of 50% is appropriate and balanced. In addition, from a cash flow perspective, the District would require temporary borrowing from either reserves or its line of credit in order to fund ongoing operating and capital expenditures. This borrowing would result in forfeiting interest that would otherwise be earned on investments or paying interest on the line of credit at the current rate of 1.70% per annum. This alternative is not recommended as it is not aligned with the Area Municipalities’ ongoing practice for interim levies and would result in a reduction in interest income or an increase in interest costs in 2021.
Financial Considerations
The following table outlines the 2020 levy by municipality, as well as the 2021 proposed interim requisition which is calculated at 50% of each Area Municipality’s 2020 levy. The 2021 amounts are reflected on the draft by-law that is attached.
Page 2 Area 2020 Total Levy 2021 Interim Municipality (All Services) Levy Bracebridge $15,705,025 $7,852,512 Gravenhurst 15,321,640 7,660,820 Huntsville 19,006,785 9,503,393 Georgian Bay 10,196,090 5,098,045 Lake of Bays 10,073,330 5,036,665 Muskoka Lakes 32,477,927 16,238,964 Total $102,780,797 $51,390,399
Communications
The Area Municipalities have been consulted and have accepted the due date. The draft by-law attached will be presented at the January 18, 2021 District Council meeting.
Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area.
~ iit
A • s 2.2, 2.3 •
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Bissonette, CPA, CGA, Director of Finance; Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 3
THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA
BY-LAW 2021-XX
Being a by-law to requisition interim financing from the Area Municipalities before the adoption of the estimates for 2021
WHEREAS pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended (hereinafter “the Act”), Muskoka District Council may by by-law, in any year before the adoption of estimates for that year, requisition from each of the Area Municipalities a sum not exceeding an amount determined in accordance with section 316(1);
AND WHEREAS any such by-law may provide for the due dates for payment of amounts due;
AND WHEREAS payments in lieu of taxes received by the Area Municipalities shall be distributed in accordance with section 322 of the Act and the regulations thereunder;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1. Each Area Municipality shall pay to the Treasurer of The District Municipality of Muskoka, the amounts hereafter specified on or before April 6, 2021.
Amount of Area Municipality Requisition Town of Bracebridge $7,852,512 Town of Gravenhurst 7,660,820 Town of Huntsville 9,503,393 Township of Georgian Bay 5,098,045 Township of Lake of Bays 5,036,665 Township of Muskoka Lakes 16,238,964 Total $51,390,399
2. It is acknowledged and agreed that the amounts described in section 1 herein include the amounts required to be remitted on account of Payments in Lieu of Taxes.
3. In addition to the amounts described in section 1 herein, each Area Municipality shall pay to the Treasurer of The District Municipality of Muskoka an amount equal to the total payable by the Area Municipality to The District Municipality of Muskoka under the Act less any amounts paid under section 1 herein on or before the due date for the final payment of District of Muskoka levies as established by The District Municipality of Muskoka’s 2021 Tax Levy By-law.
4. This by-law shall come into force and take effect on January 1, 2021.
Enacted and Passed this 18th day of January, 2021.
THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA
Per:
______District Chair J. Klinck District Clerk A. Back
To: Chair and Members Finance and Corporate Services Committee
From: Laurie Bissonette Director of Finance
Date: December 22, 2020
Subject: 2020 Quarterly Investment Report – Q3
Report: FCS-11-2020-4 ______
Recommendation
THAT Report FCS-11-2020-4, 2020 Quarterly Investment Report – Q3 be received.
Origin
On August 23, 2019 the Finance and Corporate Services Committee directed staff to provide quarterly investment reports on investment funds held by The District Municipality of Muskoka (District). The following report encompasses the first quarterly investment report since the District’s transition to the Prudent Investor Regime on July 2, 2020.
Background
On November 18, 2019 Council endorsed District staff working with ONE Investment to establish a new Joint Investment Board (JIB) and implement the Prudent Investor regime. On December 16, 2019 the Finance and Corporate Services Committee approved Investment Policy FI-009-2019 and authorized the District Chair and Clerk to execute the ONE Joint Investment Board (JIB) Agreement and other related documents. The Prudent Investor Enabling By-law Authorizing By-law 2020-6 was passed on March 25, 2020 and transition to Prudent Investment was completed on July 2, 2020.
Analysis
On August 21, 2020, Report FCS-6-2020-3 showed the book value of the District’s investment portfolio at June 30, 2020 at $161.0 million and the market value of the total investment holdings at $165.5 million. On transition to Prudent Investor, the District transferred $125.4 million as Money Not Required Immediately (MNRI) to the ONE Joint Investment Board (JIB). The remainder of the funds is considered Money Required Immediately (MRI) or within the next eighteen months, and is held in a High Interest Savings Account (HISA).
Page 1 In order to move to the new ONE Prudent Investor products available, the District was required to liquidate the ONE Legal List portfolio and realize any gains or losses upon transition. Net gains realized from ONE Investments at July 2, 2020 was $4.8 million. Combined with the liquidation of the Scotia Institutional Asset Management portfolio in June of 2020, the net gains realized on transition to Prudent Investor total $5.6 million, made up as follows:
Investment Product Gain (Loss) ONE Canadian Government Bond Fund $ (1,433,762.33) ONE Canadian Corporate Bond Portfolio 291,850.29 ONE Canadian Equity Portfolio 5,927,573.28 Scotia Institutional Asset Management 766,717.20 Total Gain (Loss) $ 5,552,378.44
The table below summarizes the total MRI and MNRI at September 30, 2020, the percent total in each portfolio and the third quarter results.
• The District’s MRI included $296,000 of Muskoka Debentures and $37.6 million held in the HISA. Interest earned on the HISA was $92,332 for the quarter, at a rate of 0.915%. This rate is currently above the interest earned on the District’s general bank account and other short term investments. • The District’s MNRI, as reported by ONE Investment, totals $125.4 million book value and a market value of $128.3 million. Also included in MNRI is the Muskoka Debentures with a face value of $2.3 million. Investment income for the quarter for this portfolio is $336,588 and unrealized gains total $2.5 million. The ONE Investment report is attached as Appendix A.
% of MRI % of MNRI Return (Net Investment Product MRI Portfolio MNRI Portfolio of Fees) ONE HISA 37,635,217 99.2% 11,107,414 8.5% 0.1% ONE Canadian Equity - - 13,866,528 10.6% 5.4% ONE Global Equity - - 31,729,054 24.3% 3.4% ONE Canadian Corp Bond - - 10,655,178 8.2% 0.7% ONE Canadian Govt Bond - - 10,651,951 8.2% 0.7% ONE Global Bond - - 50,256,130 38.5% 1.8% Muskoka Debentures 296,000 0.8% 2,268,000 1.7% 3.7% Balance $37,931,217 100.0% $130,534,255 100.0% -
Financial Considerations
The financial considerations are included in the analysis section of the report.
Communications
This report is provided to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee on a quarterly basis. District staff will be communicating the investment performance for investment funds required within eighteen months (MRI), and the ONE JIB will be reporting on the investment funds not required immediately (MNRI) under the Prudent Investment Regime.
Page 2 Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area.
~ iit
A
• s 2.2, 2.3, •
2.4
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Bissonette, CPA, CGA, Director of Finance; Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 3
ONE Appendix A INVESTMENT
QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT For The Period Ended September 30, 2020
Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio 70 Pine Street Laurie Bissonette Bracebridge, ON Director, Finance P1L 1N3 [email protected] (705) 645-2100 x4208
ONE Investment Relationship Manager 200 University Ave, Suite 801 Wardah Mir, Client Service Representative Toronto, Ontario 416-971-9856 x 351 M5H 3C6 [email protected] ONE INVESTMENT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Executive Summary for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
Time-Weighted Rate of Return in CAD for Consolidated Holdings Since Inception Quarter Year to date 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 5 Years Inception Date Consolidated Portfolio Returns ------2.2% 07/02/2020
Overall Asset Allocation
CAN Bond Fund (8.3%) ■ CAN Equity Fund (10.8%) Corp Bond Fund (8.3%) ■ GLB Bond Fund (39.2%) ■ GLB Equity Fund (24.7%) PI-HISA (8.7%)
Consolidated Portfolio Activity for Quarter Starting Change in Ending Portfolio Balance Contribution Withdrawals Market Value Income Balance
CAN Bond Fund 10,577,757.60 - - 31,882.53 42,311.03 10,651,951.16 CAN Equity Fund 13,146,387.50 - - 720,140.70 - 13,866,528.20 Corp Bond Fund 10,577,757.60 - - 35,109.63 42,311.03 10,655,178.26 GLB Bond Fund 49,362,868.90 - - 658,787.37 234,473.63 50,256,129.90 GLB Equity Fund 30,674,904.40 - - 1,054,149.23 - 31,729,053.63 PI-HISA 11,089,921.78 - - - 17,492.19 11,107,413.97 Total 125,429,597.78 0.00 0.00 2,500,069.46 336,587.88 128,266,255.12
2 ONE INVESTMENT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Performance History At September 30, 2020
Performance by Fund % Annualized Returns Year to Since Inception Quarter Date 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 5 Years Inception Date
One High Interest Savings Account ------0.1 07/02/2020 ONE Canadian Equity Fund ------5.4 07/02/2020 ONE Global Equity Fund ------3.4 07/02/2020 ONE Canadian Corporate Bond Fund ------0.7 07/02/2020 ONE Canadian Government Bond Fund ------0.7 07/02/2020 ONE Global Bond Fund ------1.8 07/02/2020
Performance by Outcome % Annualized Returns Year to Since Inception Quarter Date 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 5 Years Inception Date
Contingency Outcome ------3.0 07/02/2020 Target Date 3-5 Year Outcome ------1.4 07/02/2020 Target Date 5-10 Year Outcome ------2.7 07/02/2020 Cash Outcome ------0.1 07/02/2020
3 ONE INV~STtv1~NT Manager Commentary - Equity For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
QUARTERLY REVIEW
The market’s Q2 enthusiasm continued in the third quarter. However more investors recognized that valuations have come a long way from the lows of March, leading to more modest gains in Q3. The rally in the market is less about optimism on the economy and is more reflective of massive fiscal and monetary stimulus injected by governments around the world, providing a positive foundation for markets.
However, market uncertainty remains: spiking coronavirus infections coupled with new restrictions in some countries, as well as the magnitude of damage already done to the economy, continue to weigh on company fundamentals. While the world may have entered a deep recession, the impact on corporate profits have been blunted by government’s and central bank’s quick response in providing fiscal and monetary stimulus. Now, investors are weighing the possibility that the economic downturn could be more punishing and long-lasting as additional stimulus remains uncertain and governments may have to intensify restrictions on business in order to halt the spread of the pandemic.
The ONE Canadian Equity Fund returned 5.4% in the quarter, while the ONE Global Equity Fund returned 3.4% in Canadian dollar terms. The lower performance of global equities reflects timing issues related to the transition of the funds being deployed into global mandates. The industrial sector outperformed, gaining almost 14% in the quarter while the energy sector had sharply negative performance in the quarter. This contributed to the performance of both the ONE Canadian Equity Fund and the ONE Global Equity Fund which had overweight allocations to industrials and significant underweight exposure to the energy sector. The low exposure to the energy sector reflects the investment manager’s style which places emphasis on higher quality, sustainable business versus firms whose financial prospects are driven primarily by gyrations in commodity prices. The Global Equity Fund’s positioning includes a significant underweight to the Asia Pacific and Japanese equities with an overweight to European equities. European holdings have no exposure to the still struggling European banks.
4 ONE INV~STtv1~NT Manager Commentary - Fixed Income For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
QUARTERLY REVIEW
The key theme influencing capital markets in the quarter was the massive "wall of money" supplied by global central banks, which placed downward pressure on credit spreads. Despite volatility in capital markets remaining elevated, the strong technical backdrop offset outstanding risks such as concerns of a second surge of virus infections, commodity price weakness, global trade tensions, the upcoming U.S. presidential election, and tight valuation levels.
The Canadian fixed income market generated positive returns in the third quarter supported by a modest tightening of credit spreads, with corporate bonds outperforming federal and provincial bonds. Both Canadian fixed income funds generated positive returns of approximately 0.7% in the quarter. Within corporate bonds, BBBs outperformed the higher quality A and AA segments of the Canadian fixed income market. The Canadian bond holdings are focused on the higher credit quality segments of the market and hence did not benefit from this trend.
The ONE Global Bond Fund, which represents about 70% of the fixed income investments within the ONE JIB Outcomes, performed better than Canadian fixed income exposure, with returns of 1.8% in the quarter. Performance in the quarter was primarily driven by overweight exposures to high-yield corporate and convertible bonds, combined with underweight exposures to U.S. Treasuries and agency mortgage-backed securities. Currency management slightly contributed as gains from an underweight exposure to the U.S. dollar were partially offset by an underweight exposure to the euro. Duration positioning (interest rate sensitivity) had a relatively neutral impact on performance.
Global bond holdings include emerging market and high yield debt, which tend to have a higher risk profile. The ONE Global Bond Fund has avoided exposure to the more speculative segments of the high yield bond market which may be more vulnerable to an extended economic slowdown but it remains positioned to benefit from further credit spread tightening. Positioning also remains selective in emerging markets and remains cautious about the further spread of COVID-19 in countries that lack infrastructure and the ability to treat a widespread viral outbreak.
5 ONE INVESTMENT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Consolidated Portfolio Holdings in CAD As of September 30, 2020
Security Quantity Unit Cost Book Value Price Market Value % Weight PI-HISA 11,107,413.970 1.00 11,107,413.97 1.00 11,107,413.97 8.66% CAN Equity Fund 13,146.387 1,000.00 13,146,387.50 1,054.77 13,866,528.20 10.81% GLB Equity Fund 30,674.904 1,000.00 30,674,904.40 1,034.36 31,729,053.63 24.74% Corp Bond Fund 10,619.928 1,000.01 10,620,068.63 1,003.31 10,655,178.26 8.31% CAN Bond Fund 10,619.941 1,000.01 10,620,068.63 1,003.01 10,651,951.16 8.30% GLB Bond Fund 49,594.254 1,000.06 49,597,342.53 1,013.34 50,256,129.90 39.18% 128,266,255.12 100.00%
6 ONE INV~STM~NT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Holdings by Account At September 30, 2020
Account Name: Muskoka - Contingency Outcome Account Number: 570050088
For the Quarter Ending September 30, 2020
Market Value Income Holdings Quantity Unit Cost Book Value Price Market Value Weight Gain (Loss) Received Corp Bond Fund 316.85 1,000.01 316,861.10 1,003.31 317,908.41 5.8% 1,047.31 1,262.40 CAN Equity Fund 946.79 1,000.00 946,796.20 1,054.77 998,660.37 18.4% 51,864.17 0.00 CAN Bond Fund 316.85 1,000.01 316,861.10 1,003.01 317,812.74 5.8% 951.64 1,262.40 GLB Bond Fund 1,479.69 1,000.06 1,479,789.87 1,013.34 1,499,445.85 27.6% 19,655.98 6,995.77 GLB Equity Fund 2,209.19 1,000.00 2,209,191.20 1,034.36 2,285,110.50 42.1% 75,919.30 0.00 5,269,499.47 5,418,937.87 100.0% 149,438.40 9,520.57
Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Performance History At September 30, 2020
% Annualized Returns Year to Since Inception Quarter Date 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 5 Years Inception Date Return Net of Fees ------3.0 07/02/2020
% Calendar Year Returns 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 Return Net of Fees - - - - -
7 ONE INV~STM~NT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Holdings by Account At September 30, 2020
Account Name: Muskoka - Target Date 3 to 5 Year Outcome Account Number: 570050096
For the Quarter Ending September 30, 2020
Market Value Income Holdings Quantity Unit Cost Book Value Price Market Value Weight Gain (Loss) Received PI-HISA 9,264,283.87 1.00 9,264,283.87 1.00 9,264,283.87 19.7% 0.00 14,587.87 Corp Bond Fund 4,875.45 1,000.01 4,875,514.76 1,003.31 4,891,632.99 10.4% 16,118.23 19,424.36 CAN Equity Fund 1,387.45 1,000.00 1,387,454.40 1,054.77 1,463,457.21 3.1% 76,002.81 0.00 CAN Bond Fund 4,875.45 1,000.01 4,875,514.76 1,003.01 4,890,151.51 10.4% 14,636.75 19,424.36 GLB Bond Fund 22,767.98 1,000.06 22,769,398.54 1,013.34 23,071,838.12 49.1% 302,439.58 107,643.34 GLB Equity Fund 3,237.39 1,000.00 3,237,393.60 1,034.36 3,348,647.28 7.1% 111,253.68 0.00 46,409,559.93 46,930,010.98 100.0% 520,451.05 161,079.93
Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Performance History At September 30, 2020
% Annualized Returns Year to Since Inception Quarter Date 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 5 Years Inception Date Return Net of Fees ------1.4 07/02/2020
% Calendar Year Returns 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 Return Net of Fees - - - - -
8 ONE INV~STM~NT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Holdings by Account At September 30, 2020
Account Name: Muskoka - Target Date 5 to 10 Year Outcome Account Number: 570050104
For the Quarter Ending September 30, 2020
Market Value Income Holdings Quantity Unit Cost Book Value Price Market Value Weight Gain (Loss) Received Corp Bond Fund 5,427.62 1,000.01 5,427,692.77 1,003.31 5,445,636.86 7.3% 17,944.09 21,624.27 CAN Equity Fund 10,812.13 1,000.00 10,812,136.90 1,054.77 11,404,410.62 15.4% 592,273.72 0.00 CAN Bond Fund 5,427.62 1,000.01 5,427,692.77 1,003.01 5,443,986.91 7.3% 16,294.14 21,624.27 GLB Bond Fund 25,346.57 1,000.06 25,348,154.12 1,013.34 25,684,845.93 34.6% 336,691.81 119,834.52 GLB Equity Fund 25,228.31 1,000.00 25,228,319.60 1,034.36 26,095,295.85 35.2% 866,976.25 0.00 72,243,996.16 74,074,176.17 100.0% 1,830,180.01 163,083.06
Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Performance History At September 30, 2020
% Annualized Returns Year to Since Inception Quarter Date 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 5 Years Inception Date Return Net of Fees ------2.7 07/02/2020
% Calendar Year Returns 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 Return Net of Fees - - - - -
9 ONE INV~STM~NT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Holdings by Account At September 30, 2020
Account Name: Muskoka - Cash Outcome Account Number: 9021979213
For the Quarter Ending September 30, 2020
Market Value Income Holdings Quantity Unit Cost Book Value Price Market Value Weight Gain (Loss) Received PI-HISA 1,843,130.10 1.00 1,843,130.10 1.00 1,843,130.10 100.0% 0.00 2,904.32 1,843,130.10 1,843,130.10 100.0% 0.00 2,904.32
Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Performance History At September 30, 2020
% Annualized Returns Year to Since Inception Quarter Date 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 5 Years Inception Date Return Net of Fees ------0.1 07/02/2020
% Calendar Year Returns 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 Return Net of Fees - - - - -
10 ONE INV~STM~NT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Transaction Summary for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
Account Name: Muskoka - Contingency Outcome Account Number: 570050088
TRADE SETTLEMENT TRADE AMOUNT TRANSACTION TYPE SECURITY DATE DATE QUANTITY (CAD) Buy CAN Bond Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 315.59 315,599.00 Buy Corp Bond Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 315.59 315,599.00 Buy GLB Bond Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 1,472.79 1,472,794.00 Buy CAN Equity Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 946.79 946,796.00 Buy GLB Equity Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 2,209.19 2,209,191.00 Reinvested Distributions CAN Bond Fund 09/30/2020 09/30/2020 1.25 1,262.40 Reinvested Distributions Corp Bond Fund 09/30/2020 09/30/2020 1.25 1,262.40 Reinvested Distributions GLB Bond Fund 09/30/2020 09/30/2020 6.90 6,995.77
11 ONE INV~STM~NT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Transaction Summary for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
Account Name: Muskoka - Target Date 3 to 5 Year Outcome Account Number: 570050096
TRADE SETTLEMENT TRADE AMOUNT TRANSACTION TYPE SECURITY DATE DATE QUANTITY (CAD) Buy CAN Bond Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 4,856.09 4,856,090.00 Buy Corp Bond Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 4,856.09 4,856,090.00 Buy GLB Bond Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 22,661.75 22,661,755.00 Buy CAN Equity Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 1,387.45 1,387,454.00 Buy GLB Equity Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 3,237.39 3,237,394.00 Reinvested Distributions CAN Bond Fund 09/30/2020 09/30/2020 19.36 19,424.36 Reinvested Distributions Corp Bond Fund 09/30/2020 09/30/2020 19.36 19,424.36 Reinvested Distributions GLB Bond Fund 09/30/2020 09/30/2020 106.22 107,643.34 Reinvested Distributions PI-HISA 08/06/2020 08/06/2020 7,396.61 7,396.61 Reinvested Distributions PI-HISA 09/03/2020 09/03/2020 7,191.26 7,191.26 Transfer In PI-HISA 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 9,249,696.00 9,249,696.00
12 ONE INV~STM~NT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Transaction Summary for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
Account Name: Muskoka - Target Date 5 to 10 Year Outcome Account Number: 570050104
TRADE SETTLEMENT TRADE AMOUNT TRANSACTION TYPE SECURITY DATE DATE QUANTITY (CAD) Buy CAN Bond Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 5,406.06 5,406,068.00 Buy Corp Bond Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 5,406.06 5,406,068.00 Buy GLB Bond Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 25,228.32 25,228,320.00 Buy CAN Equity Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 10,812.13 10,812,137.00 Buy GLB Equity Fund 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 25,228.32 25,228,320.00 Reinvested Distributions CAN Bond Fund 09/30/2020 09/30/2020 21.55 21,624.27 Reinvested Distributions Corp Bond Fund 09/30/2020 09/30/2020 21.55 21,624.27 Reinvested Distributions GLB Bond Fund 09/30/2020 09/30/2020 118.25 119,834.52
13 ONE INV~STM~NT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio Transaction Summary for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
Account Name: Muskoka - Cash Outcome Account Number: 9021979213
TRADE SETTLEMENT TRADE AMOUNT TRANSACTION TYPE SECURITY DATE DATE QUANTITY (CAD) Reinvested Distributions PI-HISA 08/06/2020 08/06/2020 1,471.56 1,471.56 Reinvested Distributions PI-HISA 09/03/2020 09/03/2020 1,432.76 1,432.76 Transfer In PI-HISA 07/02/2020 07/02/2020 1,840,225.78 1,840,225.78
14 ONE INVESTMENT Muskoka Prudent Investor Portfolio COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE September 30, 2020
In accordance with the terms of section 8.02 of the ONEJIB Agreement dated as of July 2, 2020 (the “ONE JIB Agreement”) ONE Investment confirms as follows:
With respect to the quarter ended September 30, 2020 to the best of the knowledge and belief of ONE Investment, all assets of the Participating Municipality under the management and control of ONE JIB pursuant to the ONE JIB Agreement have been invested and are held in accordance with the terms of the ONE JIB Agreement, and in a manner consistent with the IPS and the Investment Plan of the Participating Municipality.
Keith Taylor, Chief Investment Officer, ONE Investment On the behalf of the ONE Joint Investment Board
15 ONE INV~STtv1~NT
APPENDIX ONE INV~STtv1~NT The District of Muskoka Securities Pledged to ONE JIB As at September 30, 2020
•- -• -- ---.--•------•-----•------.. ____ --• _ .. ____ ---..L-..• .,. .. _ .. _,~._ ___ ..,,.._.A.,...._,._..,__..._ .. i.. ■ 11 •- _.., ., .. _,., .... ~•L.IO ••• ■ .&a~ ... ■• ... a:1,.a,a .. ■ ■ ■ a rl.i ■ a•• I ■■■•• ■ a aa a Average Unit Book Market Market %of S~mbol Slatus Quantity Cost($) Cost($) Price($) Value($) Portfolio Cash and Equivalents
4 MUSKOKA, ONT 2 .85% 15NOV20 SEG 150JJ0O 101.290 151~935.00 100.308 152.078.30( ~ 4.9 [)jS M N MUSKOKA 4.65% 5MAY2 SEG 1261000 106.720 134,467.20 102.586 131.634.061-'1' 4.2 Total cast1 and Equivalents 286,402.20 283,712.36 9.1 Fixed Income Securities and F1Xed Income Funds
MUSKOKA, ONT 3.05% 1SNOV21 SEG 20,000 102.290 20t458.00 103.067 20,844.Q3(4l 0.7 D1S MUN MUSKOKA 4.75% 5MAY22 SEG 325,000 108.460 352.495.00 106.981 353.947 .84(4) 17 .4 4 DlS MUN MUSKOKA 4.8% 5MAY23 SEG 89,000 109.010 97.018.50 111.122 100,630.79( ) 3.2 4 DIS MUN MUSKOKA 4.9% 5MAY24 SEG 4MOO 111.430 51 .257.80 115.209 53,910,09( > 1.7 4 DJS MUN MUSKOKA 4.95% 5MAY25 SEG 211,000 112.650 237t691.50 119.014 2557354_57( > 8.2 DlS MUN MUSKOKA 5% 5MAY26 SEG 105,000 112.991 118,641.00 122.618 130t877 .67(4~ 4.2 DIS MUN MUSKOKAS.05% 5MAY27 SEG 295,000 112.065 330,590.50 125.869 377 .354.18(4 ► 12.1 DIS MUN MUSKOl636.aat } 3.8 Total Fixed Income Securities and Fixed Income Funds 2,47 4Jj09.30 2,827,754.68 90.9 Total Account Value .. CAD cash 2,760,911.50 3,111,467.04 100.0 ONE INV~STM~NT
ONE JIB ‐ Outcome Framework ‐ Target Allocations
Allocation
Outcome HISA Canadian Global Canadian Canadian Global Equity Fixed Cash Total Equity Equity Government Corporate Bond Income Fund Fund Bond Fund Bond Fund Fund Cash 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 100% Stable Return 10.0% 9.0% 21.0% 9.0% 9.0% 42.0% 30.0% 60.0% 10.0% 100% Contingency 0.0% 18.0% 42.0% 6.0% 6.0% 28.0% 60.0% 40.0% 100% Asset Management 0.0% 27.0% 63.0% 1.5% 1.5% 7.0% 90.0% 10.0% 100% Target Date 3‐5 20.0% 3.0% 7.0% 10.5% 10.5% 49.0% 10.0% 70.0% 20.0% 100% Target Date 5‐10 0.0% 15.0% 35.0% 7.5% 7.5% 35.0% 50.0% 50.0% 100% Target Date 10+ 0.0% 22.5% 52.5% 3.75% 3.75% 17.5% 75.0% 25.0% 100% ONE INV~STM~NT ONE JIB ‐ Outcome Framework ‐ Defined
Allocation Outcome Category Outcome Strategy Objective Risk Tolerance, Liquidity Investment Equity Fixed Cash Horizon Income
Cash Cash Preservation of Capital Low risk; high liquidity < 3 years 100%
Income generation: To Moderate risk with emphasis > 5 years Stable Return Stable Return generate returns to fund on growth and stable returns, 30% 60% 10% (Perpetual) recurring needs regular liquidity Contributions for unexpected Higher risk, emphasis on > 5 years Contingency and infrequent events longer‐term capital growth 60% 40% (Perpetual) with some liquidity Contingency Contributions to generate Higher risk, emphasis on > 10 years Asset mgt reserves returns to fund asset longer‐term capital growth; (Perpetual) 90% 10% management reserves low liquidity
Target Date 3‐5 yrs. Preservation of capital Low risk; high liquidity 3 ‐ 5 years 10% 70% 20%
Contributions toward capital projects, mitigate inflation Target Date 5‐10 yrs. Moderate risk, liquid 5 ‐ 10 years 50% 50% Target Date impacts and meet target funding requirements
Contributions toward capital Higher risk, emphasis on projects, mitigate inflation > 10 years Target Date 10+ yrs. long term inflation‐adjusted 75% 25%
impacts and meet target growth funding requirements ONE INVESTMENT
Glossary and Definitions for Quarterly Reports
Account ONE Investment clients have one or more custodial accounts. All Prudent Investor Funds will be administered with ONE Investment’s custodian, CIBC Mellon. Unlike Legal List accounts, MNRI invested in the ONE Investment Prudent Investor Funds will be under the control of the ONE Joint Investment Board. In most cases, the Prudent Investor clients will have multiple accounts with the custodian, with the account structure based on the investment outcomes assigned to each client. This will allow reporting to the municipal client based on the investment outcome framework.
Annual and Annualized Returns: please see Returns below.
Asset Allocation Asset allocation is the single biggest driver of fund returns and should be set taking into account municipal risk tolerance. Also known as asset mix, it is the combination of asset classes in a fund and is normally shown as the percentage weights in each. Example asset classes are money market, Canadian bonds, global bonds, Canadian stocks and global stocks. Each of the ONE JIB Outcomes has an associated asset allocation that is designed to be appropriate for the intended investment Outcome. Asset Mix: See Asset allocation.
Benchmark The Benchmark is the standard against which investors compare their portfolio returns to understand its performance. Benchmark can be set either at the asset class level or for the overall portfolio. At the asset class level, benchmarks are usually chosen to represent the entire market; active managers seek to outperform their benchmarks by at least the amount of fees they charge.
For example, a typical benchmark for Canadian stocks is the S&P/TSX Composite Index which is calculated by Standard and Poor’s (S&P) and for Canadian money market, the typical benchmark is the FTSE 182-Day Treasury Bill Index from the Financial Times Stock Exchange Group (FTSE). For a portfolio that aims to have risk halfway between these two asset classes, the total portfolio benchmark might be 50% S&P/TSX Composite Index and 50% FTSE 182-Day Treasury Bill Index.
Benchmark returns are always time weighted. (See Returns below for more detail on time weighted returns)
Blended Benchmark A blended benchmark is a benchmark that is constructed from two or more underlying benchmarks. The weights of each underlying benchmark used in a blended benchmark remain constant over time. ONE INVESTMENT
Canadian Corporate Bond Fund The ONE Investment Canadian Corporate Bond Fund holds short and mid-term Canadian bonds managed by MFS. Based on the benchmark duration at June 30, 2020, the permitted duration range for the Fund is 4.5 to 7.51 years. MFS aims to outperform the benchmark, which is:
o 48% FTSE Canada Universe All Government Bond Index + o 40% FTSE Canada Short-Term Corporate A Index + o 10% FTSE Canada Universe Corporate AAA/AA Index + o 2% FTSE Canada 91-Day Treasury Bill Index.
Canadian Equity Fund The ONE Canadian Equity Fund holds Canadian stocks managed by Guardian Capital. Guardian aims for below-market risk, achieved with a ONE-imposed constraint on the weight of Material and Energy sectors because of the expected above-market volatility of these sectors.
Canadian Government Bond Fund This ONE Government Canadian Bond Fund holds short-term Canadian bonds managed by MFS. Based on the benchmark duration at June 30, 2020, the permitted duration range for the Bond Fund is 1.73 to 3.73 years. MFS aims to outperform the benchmark, which is: • 95% FTSE Canada Short-Term Government Bond Index + • 5% FTSE Canada 91-Day Treasury Bill Index. Book Value Book value is the Unit Cost of each holding multiplied by the number of units. It represents the amount originally paid to invest in the holding and takes into account all contributions and withdrawals.
CAD This is a short form for “Canadian dollars”. Although the outcomes have exposure to foreign securities, all returns in the report reflect Canadian dollar-based returns. Foreign holdings will be impacted by movements in foreign currencies which may impact investment returns. This impact can be reduced by currency hedging strategies. The global equity exposure does not hedge currency exposure, but the global bond exposure may use hedging. The degree to which global bond exposure is hedged back to the Canadian dollar may vary and will reflect the currency hedging strategy of the external manager. ONE INVESTMENT
Consolidated Holdings Consolidated holdings are the aggregate value of all investments with ONE Investment. Consolidated holdings detailed in this report only reflect MNRI balances invested in ONE Investment’s Prudent Investor Funds and HISA balances under the control of the ONE JIB. In certain cases, clients may hold ONE Investment Legal List portfolios or HISA which will not be reflected in consolidated holdings in this report. Additionally, ‘in-kind’ securities pledged to the ONE JIB will not be reflected in this report.
Discounts Certain fee discounts apply for investors in the ONE Investment Prudent Investor offering. These discounts include a 4bps discount that applies to AUM of Founding Members, and ‘tier discounts’ that apply for any investors with balances in excess of certain thresholds. These discounts would not apply to HISA balances but would apply to balances in Legal List portfolios (if applicable). Discounts will be rebated to the municipalities on a quarterly basis. These discounts are not taken into consideration in the performance details in this investment report. Distribution: a payment of interest or dividends made by ONE Investment from a portfolio. Distributions are automatically reinvested.
Duration This statistic applies to bonds and is similar in concept to term to maturity. The difference is that duration also takes into account the size and timing of interest payments. A bond with higher coupon payments will have a shorter duration than one with the same term to maturity and lower coupon payments: the reason is that the higher-coupon bond receives more of its return earlier. The higher the duration of a bond, the higher its sensitivity to interest rate movements.
Fees Fees include all expenses involved in managing the fund: external investment manager fees, custody costs, ONE Investment’s costs and administrative costs.
Global Bond Fund The ONE Global Bond Fund is an unconstrained global bond mandate managed by Manulife Asset Management. The unconstrained nature of the mandate means that the fund will contain a mix of global government, corporate and securitized debt, including emerging markets and high-yield securities. The mandate is not constrained by sector or currency. Manulife aims to outperform the benchmark, which is Bloomberg Barclays Multiverse Index Unhedged. ONE INVESTMENT
Global Equity Fund The ONE Global Equity Fund holds Global stocks managed by Mawer Investment Management. Mawer aims to outperform the benchmark, which is MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI). This mandate invests in both emerging and developed markets. Manager will allocate capital to the best global opportunities, which may include both large and small capitalization companies. This mandate is intended to be a broadly diversified portfolio of wealth-creating companies bought at discounts to their intrinsic values that typically employ a long-term holding period.
High Interest Savings Account (HISA) This bank account is provided by CIBC. Its very short-term nature precludes it from being considered an investment. Interest income from HISA will be reflected only in the executive summary page as will a list of HISA transitions. As the HISA product is a demand deposit, its value of his does not fluctuate daily. In this way it differs from the ONE Investment fund whose price change in response to changes in the value of underlying investments. Returns for individual accounts holding HISA will not be presented in the report beyond what is disclosed in the executive summary. HISA balances held in the Prudent Investor Offering reflect MNRI and will be under the control of the ONE JIB.
Holdings: the ONE Investment funds or HISA Balances held in client accounts.
Inception Date The inception is the first date that an investment was made. For each account, this will be the first time funds were transferred in; for funds offered by ONE Investment, it is the date the funds started. For ONE JIB Founders, the Inception date is July 2, 2020.
Income Income is a cash flow generated by an investment and normally includes interest on bonds and dividends on stocks. It is differentiated from capital gains, which also contribute to returns, but which are not considered income.
Investment Manager Investment managers are external firms hired by ONE Investment to create funds to our specifications. These are MFS Investment Management Canada for Canadian fixed income, Manulife Asset Management for global fixed income, Guardian Capital Group Ltd for Canadian equity, and Mawer Investment Management Ltd for global equity.
Market Value The value of an investment at current market prices, calculated by multiplying the Price (defined below) by the number of units held. ONE INVESTMENT
ONE Joint Investment Board (ONE JIB) The joint board established by founding municipalities as a municipal services board under section 202 of the Act as required under Part II of the Regulation, and is the duly appointed Joint Investment Board for the municipality, as constituted from time to time and acting pursuant to the Terms of Reference set out in the ONE JIB Agreement.
Outcome Outcome means, in the context of the Investment Plan, the same thing as ‘solution’. Investment Outcomes are a set of investment allocations with varying risk/return characteristics. The Outcomes assigned to each municipal investor are intended to reflect the needs and circumstances of the municipality. ONE JIB has five pre-defined basic outcomes:
Cash: The Cash Outcome is designed for investments with a time horizon of less than 3 years. Preservation of capital and liquidity are the highest priorities. Investments allocated to this outcome are expected to be transferred back to the care and control of the municipal treasurer when the funds are reclassified as MRI.
Contingency: The Contingency outcome is designed for investing contingency reserves. The funds in this outcome may be drawn upon to meet unexpected needs and infrequent events. The investment horizon for this outcome is typically greater than 5 years, with an emphasis placed on long-term growth and preservation of purchasing power is a key consideration.
Asset Management Reserves: The Asset Management Reserve Outcome is specifically designed for very long investment horizons with a well-defined purpose. Allocations to this Outcome are intended to generate returns to help fund asset management objectives. The long-term nature of asset management reserves allows this Outcome to emphasize long-term growth.
Stable Return: The Stable Return Outcome is designed to provide an annual income while preserving the value of the principal investment. The principal amount is often invested in perpetuity with no intent to withdraw for the foreseeable future. This outcome is frequently used by municipalities looking to replace the income stream of a utility that has been sold, with some or all proceeds of the sale acting as the principal.
Target Date: The Target Date Outcomes are designed for contributions toward planned capital projects. There are three target date designs for different time horizons: 3 to 5 years; 5 to 10 years; and greater than 10 years. For capital projects in the 3-to-5-year range, preservation of capital is prioritized. For projects in the 5-to-10-year range, emphasis is placed on inflation mitigation and meeting target funding requirements. For projects in the greater-than-10-year range, emphasis is placed on longer-term inflation adjusted growth. ONE INVESTMENT
Price The price of ONE funds is the unit price at a point in time, also known as the net asset value, which is calculated daily by CIBC Mellon. This price takes into account the last traded prices of all securities held by the manager, the bid/ask spread where no recent trade is available and a daily accrual for all fees including investment management and administration.
Prudent Investor Standard The standard requiring ONE JIB, when investing money under section 418.1 of the Act, to exercise the care, skill, diligence and judgement that a prudent investor would exercise in making such an investment but does not restrict the securities in which a municipality can invest. The Prudent Investor standard applies to the entire portfolio of Long-Term Funds under control of ONE JIB rather than to individual securities.
Quality This statistic refers to the creditworthiness of bonds based on ratings provided by bond rating agencies such as S&P, DBRS, Fitch and Moody’s. The highest quality bonds are rated AAA and range down from there to AA, A and BBB, all of which are investment grade ratings. Ratings below BBB are considered high yield. The lower a credit rating, the higher a bond’s yield to maturity and commensurate risk of default on interest payments or principal. The credit rating on an entire fund is calculated as a weighted average.
Realized and Unrealized Gains Capital gains reflect the movement in the Price of investments as they rise over time relative to their average Unit Cost. Negative gains are losses, meaning that the Price of the units in the account is lower than the average Price paid for them (Unit Cost). Because gains / losses are calculated based on net asset values, they are diminished by the amount of fees. (Please see Fees, Price and Unit Cost.) • Unrealized gains exist “on paper” until the investment is sold in return for cash, at which point they become realized. • Realized gains are generated by withdrawals from accounts during the time period in question based on the unit Price compared to the Unit Cost.
Returns Returns measure the percentage increment in value generated by investments over a period of time. Unless otherwise noted, time-weighted total returns are reported here, which include all forms of income and capital gains. There are different aspects to return calculations explained below. • Annual return: reflects the total return generated by investments in the specified year any between January 1 to December 31. • Annualized return: the total return generated by investments in periods greater than one year. Annualized returns are the geometric average over a multi-year period, meaning they represent the compound return. For periods of one year or less, the actual return is shown without the effect of compounding. ONE INVESTMENT
• Returns in this report are calculated net of fees based on the Prices of the ONE Investment funds. These are calculated daily by CIBC Mellon and take into account all fees and costs associated with managing the fund. • Return details in this report do not account for fee discounts that may apply for some Prudent Investor clients. • Time-weighted returns: returns in this report are time-weighted in order for them to be compared to the benchmarks. Time- weighted returns are calculated in a way that excludes the effect of the timing of contributions and withdrawals (cash flows) from the fund. (To capture the effect of cash flows and measure their impact on returns, investors would instead need use dollar- weighted return calculations.)
Unit Cost: the weighted average Price paid for all the Fund units held in the account and reflects the impact of units bought and sold over time.
Unrealized Gains: Please see Realized and Unrealized Gains
Value Added: The return generated by an investment manager above (or below, if negative) the benchmark.
Year to Date: The time period beginning January 1 and ending at the most recent quarter end.
Calculation notes Certain numbers displayed in this report have been rounded up or down. There may therefore be discrepancies between the actual totals of the individual amounts in the tables and the totals shown. All percentage changes and key figures were calculated using the underlying data.
To: Chair and Members Finance and Corporate Services Committee
From: Laurie Bissonette Director of Finance
Date: December 22, 2020
Subject: Authorization of Borrowing of Funds
Report: FCS-11-2020-5 ______
Recommendation
THAT a by-law be prepared to authorize the borrowing of up to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) on an interim basis, if necessary;
AND THAT a by-law be prepared to authorize the borrowing of funds from the Bank of Nova Scotia.
Origin
Temporary borrowing is permitted under section 407 of the Municipal Act, 2001 so that a municipality may borrow funds on a temporary basis to meet its expenditure obligations until taxes and other revenues are received.
The Municipal Act, 2001 limits the total amount of temporary borrowing by a municipality at any one time as follows:
• from January 1 to September 30, up to 50% of estimated revenues for the year, excluding reserve transfers and amounts derived from arrears of taxes, fees or charges; and • from October 1 to December 31, up to 25% of estimated revenues for the year, excluding reserve transfers and amounts derived from arrears of taxes, fees or charges.
In the event that borrowing is required prior to the budget being adopted in the year, the previous year budget is used to calculate the limit noted above.
Page 1 Analysis
In the absence of an adopted budget for 2021, the borrowing limit is calculated based on the adopted budget for 2020. The borrowing limit from January 1 to September 30, calculated at 50% of eligible estimated revenues in 2020, equals approximately $87.4 million and the borrowing limit from October 1 to December 31, calculated at 25% of eligible estimated revenues in 2020, equals approximately $43.7 million.
Based on staff’s analysis, the District’s average net monthly cash flow requirement is approximately $6.5 million. Setting the temporary borrowing amount at $25 million allows staff a minimum of three months of cash flow.
Two by-laws will be presented at the January 18, 2021 District Council meeting. The first by-law authorizes the borrowing of up to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) from Reserve Funds on an interim basis to fund current and capital expenditures.
The second by-law refers specifically to the Bank of Nova Scotia and the District’s credit facility which authorizes the borrowing of funds from the Bank under two financing arrangements:
• up to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) on an interim basis to cover current/operating expenditures; and
• up to Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) for purchase card liabilities. The $25,000,000 amount of temporary borrowing availability that will be authorized by passage of the two by-laws is less than the District’s limit allowable under legislation, but is projected to be sufficient to provide the necessary flexibility to manage the District’s cash requirements throughout the year.
By following our investment policy goals and objectives and structuring our investment portfolio to maintain liquidity to meet operating or cash flow requirements, temporary borrowing is minimized.
Over the last 5 years, the District has utilized temporary borrowing of $1.8 million in 2017. Although this credit facility is used infrequently, it is important to maintain access to these funds should the need arise. There is no cost to the District to have the facility in place, as borrowing interest only accrues when funds are utilized.
Financial Considerations
If funds are utilized from the Bank of Nova Scotia, the borrowing rate is the Bank’s Prime Lending Rate less 0.75%. The current borrowing rate is 1.70%. If $1.0 million is borrowed for 90 days at the current borrowing rate, the interest accrued would be approximately $4,200.
Page 2 Communications
The draft by-laws will be presented at the January 18, 2021 District Council meeting.
Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area.
~ iit
A • s 2.2, 2.7 •
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Bissonette, CPA, CGA, Director of Finance; Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 3
THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA
BY-LAW 2020-xx
Being a by-law to authorize the borrowing of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) on an interim basis, if necessary
WHEREAS the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka deems it necessary to authorize the borrowing of the sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) on an interim basis if necessary to meet current and capital expenditures of the District of Muskoka, until the taxes are collected and other revenues are received;
AND WHEREAS the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka proposes to authorize borrowing of the said twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) from various funds;
THEREFORE, the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka enacts as follows:
1. (a) The District Municipality of Muskoka shall be and is hereby authorized to borrow from the Consolidated Reserve Funds, Trust Funds, or any other person from time to time by way of promissory note a sum or sums not exceeding at any one time twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) to meet current and capital expenditures of the District of Muskoka for the year 2021, until the taxes are collected and other revenues are received.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any and all amounts borrowed pursuant to section 1(a) shall be repaid to the source together with interest, if any, on or before December 31, 2021.
2. The Treasurer and one of the Deputy Treasurer, Chief Administrative Officer or Chair are hereby authorized to sign, make or draw on from time to time promissory notes for the sum or sums so borrowed with interest.
3. The Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to apply in payment of all sums borrowed in accordance with section 1(a) and any interest thereon, all of the monies hereafter collected or received on account or realized in respect of the taxes levied for the current year and for any preceding years and all of the monies collected or received from any other source.
4. This by-law shall come into force and take effect on January 1, 2021.
Enacted and Passed this 18th day of January, 2021.
THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA
Per:
______District Chair J. Klinck District Clerk A. Back
THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA
BY-LAW 2020-xx
Being a by-law to authorize the borrowing of funds from the Bank of Nova Scotia
WHEREAS pursuant to section 407 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 as amended, The District Municipality of Muskoka may authorize temporary borrowing until the taxes are collected and other revenues are received, the amount council considers necessary to meet the current expenditures of the municipality;
AND WHEREAS the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka deems it necessary to borrow money for various purposes during the year 2021 from the Bank of Nova Scotia;
AND WHEREAS the total amount which may be borrowed from all sources at any one time to meet the current expenditures of the Municipality, is limited by section 407 of the Municipal Act;
AND WHEREAS pursuant to sections 5(3) and 17 of the Municipal Act, 2001 municipal powers, including the power to borrow, must be exercised by by-law except in limited circumstances;
THEREFORE, the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1. The District Municipality of Muskoka (hereinafter “the Corporation”) shall be and is hereby authorized to borrow from the Bank of Nova Scotia (hereinafter “the Bank”) from time to time by way of demand promissory note, bankers' acceptance or operating line of credit, a sum or sums not exceeding at any one time Twenty-Five Million dollars ($25,000,000) to meet, until the taxes are collected and other revenues are received, current expenditures of the Corporation for the year 2021.
2. The Corporation shall be and is hereby authorized to borrow on behalf of the Corporation from the Bank from time to time by way of promissory note or bankers' acceptance a sum or sums not exceeding at any one time Two Million dollars ($2,000,000) for Commercial Card availment.
3. The total amount which may be borrowed at any one time under this By-law, plus any outstanding amounts of principal borrowed and accrued interest, under section 407 together with the total of any similar borrowings that have not been repaid, shall not exceed from January 1st to September 30th of the current year, fifty percent of the total estimated revenues of the Municipality as set out in the budget adopted for the current year, and from October 1st to December 31st of the current year, twenty-five percent of the total of the estimated revenues of the Municipality as set out in the budget adopted for the current year or twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00), whichever is less.
4. The Treasurer shall be and is hereby authorized and directed to furnish to the Bank at the time of each borrowing and at such other times as the Bank may from time to time request, a statement showing the nature and amount of the estimated revenues of the current year not yet collected or where the estimates for the year have not been adopted, a statement showing the nature and amount of the estimated revenues of the Corporation as set forth in the estimates adopted for the preceding year and also showing the total of any amounts borrowed from any and all sources under the authority of section 407 of the Municipal Act in the current year and in any preceding year that have not been repaid.
5. For purposes of this By-law the estimated revenues referred to in section 3 and 4 do not include revenues derivable or derived from any borrowing, including through any issue of debentures, a surplus, including arrears of taxes, fees or charges, or a transfer from the capital fund, reserve funds or reserves.
Page 2 of By-law 2020-xx
6. The Treasurer and one of the Deputy Treasurer, Chief Administrative Officer or Chair, shall be and are hereby authorized to sign, make or draw on behalf of the Corporation and to furnish to the Bank from time to time promissory notes or bankers' acceptances for the sum or sums so borrowed with interest or any other charges at such rate as the Bank may from time to time determine. Any such document is valid only if signed by both the Treasurer and a second authorized signing officer.
7. All sums borrowed from the Bank and any interest thereon and any other charges in connection therewith shall be a charge upon the whole of the revenues of the Corporation for the current year and for any preceding years as and when such revenues are received, subject to any statutory requirements, and that the Chair and Treasurer shall be and are hereby authorized to sign all such assignments of the said revenues of the Corporation as the Bank may require.
8. The Treasurer shall be and is hereby authorized and directed to apply in payment of all sums borrowed from the Bank, and of any interest thereon and any other charges in connection therewith, all of the monies hereafter collected or received on account or realized in respect of the taxes levied for the current year and for any preceding years and all of the monies collected or received from any other source.
9. This by-law shall come into force and take effect on January 1, 2021.
Enacted and Passed this 18th day of January, 2021.
THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA
Per:
______District Chair J. Klinck District Clerk A. Back
To: Chair and Members FCS Committee
From: David Sword Team Lead, Muskoka Economic Recovery Task Force
Date: December 22, 2020
Subject: Broadband Update
Report: FCS-11-2020-6 ______
Recommendation:
This report is provided for information.
Origin
This report provides an update on the Broadband Initiative including progress to date and timelines for next steps.
Background
As per Report FCS-4-2020-2, the Muskoka Economic Recovery Task Force (MERTF) was established in June 2020 to ensure strong economic outcomes for Muskoka during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The MERTF quickly identified broadband internet as a key area of focus and created a broadband sub-committee to focus on increasing access to broadband for all residents of Muskoka.
The broadband sub-committee is made up of representatives from The District Municipality of Muskoka (District), the economic development leads from the area municipalities, as well as a representative of the Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce who attends on behalf of the business community. Recently, the Mayor of the Township of Lake of Bays joined the sub-committee.
Analysis
While municipalities do not have a mandated role in in telecommunications, local governments can make a series of strategic decisions to improve connectivity.
The roadmap to improved broadband connectivity is not a sequential process as some initiatives and components will take longer to achieve than others, and some may need
Page 1 to be repeated based upon the ever changing circumstances regarding technology and its applications.
However, communities that are well connected and productive are more likely to enjoy economic prosperity, recover from the COVID-19 pandemic faster, and be ready to compete in a global market; the aim when the broadband initiative was launched.
There are some tremendous resources available to help guide municipalities when considering their options to improved broadband connectivity. The Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) has created a primer and roadmap for municipalities. The ROMA roadmap includes components which District staff has utilized to guide activities to date as well as the process moving forward.
In support of the process, the broadband sub-committee and District staff have initiated or completed the following activities:
Award to Blue Sky Net
District Council awarded the completion of the gap analysis, testing internet speeds and creating the District’s Broadband Strategy to Blue Sky Net (BSN) as highlighted in Report 16(2020)-3. BSN is a Fed-Nor supported corporation whose primary function is to facilitate enhancement of broadband access to unserved or underserviced areas.
Define Reliable Broadband Speed
At the outset of the project, it was important to establish an accepted definition of reliable broadband service. Using the Government of Canada definition of 50 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed ensured a common approach used by policy makers and thus ensured consistent information around connectivity.
The Government of Canada’s goal is for 100% of Canadians to meet this download and upload goal by 2030.
Gap Analysis
To build better connectivity it was also important to gain a better understanding of what speeds and service currently exists in the community in order to identify service gaps. BSN was asked to provide a gap analysis for Muskoka using the most up-to-date coverage available.
Results showed that the Towns of Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst have the best access to fixed broadband. Typical with access levels across the province, communities with higher population densities tend to attract better broadband service.
As the Townships of Muskoka Lakes, Georgian Bay and Lake of Bays have lower numbers of full-time residents, and their populations are disbursed over larger geographic areas with rugged features, access to adequate broadband is impaired.
Page 2 In other words, there is a difference between broadband service experienced between the urban and rural areas of Muskoka. A map for Muskoka showing speeds is provided in Appendix B.
The gap analysis also found that Muskoka’s institutional properties have the best broadband access rates with 84% of institutions such as schools, post-secondary, health care facilities and retirement homes having access to the highest tiers of service.
Speed Testing
Speed testing was conducted this past fall to confirm the strength and speed of broadband connections in Muskoka. The Canadian Internet Registration Authority runs Canada’s speed test program and in turn provides the data for researchers to better understand and improve internet access.
As expected, the Towns of Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Huntsville reported the highest speed test results. The test results from the Townships of Muskoka Lakes, Georgian Bay and Lake of Bays were below average and therefore support the findings of the gap analysis.
Given the valuable data speed testing provides, the District encouraged all residents to participate in speed testing through a dedicated social media campaign. In addition, another speed test campaign will be launched in the spring to help capture the seasonal residents as their dwellings are typically in the more rural areas of Muskoka. This additional data will ultimately help shape the District’s broadband strategy.
Request for information
To better understand the landscape of broadband service across Muskoka, District staff, with the support of BSN and the sub-committee, prepared a Request-for-Information (RFI) which seeks information from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on current coverage and planned expansions across Muskoka, as well as what the District might do to help encourage broadband expansion.
Responses to the broadband RFI are expected towards the end of February 2021 and this data will be an important feature to inform an overall broadband strategy.
Broadband Strategy for Muskoka
The District’s goal is for a Broadband Strategy that enables broadband expansion in Muskoka on a regional basis to create and improve accessibility for all residents. The strategy will be a living document and will be updated as expansion of services proceed and as available technologies change. In addition, the strategy will identify actions that can be taken in the short, medium and longer term.
The strategy will be an implementation plan that outlines a series of steps that can be taken, along with financial projections to establish reliable connectivity (50-10 and 1G speeds) for 100% of the homes, businesses and institutions throughout Muskoka.
Page 3 The strategy’s goal will be to maximize the efficient investment of both public and private sector resources to enhance broadband expansion to achieve Muskoka’s broadband aspirations and will incorporate the work undertaken to date and as follows.
Staff expect the initial draft to be available in May 2021 with the final document expected at the end of June 2021.
Next Steps
Building off the ROMA roadmap and the components it references, the following activities are the next steps in the process and will be key to informing the strategy:
Component 1:
Identify the state of connectivity in the municipality and understand what assets exist within its municipal boundaries
• Basic inventory: o Identify District assets, for example, infrastructure like towers, building tops, water towers and similar structures that can be used for broadband expansion purposes. • Use of mapping: o Integrate District mapping with external broadband infrastructures including sites the District has identified.
A District cross-functional staff working group will be created to facilitate the completion of these activities. Asset data is available from the District’s Asset Management Plan, but needs to be assessed for suitability. The District’s GIS department will complete the mapping requirements.
Component 2:
Understand the true drivers and needs for connectivity and be open to creative solutions
• The District through research, surveys and/or focus groups will seek to better understand the connectivity needs to help illustrate service gaps and also to help prioritize District funding for broadband solutions, if any.
Component 3:
Determining what role the District wants to play in connectivity
There are many roles that municipalities can plan in broadband connectivity. The following framework highlights the spectrum of possible options:
Page 4 Let the market Advocate Incentives for Municipality Municipality operate on its for action from ISPs to create -built and -owned own other levels of their own ISP operated broadband government network network
To date, the District has let the market operate on its own (as shown on the left of the figure above). The internet providers that operate in Muskoka are all from the private sector and are local, regional and national in their respective operations. Based on preliminary discussions with providers and BSN, staff believe that although there are direct financial incentives from the federal and provincial governments, there may be broadband expansion projects which will only proceed with financial support from the District (as shown in the middle of the figure above).
There are a number of existing municipal models that have been established to advance broadband throughout the province (as shown on the right of the figure above). For example, the project Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) is a non- profit regional broadband that is municipally led and supported by 15 upper and single tier municipalities and is overseeing broadband expansion projects in underserved rural areas across Southwestern Ontario.
Staff expect that the current RFI process being undertaken will provide more detailed information on expansion plans being considered by providers in Muskoka, as well as, requests for municipal funding, if any. In addition, staff will consult with peer municipalities to learn about the existing municipal models. With this information, staff will bring a preliminary report to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee and District Council on broadband governance and the various models by the end of March 2021.
Component 4:
Use and leverage potential tools municipal governments already have to manage connectivity needs
• Staff have initiated a review of best practices across municipalities to update the by-law and approval processes to facilitate access to its towers, municipal rights- of-way, surplus land and certain infrastructure. • Staff expect a large portion of this work to be completed in early 2021.
Component 5:
Champion the need for connectivity in your community to a variety of stakeholders
Page 5 • Staff will create an information package for District Council that may be used to advocate for Muskoka with provincial and federal governments at conferences that provide access to ministry representatives (i.e. ROMA and AMO conferences). • A broadband project page currently exists on Engage Muskoka and this has proven to be an effective vehicle for delivering messages to the public, as well as receiving questions and concerns. Staff will continue to update this page on what can be expected and when, with a view to being both informative, but realistic and to manage expectations.
Component 6:
Invest in ‘shovel worthy’ projects
• BSN has provided some preliminary figures for expansion of broadband in the District. Using telecom industry data, it has been estimated that the cost to build fibre-to-the-home throughout Muskoka, installing down every road, subtracting areas that have broadband capacity, would be in the neighbourhood of $290 million. This estimate is based on one technology and is preliminary, but gives Committee and Council members a sense of the magnitude of this expansion project. • Due to the technological advancements that happen within this field, it is important that Council consider whether any investments made at the local level are being done in a way that is scalable and future-proof. The ultimate goal of the Broadband strategy will be to guide District Council in making these decisions. • There are currently two broadband grant programs that are open, ICON (Ontario Government’s Improving Connectivity for Ontario program) and the UBF (Government of Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund), with submissions due from providers in January and March 2021, respectively. Based on recent discussions, staff anticipated that providers will be making submissions for expansion of services in Muskoka for both of these programs. • There may be requests for assistance from the District related to these submissions. Staff will bring any such requests to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee and District Council for consideration.
Component 7:
Partner, partner, partner
• It is recognized that improving Broadband access across Muskoka requires a multi-faceted approach and ongoing work with many partners and stakeholders. • The District will be open to learning about any possible community partnerships when the strategy is further along. • Staff will continue to build relationships with internet providers in the community to keep lines of communication open.
Page 6 A timeline of the activities itemized in this report is attached in Appendix A.
Financial Considerations
As noted above, early estimates to expand fibre to all of Muskoka is $290 million. This figure is based on one technology and will change over time as new technologies become available. Staff expect that the RFI and current grant programs underway for broadband expansion will provide information and may result in short term requests from our internet providers. Staff will bring any such requests to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee and District Council for consideration.
The District approved using $50,000 of provincial municipal modernization funding for the Muskoka Economic Recovery Task Force and the broadband initiative. This funding is primarily financing District staff resources.
Communications
As noted above, a broadband project page currently exists on Engage Muskoka. This page was instrumental in guiding broadband users to the Speed Testing initiative and includes a variety of general, educational broadband information as well. This page will continue to be updated as the project proceeds.
Through the broadband sub-committee, information on the project is flowing to the area municipalities and Chamber network, as well as, the BIAs.
Staff will provide regular updates to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee as the project progresses.
Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area.
~ iit
A • s 2.5, 2.8 •s 3.1 s 4.6 s 5.6
Respectfully submitted,
David Sword, Team Lead, MERTF Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 7 Appendix A Project Timelines
Activity Lead Date Gap Analysis BSN Complete High resolution maps BSN Complete Speed testing site BSN Complete District support RFI – a Request for Information District February 26, 2021 sent to the Internet Service BSN support Responses due Providers Broadband Sub- Committee input ICON (Ontario Government, Several ISPs with January 28, 2021 Internet Connectivity Ontario) assets in Muskoka Results expected application for broadband have applied assistance, final deadline, January 15, 2021 UBF (Government of Canada, Several ISPs with Early March, 2021 Universal Broadband Fund) assets in Muskoka Results expected application for broadband have applied assistance, final deadline, February 15, 2021 Next steps from the 7 District Ongoing with preliminary components and other results by March 31, supporting activities 2021 Strategy BSN DRAFT May 15, 2021 Pulling all the elements together, District support create a comprehensive strategy Broadband Sub- DRAFT Final, to help deliver broadband Committee input June 30, 2021 throughout Muskoka at reliable speeds Roadmap Strategy District and Ongoing Continuous improvements Broadband Sub- reflecting ever changing Committee circumstances, funding arrangements, and technologies
Page 8 Fixed Broadband Service Level Estimates Appendix B District of Muskoka
....
D District of Muskoka - Property Parcel- No Fixed Broadband - Property Parcel - <5/1Mbps - Property Parcel - 5/1 Mbps D Property Parcel - 10/2 Mbps - Property Parcel - 25/5 Mbps - Property Parcel- 50/10 Mbps Main Road Fixed Broadband C associating property parcels to the Government of Canada's National Broa Waterbody Blue Sky Net 2020 Page 9 a sam ~a e
To: Chair and Members Finance and Corporate Services Committee
From: Wade Matthews Project Coordinator Muskoka Employment Partnership
Date: December 22, 2020
Subject: Muskoka Industry and Employment Data
Report: FCS-11-2020-7 ______
Recommendation
THAT Report FSC-11-2020-7, Muskoka Industry and Employment Data, be received;
AND THAT custom datasets be purchased from the Conference Board of Canada to support activities and events associated with the Muskoka Employment Partnership and charged to the Economic Development division.
Origin
After consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka Workforce Development Board, District staff and other community stakeholders, it was determined that access to up-to-date labour market information would be crucial to the objectives of the Muskoka Employment Partnership.
Background
In March 2019, The District Municipality of Muskoka (District), in conjunction with the Simcoe Muskoka Workforce Development Board, applied to the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) for Ontario Labour Market Plan (OLMP) funding to support a new initiative known as the Muskoka Employment Partnership (MEP). This application was approved by the MLTSD and subsequently by District Council through Report 18(2019)-4.
The funding application identified a need to gather labour market information and effectively disseminate that information among Muskoka community stakeholders. According to the application, a key output of the MEP would be “[the] development of more detailed labour market information.”
Page 1 The application recognized the need for up-to-date, reliable labour market information to achieve the other key objectives of the MEP. Data would be crucial to planned MEP activities, such as the implementation of what it called “a comprehensive innovative action plan to address local labour market issues”, including the “piloting of new experiential education programs” and a “new suite of pre-employment programs” to better meet the skill needs of employers. Up-to-date labour market information is necessary to guide these initiatives.
Analysis
Staff met with the following stakeholders to understand what data was already available in the District and how up-to-date economic and labour market data would aid their tasks and goals:
o Economic Development Officers at each of the area municipalities; o Muskoka-Kawartha Service System Manager; o Simcoe-Muskoka Workforce Development Board; o Muskoka employment service providers; and o OMFRA Economic Development. There was a strong consensus among community stakeholders that up-to-date economic and labour market data would benefit their own organization and activities associated with the MEP.
An environmental scan of datasets determined that the Conference Board of Canada database (the customized data set would represent Muskoka figures only) would most benefit the MEP and its initiatives. This database would support workforce and economic development in Muskoka in the following ways:
o Provide information for the MEP about industry trends, personal and household income, consumer spending and population data. This will be crucial in the development of new experiential learning and pre-employment programs. o Inform the development of a Muskoka labour market platform for employees and employers in the District which, in addition to information regarding industry and employment trends, will provide a “one-stop-shop” for jobseekers. o Support the MEP’s development of a labour attraction and settlement program by identifying the skill needs of Muskoka employers. o The sharing of data between MEP stakeholders, including economic development officers in each of the area municipalities, employers, employees, jobseekers, the Muskoka-Kawarthas System Service Manager, and employment service providers, educators and school boards and community organizations. o Data will also support community and social planning among District staff. Financial Considerations
The total cost of the Conference Board of Canada dataset is $11,000. However, after consultation with the MLTSD, staff determined that monies originally designated for other aspects of the MEP could be diverted toward purchasing databases. For
Page 2 example, monies initially set aside for in-person meetings and events, because of COVID-19 restrictions, can be re-directed for this purpose. Up to $7,000 is available through this reallocation of grant funds. As a result, an additional $4,000 is required to cover the cost of the recommended dataset.
Staff is recommending that this additional cost be charged to the Economic Development division which will result in an unfavourable variance against budget in the current year. As part of the year end procedures, all of the tax supported variances will be accumulated and financed through the Debt Reduction Reserve as in prior years.
For information purposes, this project has a total expenditure budget of $144,000 with offsetting grant funding of $72,000. The District contribution is $18,000 in cash and $54,000 in-kind (see Appendix 1). This project runs from May 2020 to May 2021.
Communications
Through the MEP’s steering committee and sub-committee’s, staff will inform community stakeholders about data provided in the Conference Board of Canada database related to industry, employment, income and population. The Project Coordinator will provide analysis and interpretation of data, and render data in a consumable form, for community stakeholders.
Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area.
~ iit
A
• s. 3.1,• 3.5, s 2.6 s. 5.6 3.6
Respectfully submitted,
Wade Matthews, PhD, Project Coordinator, Muskoka Employment Partnership; Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 3 Appendix 1 Muskoka Employment Partnership Funding
From Muskoka District Muskoka District Description Total MTCU Cash In Kind Staffing the secretariat function A part-time project coordinator (24 hours a week) will be contracted. In addition, there will be contribution of staff time from Muskoka District, SMWDB and OMAFRA. $44,000 $36,000 $0 $8,000 Housing the secretariat function The project coordinator will be located in Muskoka and will require office space and equipment, including computer and phone. $15,000 $0 $0 $15,000 Consulting services There will be need for external expertise. $5,000 $0 $5,000 $0 Convening Meetings of the steering committee, sub-committees and Muskoka Employment Summit will require space and refreshments. $8,000 $0 $4,000 $4,000 Annual Budget $72,000 $36,000 $9,000 $27,000 Budget Over Two Years $144,000 $72,000 $18,000 $54,000 Percentage Distribution 100% 50% 12.5% 37.5%
Source: Report 18(2019)-4
To: Chair and Members Finance and Corporate Services Committee
From: Sharon Donald Director of Budgets and Financial Planning
Date: December 22, 2020
Subject: 2020 Internal Loans
Report: FCS-11-2020-8 ______
Recommendation
THAT Muskoka District Council approve the transfer of funds from the Debt Reduction Reserve Fund to finance project 450073 Rosewarne Cell Development – Cell 2 in the amount of $2,042,261.88 and the replenishment from the Rate Supported Solid Waste Operating Budget to the Debt Reduction Reserve Fund as shown in Schedule “A” of Report FCS-11-2020-8.
Origin
The project expenditures and related financing for this project have been approved by Committee and Council. Formal financing of this project is consistent with the objectives of the Debt Reduction Initiatives, to the capital budgets and their supporting financial plans, and to the forecasted commitments against the Debt Reduction Reserve Fund previously presented to Committee and Council.
Analysis
The replenishment of the internal loan will be considered as part of the annual budgetary process in accordance with section 289 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001. The annual debt payments are outlined in Schedule “A” to this report.
The replenishment of the Debt Reduction Reserve Fund will result in annual contributions of $230,941.23 from the 2020 Rate Supported Solid Waste Operating Budget. The replenishment of the Debt Reduction Reserve Fund has and will continue to be factored into the operating budgets until fully repaid.
To reflect the projected useful life of the asset being financed, the project loan is being financed over a 10-year period. The operating budget is charged an annual interest rate of 2.3% on the outstanding amount owing to the reserve fund. This annual interest
Page 1 rate is based on the District’s estimated borrowing rate for a 20-year debenture and aligns with the budget assumption for 2020.
Financial Considerations
The 2020 Rate Supported Solid Waste Operating Budget includes $230,799 for loan repayments, based on the original budget amount of $2,041,000. The 2021 Draft Rate Supported Solid Waste Operating Budget includes $230,941.23 for loan repayments which reflects the final amount of the loan is $2,042,261.88. The project came in $1,263 over budget.
Communications
Should Council approve the recommendation, staff will be advised to complete the necessary accounting transactions.
Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area.
~ iit
A • s 2.2, 2.3 •
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Donald, CPA, CMA, Director of Budgets and Financial Services; Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 2 Schedule “A”
Project Number: 450073 Interest Rate: 2.30% Total Loan: $2,042,21.88 Annual Repayment: $ 230,941.23
Year Capital Financing Interest Total Annual Outstanding Replenished Contribution Balance 2020 183,969.23 46,972.00 230,941.23 1,858,292.65 2021 188,200.23 42,741.00 230,941.23 1,670,092.41 2022 192,529.23 38,412.00 230,941.23 1,477,563.18 2023 196,957.23 33,984.00 230,941.23 1,280,605.95 2024 201,487.23 29,454.00 230,941.23 1,079,118.71 2025 206,121.23 24,820.00 230,941.23 872,997.48 2026 210,862.23 20,079.00 230,941.23 662,135.25 2027 215,712.23 15,229.00 230,941.23 446,423.01 2028 220,673.23 10,268.00 230,941.23 225,749.78 2029 225,749.78 5,191.45 230,941.23 (0.00)
Page 3 FCS-11-2020-Info-A
MUNICIPAL FINANCE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION IIFOA OF ONTARIO
PROVINCIAL BUDGET 2020: ONTARIO’S ACTION PLAN: PROTECT, SUPPORT, RECOVER
Date: November 5, 2020
1. BUDGET SUMMARY AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
Click here for the 2020 Provincial Budget, Highlights, and News Release.
2. PROVINCIAL SUMMARY 2020 PRIORITIES Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover provides $15B in new supports, building on the $30B in total supports to date from the first phases of Ontario’s response to COVID-19, for a total of $45B in total supports over a three-year period. The budget is built on three pillars: • Protect – Urgent COVID-19 Response • Support – Support for People and Jobs • Recover – Creating Conditions for Growth
3. MUNICIPAL HIGHLIGHTS
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 – PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS • As announced, $4B for municipalities and transit systems to provide one-time assistance, in partnership with the federal government, through the Safe Restart Agreement (p. 85) • As announced, $510M through the Social Services Relief Fund to help municipal service managers and Indigenous housing partners protect homeless shelter staff and residents, expand rent support programming and create longer-term housing solutions (p. 85). • Through the Municipal Modernization Program and the Audit and Accountability Fund, the government is providing up to $350M by 2022/23 to help municipalities lower costs and improve services for local residents over the long term (p. 86).
PROPERTY TAX AND ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
• Business Education Tax (BET) rates are set at 0.88% for 2021 – a 30% reduction from the current top BET rate of 1.25%. The BET will be reduced by $450M in 2021 (pp. 101, 227- 231). o The Province will adjust payments to school boards to offset the reduction in education property taxes (p. 101)
2169 Queen Street East, 2nd Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4L 1J1 T: 416-362-9001 F: 416-362-9226 www.mfoa.on.ca www.oneinvestmentprogram.ca • Beginning in 2021, municipalities will be able to adopt a new optional property subclass for small business properties. “Small Business” would be defined locally by the municipality. The small business property subclass will allow municipalities to target tax relief by reducing property taxes to eligible small business properties (p. 103, 232). o The Province will also consider matching these municipal property tax reductions to support small businesses (p. 232) • Amendments to the Assessment Act are being introduced for the potential creation of optional new assessment tools to address concerns regarding redevelopment and speculative sales (p. 233). • Proposed amendment to the Assessment Act that would provide regulatory flexibility for the Minister of Finance to make adjustments to the current rules regarding the phase-in of property assessment increases. This would allow the Minister to change the phase-in parameters for subsequent reassessments, which may be necessary as a result of the postponement of the 2021 reassessment (p. 236). • As announced in the March 2020 Economic and Fiscal Update, the government postponed the property tax reassessment that was scheduled to be conducted during 2020 for the 2021 taxation year (p. 86). • As announced in the 2019 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, the government is conducting a review to explore opportunities to: enhance the accuracy and stability of property assessments; support a competitive business environment; and, strengthen the governance and accountability of MPAC (p. 232). Based on consultations the following changes are proposed: o The Province is working with stakeholders to enhance the accuracy and transparency of MPAC assessment methodologies, particularly large industrial properties (p. 233) o The Province is working with stakeholders to explore opportunities to improve MPAC’s information disclosure and engagement process (p. 233) • Proposed amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 and the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to streamline processes related to implementing certain municipal property tax options, based on input received during the property assessment and taxation review process (p. 236). • Proposed amendments to the Assessment Act to apply the existing property tax exemption for Ontario branches of the Royal Canadian Legion, for 2019 and subsequent tax years, to Ontario units of the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada (p. 236). • As part of the Province’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Province deferred the June and September quarterly property tax payments that municipalities make to school boards by 90 days (p. 86).
INFRASTRUCTURE • The Province has allocated $2.6B in 2020/21 for the rehabilitation and expansion of highways and bridges across the province (p. 133).
2 Provincial Budget 2020: Municipal Implications (MFOA)
• $466M in capital grants over three years starting in 2020/21 for universities and colleges (p. 135). • As announced, as part of the Ontario’s Up to Speed Plan, an additional $680M investment over four years to expand broadband and cellular access across Ontario. Combined with its prior commitments, this new funding increases Ontario’s investment in broadband to nearly $1B over six years beginning 2019/20 (p. 128). • $15M over two-years in one-time funding to support municipalities to improve the management of Lake Ontario wastewater and stormwater discharges (p. 126). • $10M to provide support for wastewater monitoring and public reporting (p. 126). • $12M over two years in one-time funding to establish a pilot for detecting COVID-19 in raw wastewater (p. 126).
OMPF • As announced, the $500M envelope and structure of the OMPF are maintained for 2021 (p. 87). 2021 OMPF allocations were announced in October 2020. • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Province will be taking more time to review the OMPF (as announced in 2018) (p. 87).
TOURISM • $100M over two years to develop a Community Building Fund to support community tourism, cultural and sport organizations that are experiencing significant financial pressures due to the pandemic (p. 72). o This includes funding for municipalities to make investments in infrastructure rehabilitation and renovations to meet public health protocols and local community needs • As announced, a $9M investment through the Reconnect Festival and Event Program to support municipalities and event organizers during COVID-19 (p. 72). The program is meant to safely reconnect the people of Ontario with their communities through online, drive-through and other innovative experiences. • $150M to develop an initiative to encourage Ontario residents to travel within the province in 2021. The initiative would support up to 20% of eligible Ontario tourism expenses and the Province is currently consulting with stakeholders to develop this strategy (p. 114).
FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR • As announced, the Province has approved an increase to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario’s (FSRA) line-of-credit with the Province, which allows the regulator to provide emergency liquidity support to credit unions (p. 115). • The Province is introducing legislative changes to modernize the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act, 1994 (p. 116). Proposed changes include: o Allowing credit unions to sell insurance within branches and online o Provide opportunities for insurance intermediaries and credit unions to seek mutually beneficial business relationships that could reduce costs o Better enable the FSRA to operate as a principles-based regulator (p. 116)
3 Provincial Budget 2020: Municipal Implications (MFOA)
OTHER • Proposed amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act to further focus conservation authorities on their core mandate and improve overall governance, oversight and accountability of conservation authorities, reflecting a commitment made in the Made-in- Ontario Environment Plan (p. 238). • The Province will continue to advance resource revenue sharing opportunities from aggregates development, as well as forestry and mining, with more Indigenous partners and Northern municipalities (p. 83). • Housekeeping amendments to the Provincial Offences Act to enable staggered proclamation of amendments that were passed in 2017 (p. 237). • $2M over two years to create an Inclusive Community Grants Program, which will fund the development of community supports that promote healthy and active aging (p. 70). • The creation of 30,000 new child care spaces over the next five years (p. 112).
4. OTHER INITIATIVES
HEALTHCARE • $7.5B in new funding to (p. 31): o Increase average daily direct care from a nurse or personal support worker per long- term care resident to four hours a day over a four-year period o $4B in 2021/22 and $2B in 2022/23 to provide dedicated support to protect people’s health and to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic o Open the new Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital site • As announced in the $2.8B COVID-19 Fall Preparedness Plan, o $1.4B to expand COVID-19 testing and ramp up case and contact management. (p. 37) o $351M for additional hospital beds (p. 41) • As announced, $1.75B commitment to increase long-term care capacity and access for residents by building 30,000 long-term care beds. Changes also made to the Construction Funding Subsidy along with the introduction of a new upfront capital investment (p. 47). • As announced, a Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program is being piloted in Renfrew County, York Region, the City of Ottawa, Cochrane District and Brant County while provincewide implementation continues to be explored (p. 49). • An additional $572M to support hospital costs incurred during the pandemic, in addition to the initial investment of $3.3B. The total expenditure is $2.5B higher than in 2019/20 (p. 35). • $10.9M additional funding to retirement homes to ensure they have access to PPE and critical supplies to protect residents and staff in addition to the $20M already provided to the sector (p. 39). • As announced, $783M for long-term care homes including $405M to contain and prevent COVID-19 (p. 43).
4 Provincial Budget 2020: Municipal Implications (MFOA)
• As announced, a temporary wage increase is being provided to PSWs effective October 1, 2020 at a cost of $461M (p. 46). • As announced, $3.8B over 10 years to support the province’s Mental Health and Addictions Roadmap to Wellness (p. 50). • $18B in capital grants over 10 years to build new and expanded hospital infrastructure and address urgent upgrades, including repairs and maintenance to help modernize hospitals across the province (p. 53). • A new organization overseeing a Provincial Emergency Volunteer Unit is under development and will launch in the spring budget (p. 56). • COVID-19 spending to date has also included (p. 29): o $1.1B for PPE o $100M for public health units o $170M for community capacity, home care and Telehealth Ontario
ELECTRICITY • The Province has introduced the Comprehensive Electricity Plan. Beginning January 1, 2021, approximately 85% of wind, solar, and bioenergy contracts will be funded by the Province as opposed to ratepayers. The government has estimated that this change will result in medium-size and larger industrial and commercial employers saving 14-16% on electricity bills (p. 94).
TAXATION • The Province is proposing to make the increase in the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption from $490,000 to $1M permanent starting in 2021 (p. 104). • The Province is proposing to temporarily extend some tax credit deadlines for cultural industries such as film and television production (p. 223). • The Province is proposing amendments to requirements for the cultural media tax credits (p. 223). • The Province is proposing a new Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit for the 2021 taxation year for seniors and intergenerational families who have seniors living with them (p. 68).
ENVIRONMENT • The Province is looking to expand the quantity and quality of the Greenbelt (p. 125). • $6M to electrify more campsites, and revitalize and expand the number of roofed accommodations (p. 124).
5 Provincial Budget 2020: Municipal Implications (MFOA)
OTHER • Freezing of beer tax and mark up rates until March 1, 2022 (p. 82). • A retroactive cancellation of the wine basic tax rates legislated to occur on June 1, 2020 (p. 82). • The Province is creating Invest Ontario, a new investment attraction agency that will promote Ontario as a key investment destination (p. 120). • $500M over four years to make government services more reliable, convenient and accessible through the Ontario Onwards Acceleration Fund (p. 91). • Introduction of legislation to give the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario authority to conduct and manage internet gaming (p. 144). • An additional $3.1M in 2021/22 for Seniors Active Living Centres (p. 70). • The Province is currently reviewing the Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund (PBGF) under the Pension Benefits Act. The PBGF is applicable to Ontario employees participating in an eligible defined benefit plan in cases of employer insolvency. The outcome of this review will be revealed in the 2021 Ontario Budget (p. 118). • The Province is establishing Supply Ontario, a centralized supply chain agency to stabilize access to critical supplies and equipment such as PPE (p. 143). • The Province has proposed amendments to the Financial Administration Act, which if passed, would allow for certain pension plans to be managed in a manner more affordable for the government (p. 146).
5. PROVINCIAL ECONOMY
REVENUE • The Province forecast $151.1B in revenue in 2020/21, $0.5B more than the revenue forecasted in the 2020–21 First Quarter Finances report (pp. 169-170). • Significant revenue changes since the 2020/21 First Quarter Finances include (pp.170- 171): o Education Property Tax is lower by $210M o Land Transfer Tax revenue is higher by $420M due to stronger housing resales o Government of Canada Transfers have increased by $771M
EXPENSES • The 2020/21 total expense outlook is $187B, $391M higher than the 2020/21 First Quarter Finances forecast (pp. 171-172). • Since the release of the 2020/21 First Quarter Finances, key changes to program expense projections include (p. 174): o $367M for wage enhancements for personal support workers (PSWs) and direct support workers in home and community care, long-term care, public hospitals and the social service sector
6 Provincial Budget 2020: Municipal Implications (MFOA)
o $300M to provide relief for businesses subject to new, targeted public health measures by helping to offset fixed costs. This includes assistance with costs associated with property taxes and energy bills
RESERVES AND CONTINGENCY FUNDS • The Province’s reserves will remain at $2.5B in 2020/21 (p. 176). • The net position of the dedicated COVID-19 Health Contingency Fund is projected to be $0.6B and the Support for People and Jobs Fund is currently projected at $2.1B in 2020/21 (p. 176).
INFLATION (P.149) • Inflation is expected to reach 1.7% in 2021. % 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 CPI inflation 1.7 2.4 1.9 0.5 1.7 2.0 1.9
INTEREST RATES (P. 156)
• The province has extended the terms of its debt to reduce refinancing risks on maturing debt. This also protects the Interest on Debt (IOD) forecast in the long term against potential increases in historically low interest rates (p. 157). • Long term interest rates are expected to remain low, rising modestly from 0.7% in 2020 to 1.7% in 2023 (p.157).
% 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 3 Mo. Treasury Bill 1.4 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.4 2.8 rate 10 Yr. Canada Bond 2.3 1.6 0.7 0.7 1.3 1.7 3.7 rate I I I I I I I I
GDP (P. 149)
• Ontario’s real GDP is expected to decline by 6.5% in 2020 and rise 4.9% in 2021, then gradually slow to growth of 3.5% in 2022. • All G7 countries posted significant declines in real GDP in the second quarter of 2020. Canada’s real GDP declined by 11.5% while in the United States, real GDP declined by 9%.
% 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Real GDP 2.8 2.2 1.7 (6.5) 4.9 3.5 2.0 Nominal GDP 4.1 3.4 3.9 (5.0) 6.6 5.7 4.2
7 Provincial Budget 2020: Municipal Implications (MFOA)
EMPLOYMENT (P.149)
• Between February and May, Ontario employment declined by nearly 1.2M jobs and the unemployment rate increased to a record high of 13.6% (p. 151). • The impact of COVID-19 has been uneven across businesses and the workforce. Certain sectors, such as accommodation and food services, have experienced relatively large employment losses. The decline in employment has been relatively large in the private sector and among small businesses (p.152).
% 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Employment 1.8 1.6 2.9 (5.4) 5.0 2.5 1.9 Growth
CANADIAN DOLLAR (P. 158)
• The Canadian dollar decreased earlier this year, declining from 77 cents US to 69 cents US. It has since increased to around 75 cents US and is expected to rise modestly over the forecast period to 76 cents US by 2023.
6. PROVINCIAL FINANCES
DEBT
• In 2020/21, Ontario is forecasted to issue $52.3 B in long-term debt, $17.3B of which have yet to be issued. The Province will pay $12.5B in interest costs (pp. 207-210). • $6.75B of the provincial long-term debt will be issued through Green Bonds to support clean transportation, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation and resilience (p. 208). • Ontario net debt-to-GDP ratio will reach 47% in 2020/21 up from 39.7% in 2019/20. The ratio is expected to reach 49.6% in 2022/23 (p.167).
DEFICIT (P. 167)
• Province is projecting a deficit after reserve of $38.5B in 2020/21, a near three-fold increase from the 2019-20 actual of $8.7B (p. 167). • The deficit is expected to decrease to $33.1B in 2021/22 and $28.1B in 2022/23 (p. 167).
8 Provincial Budget 2020: Municipal Implications (MFOA)
Medium-Term Fiscal Plan and Outlook ($B) (p. 167) Current Medium-Term Outlook % change Actual Outlook 2019/20 2021/22 2022/23 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2020/21 Revenue 156.1 151.1 152.3 160.2 (3.2) (2.4) 2.6 Expenses Programs 152.3 174.6 170.2 172.4 14.6 11.8 13.2 Interest on Debt 12.5 12.5 13.2 13.9 0.0 5.6 11.2 Total Expense 164.8 187.0 183.4 186.3 13.5 11.3 13.0 Surplus/Deficit Before (8.7) (36.0) (31.1) (26.2) 313.8 257.5 201.1 Reserve Reserve 0.0 2.5 2.0 2.0 Surplus/(Deficit) (8.7) (38.5) (33.1) (28.2) 342.5 280.5 224.1 Net Debt (as % of GDP) 39.7 47.0 48.5 49.6 18.4 22.2 24.9 Accumulated Deficit (as 25.3 31.2 33.0 34.1 23.3 30.4 34.8 % of GDP)
Prepared by:
Shira Babins Suzanna Dieleman Manager of Policy Manager, Investment Services (A) [email protected] [email protected] 416-9362-9001 x 227 416-362-9001 x 232
Damaris Lara Christine Duong Policy Team Lead Senior Policy Advisor [email protected] [email protected] 416-362-9001 x 234 416-362-9001 x 230
Julie Turcsanyi Office Administrator [email protected] 416-362-9001 x 224
9 Provincial Budget 2020: Municipal Implications (MFOA)
FCS-11-2020-Info-B
News Release
ONTARIO PROVIDES MORE FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR MUNICIPALITIES DURING COVID-19
December 16, 2020
Funding will help ensure municipal partners avoid operating deficits in 2021
TORONTO — The Ontario government is allocating an additional $695 million to provide financial relief for municipalities and help ensure they do not carry operating deficits into 2021. This investment builds upon the first phase of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement announced this summer and will help municipal partners deliver critical services during COVID-19.
"This joint funding will help Ontario's municipalities recover from the impacts of COVID-19 faster, by helping them to enter into 2021 without operating deficits from this year," said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "By ensuring our municipal partners are in a sound financial position to begin the new year, they can focus on keeping their capital projects on track while continuing to provide the critical services their residents rely on."
Of the $695 million announced today, $299 million is being allocated across all 444 municipalities to help provide more financial relief, as 2021 operating budgets are finalized. An additional $396 million is also being allocated to 48 municipalities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 and have demonstrated a need for additional assistance in covering their 2020 operating deficits. This is in addition to funding being provided to municipalities to help with local transit pressures.
Ontario issued letters to municipalities today about the next stages of transit funding for the Safe Restart Agreement. The province is notionally allocating $1.3 billion for municipal transit systems. This is in addition to the $700 million allocation under Phase 1 of the Safe Restart Agreement, which included needs-based top-ups. Further details about this funding will be available in January.
"The funding confirmed today will ensure the City of Toronto can continue vital services — services that are needed more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. It shows the difference that can be made when all governments come together with a commitment to saving lives, protecting the health of our residents, and doing everything we can to help people and businesses get through this crisis," said John Tory, Mayor of the City of Toronto.
"This funding will ensure municipalities in every part of Ontario are in a better position to maintain vital municipal services in 2021 and to proceed with capital investments essential to Ontario's economic recovery," said Graydon Smith, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Today's announcement will help municipalities to develop 2021 budgets that reflect the reality of COVID-19 in their communities and give them the confidence they need to proceed with capital projects that will help drive economic growth. Page 1
"Our government's top priority is the health and safety of Canadians. That's why we provided over $5 billion to support Ontario safely restart the economy and help make our province more resilient through this second wave. We're proud to see today's second stream of funding make its way to Ontario municipalities, so that they can continue to deliver the essential services that Canadians rely on every day," said Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
Quick Facts
• The federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement is an historic partnership that secured up to $4 billion in emergency funding for Ontario’s municipalities to help them on the road to a safe recovery.
• In August, an initial investment of $1.6 billion was provided so every Ontario municipality could address their operating pressures, support transit systems and help vulnerable people.
• The Ontario government has provided $510 million to municipalities and Indigenous community partners through the Social Services Relief Fund to help protect the health and safety of vulnerable people during COVID-19.
• The province has made an additional three-year, $45-billion commitment to help communities recover as part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover. This includes critical investments in health and other initiatives, to ensure Ontario is more resilient in the future.
• Ontario is also supporting municipalities in finding budget savings and efficiencies through the Audit and Accountability Fund and Municipal Modernization Program -- supporting municipalities with third-party audits and service reviews. Municipalities have already received $215 million through these programs.
Additional Resources
• Allocations for municipalities under phase two of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement.
• See how your organization can help fight COVID-19.
• Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect the people of Ontario from COVID-19.
Contacts
Stephanie Bellotto Minister’s Office [email protected]
Conrad Spezowka Communications Branch [email protected]
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing http://www.ontario.ca/municipalaffairsandhousing Page 2
Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Addington Highlands, Township of $32,000.00 $32,000.00 Adelaide-Metcalfe, Township of $18,000.00 $18,000.00 Adjala-Tosorontio, Township of $50,000.00 $50,000.00 Admaston/Bromley, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Ajax, Town of $991,000.00 $991,000.00 Alberton, Township of $25,000.00 $25,000.00 Alfred and Plantagenet, Township of $53,000.00 $53,000.00 Algonquin Highlands, Township of $55,000.00 $55,000.00 Alnwick/Haldimand, Township of $42,000.00 $42,000.00 Amaranth, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Amherstburg, Town of $165,000.00 $240,000.00 $405,000.00 Armour, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Armstrong, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Arnprior, Town of $51,000.00 $51,000.00 Arran-Elderslie, Municipality of $37,000.00 $37,000.00 Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Township of $38,000.00 $38,000.00 Asphodel-Norwood, Township of $24,000.00 $24,000.00 Assiginack, Township of $32,000.00 $32,000.00 Athens, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Atikokan, Town of $42,000.00 $42,000.00 Augusta, Township of $38,000.00 $38,000.00 Aurora, Town of $549,000.00 $549,000.00 Aylmer, Town of $37,000.00 $37,000.00 Baldwin, Township of $25,000.00 $25,000.00 Bancroft, Town of $141,000.00 $25,000.00 $166,000.00 Barrie, City of $1,322,000.00 $1,322,000.00 Bayham, Municipality of $33,000.00 $33,000.00 Beckwith, Township of $41,000.00 $41,000.00 Belleville, City of $575,000.00 $575,000.00 Billings, Township of $30,000.00 $30,000.00 Black River-Matheson, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Blandford-Blenheim, Township of $36,000.00 $36,000.00 Blind River, Town of $24,000.00 $24,000.00 Bluewater, Municipality of $66,000.00 $66,000.00 Bonfield, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Bonnechere Valley, Township of $200,000.00 $30,000.00 $230,000.00 Bracebridge, Town of $111,000.00 $111,000.00 Bradford West Gwillimbury, Town of $428,000.00 $166,000.00 $594,000.00 Brampton, City of $19,297,000.00 $8,192,000.00 $27,489,000.00
Page 1 of 12
Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Brant, County of $347,000.00 $347,000.00 Brantford, City of $1,010,000.00 $1,010,000.00 Brethour, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Brighton, Municipality of $65,000.00 $65,000.00 Brock, Township of $137,000.00 $137,000.00 Brockton, Municipality of $53,000.00 $53,000.00 Brockville, City of $263,000.00 $263,000.00 Brooke-Alvinston, Municipality of $17,000.00 $17,000.00 Bruce, County of $500,000.00 $500,000.00 Bruce Mines, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan, Township of $18,000.00 $18,000.00 Burk's Falls, Village of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Burlington, City of $5,411,000.00 $1,891,000.00 $7,302,000.00 Burpee and Mills, Township of $25,000.00 $25,000.00 Caledon, Town of $1,098,000.00 $1,098,000.00 Callander, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Calvin, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Cambridge, City of $1,298,000.00 $1,298,000.00 Carleton Place, Town of $371,000.00 $57,000.00 $428,000.00 Carling, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Carlow/Mayo, Township of $15,000.00 $15,000.00 Casey, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Casselman, Municipality of $21,000.00 $21,000.00 Cavan Monaghan, Township of $43,000.00 $43,000.00 Central Elgin, Municipality of $69,000.00 $69,000.00 Central Frontenac, Township of $50,000.00 $50,000.00 Central Huron, Municipality of $249,000.00 $52,000.00 $301,000.00 Central Manitoulin, Municipality of $45,000.00 $45,000.00 Centre Hastings, Municipality of $29,000.00 $29,000.00 Centre Wellington, Township of $157,000.00 $157,000.00 Chamberlain, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Champlain, Township of $50,000.00 $50,000.00 Chapleau, Township of $36,000.00 $36,000.00 Chapple, Township of $25,000.00 $25,000.00 Charlton and Dack, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Chatham-Kent, Municipality of $1,165,000.00 $1,165,000.00 Chatsworth, Township of $38,000.00 $38,000.00 Chisholm, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Clarence-Rockland, City of $122,000.00 $122,000.00
Page 2 of 12
Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Clarington, Municipality of $903,000.00 $903,000.00 Clearview, Township of $77,000.00 $77,000.00 Cobalt, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Cobourg, Town of $115,000.00 $115,000.00 Cochrane, Town of $27,000.00 $27,000.00 Cockburn Island, Township of $21,000.00 $21,000.00 Coleman, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Collingwood, Town of $415,000.00 $151,000.00 $566,000.00 Conmee, Township of $25,000.00 $25,000.00 Cornwall, City of $538,000.00 $538,000.00 Cramahe, Township of $35,000.00 $35,000.00 Dawn-Euphemia, Township of $16,000.00 $16,000.00 Dawson, Township of $24,000.00 $24,000.00 Deep River, Town of $24,000.00 $24,000.00 Deseronto, Town of $16,000.00 $16,000.00 Dorion, Township of $22,000.00 $22,000.00 Douro-Dummer, Township of $44,000.00 $44,000.00 Drummond/North Elmsley, Township of $46,000.00 $46,000.00 Dryden, City of $87,000.00 $87,000.00 Dubreuilville, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Dufferin, County of $297,000.00 $297,000.00 Durham, Regional Municipality of $693,000.00 $6,153,000.00 $6,846,000.00 Dutton Dunwich, Municipality of $22,000.00 $22,000.00 Dysart et al, Municipality of $95,000.00 $95,000.00 Ear Falls, Township of $28,000.00 $28,000.00 East Ferris, Municipality of $22,000.00 $22,000.00 East Garafraxa, Township of $17,000.00 $17,000.00 East Gwillimbury, Town of $280,000.00 $280,000.00 East Hawkesbury, Township of $21,000.00 $21,000.00 East Zorra-Tavistock, Township of $36,000.00 $36,000.00 Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, Township of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Elgin, County of $256,000.00 $256,000.00 Elizabethtown-Kitley, Township of $50,000.00 $50,000.00 Elliot Lake, City of $65,000.00 $65,000.00 Emo, Township of $28,000.00 $28,000.00 Englehart, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Enniskillen, Township of $18,000.00 $18,000.00 Erin, Town of $53,000.00 $53,000.00 Espanola, Town of $59,000.00 $59,000.00
Page 3 of 12
Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Essa, Township of $99,000.00 $99,000.00 Essex, County of $1,890,000.00 $1,890,000.00 Essex, Town of $230,000.00 $230,000.00 Evanturel, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Faraday, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Fauquier-Strickland, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Fort Erie, Town of $191,000.00 $191,000.00 Fort Frances, Town of $93,000.00 $93,000.00 French River, Municipality of $63,000.00 $63,000.00 Front of Yonge, Township of $19,000.00 $19,000.00 Frontenac, County of $238,000.00 $238,000.00 Frontenac Islands, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Gananoque, Town of $1,115,000.00 $62,000.00 $1,177,000.00 Gauthier, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Georgian Bay, Township of $70,000.00 $70,000.00 Georgian Bluffs, Township of $64,000.00 $64,000.00 Georgina, Town of $492,000.00 $492,000.00 Gillies, Township of $23,000.00 $23,000.00 Goderich, Town of $44,000.00 $44,000.00 Gordon/Barrie Island, Municipality of $30,000.00 $30,000.00 Gore Bay, Town of $26,000.00 $26,000.00 Grand Valley, Town of $22,000.00 $22,000.00 Gravenhurst, Town of $105,000.00 $105,000.00 Greater Madawaska, Township of $33,000.00 $33,000.00 Greater Napanee, Town of $89,000.00 $89,000.00 Greater Sudbury, City of $1,833,000.00 $1,833,000.00 Greenstone, Municipality of $71,000.00 $71,000.00 Grey, County of $619,000.00 $619,000.00 Grey Highlands, Municipality of $67,000.00 $67,000.00 Grimsby, Town of $137,000.00 $137,000.00 Guelph, City of $1,384,000.00 $1,384,000.00 Guelph/Eramosa, Township of $60,000.00 $60,000.00 Haldimand County $507,000.00 $507,000.00 Haliburton, County of $287,000.00 $287,000.00 Halton Hills, Town of $564,000.00 $564,000.00 Halton, Regional Municipality of $5,334,000.00 $5,334,000.00 Hamilton, City of $11,677,000.00 $11,677,000.00 Hamilton, Township of $60,000.00 $60,000.00 Hanover, Town of $985,000.00 $45,000.00 $1,030,000.00
Page 4 of 12
Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Harley, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Harris, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Hastings, County of $298,000.00 $298,000.00 Hastings Highlands, Municipality of $47,000.00 $47,000.00 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Township of $53,000.00 $53,000.00 Hawkesbury, Town of $9,000.00 $64,000.00 $73,000.00 Head, Clara and Maria, United Townships of $12,000.00 $12,000.00 Hearst, Town of $25,000.00 $25,000.00 Highlands East, Municipality of $56,000.00 $56,000.00 Hilliard, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Hilton Beach, Village of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Hilton, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Hornepayne, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Horton, Township of $21,000.00 $21,000.00 Howick, Township of $234,000.00 $21,000.00 $255,000.00 Hudson, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Huntsville, Town of $133,000.00 $133,000.00 Huron, County of $367,000.00 $367,000.00 Huron East, Municipality of $48,000.00 $48,000.00 Huron Shores, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Huron-Kinloss, Township of $51,000.00 $51,000.00 Ignace, Township of $31,000.00 $31,000.00 Ingersoll, Town of $67,000.00 $67,000.00 Innisfil, Town of $672,000.00 $208,000.00 $880,000.00 Iroquois Falls, Town of $24,000.00 $24,000.00 James, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Jocelyn, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Johnson, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Joly, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Kapuskasing, Town of $41,000.00 $41,000.00 Kawartha Lakes, City of $968,000.00 $968,000.00 Kearney, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Kenora, City of $183,000.00 $183,000.00 Kerns, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards, Township of $22,000.00 $22,000.00 Killarney, Municipality of $33,000.00 $33,000.00 Kincardine, Municipality of $75,000.00 $75,000.00 King, Township of $243,000.00 $243,000.00 Kingston, City of $5,357,000.00 $1,450,000.00 $6,807,000.00
Page 5 of 12
Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Kingsville, Town of $230,000.00 $230,000.00 Kirkland Lake, Town of $47,000.00 $47,000.00 Kitchener, City of $7,122,000.00 $2,512,000.00 $9,634,000.00 La Vallee, Township of $26,000.00 $26,000.00 Laird, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Lake of Bays, Township of $60,000.00 $60,000.00 Lake of the Woods, Township of $29,000.00 $29,000.00 Lakeshore, Town of $523,000.00 $376,000.00 $899,000.00 Lambton, County of $722,000.00 $722,000.00 Lambton Shores, Municipality of $92,000.00 $92,000.00 Lanark, County of $369,000.00 $369,000.00 Lanark Highlands, Township of $47,000.00 $47,000.00 Larder Lake, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 LaSalle, Town of $294,000.00 $294,000.00 Latchford, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Laurentian Hills, Town of $21,000.00 $21,000.00 Laurentian Valley, Township of $49,000.00 $49,000.00 Leamington, Municipality of $398,000.00 $286,000.00 $684,000.00 Leeds and Grenville, United Counties of $434,000.00 $434,000.00 Leeds and the Thousand Islands, Township of $72,000.00 $72,000.00 Lennox and Addington, County of $251,000.00 $251,000.00 Limerick, Township of $14,000.00 $14,000.00 Lincoln, Town of $971,000.00 $113,000.00 $1,084,000.00 London, City of $4,398,000.00 $4,398,000.00 Loyalist Township $85,000.00 $85,000.00 Lucan Biddulph, Township of $25,000.00 $25,000.00 Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Machar, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Machin, Municipality of $30,000.00 $30,000.00 Madawaska Valley, Township of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Madoc, Township of $17,000.00 $17,000.00 Magnetawan, Municipality of $21,000.00 $21,000.00 Malahide, Township of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Manitouwadge, Township of $37,000.00 $37,000.00 Mapleton, Township of $44,000.00 $44,000.00 Marathon, Town of $43,000.00 $43,000.00 Markham, City of $2,815,000.00 $2,815,000.00 Markstay-Warren, Municipality of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Marmora and Lake, Municipality of $33,000.00 $33,000.00 Page 6 of 12
Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Matachewan, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Mattawa, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Mattawan, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Mattice-Val Côté, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 McDougall, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 McGarry, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 McKellar, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 McMurrich/Monteith, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 McNab/Braeside, Township of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Meaford, Municipality of $71,000.00 $71,000.00 Melancthon, Township of $18,000.00 $18,000.00 Merrickville-Wolford, Village of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Middlesex Centre, Municipality of $80,000.00 $80,000.00 Middlesex, County of $357,000.00 $357,000.00 Midland, Town of $97,000.00 $97,000.00 Milton, Town of $993,000.00 $993,000.00 Minden Hills, Township of $81,000.00 $81,000.00 Minto, Town of $48,000.00 $48,000.00 Mississauga, City of $9,676,000.00 $11,292,000.00 $20,968,000.00 Mississippi Mills, Municipality of $197,000.00 $72,000.00 $269,000.00 Mono, Town of $41,000.00 $41,000.00 Montague, Township of $21,000.00 $21,000.00 Moonbeam, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Moosonee, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Morley, Township of $24,000.00 $24,000.00 Morris-Turnberry, Municipality of $19,000.00 $19,000.00 Mulmur, Township of $22,000.00 $22,000.00 Muskoka, District Municipality of $601,000.00 $601,000.00 Muskoka Lakes, Township of $123,000.00 $123,000.00 Nairn and Hyman, Township of $24,000.00 $24,000.00 Neebing, Municipality of $37,000.00 $37,000.00 New Tecumseth, Town of $189,000.00 $189,000.00 Newbury, Village of $11,000.00 $11,000.00 Newmarket, Town of $769,000.00 $769,000.00 Niagara Falls, City of $1,581,000.00 $466,000.00 $2,047,000.00 Niagara, Regional Municipality of $6,743,000.00 $2,441,000.00 $9,184,000.00 Niagara-on-the-Lake, Town of $105,000.00 $105,000.00 Nipigon, Township of $32,000.00 $32,000.00 Nipissing, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00
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Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Norfolk County $734,000.00 $734,000.00 North Algona Wilberforce, Township of $23,000.00 $23,000.00 North Bay, City of $250,000.00 $250,000.00 North Dumfries, Township of $94,000.00 $94,000.00 North Dundas, Township of $59,000.00 $59,000.00 North Frontenac, Township of $43,000.00 $43,000.00 North Glengarry, Township of $59,000.00 $59,000.00 North Grenville, Municipality of $900,000.00 $87,000.00 $987,000.00 North Huron, Township of $28,000.00 $28,000.00 North Kawartha, Township of $48,000.00 $48,000.00 North Middlesex, Municipality of $32,000.00 $32,000.00 North Perth, Municipality of $69,000.00 $69,000.00 North Stormont, Township of $35,000.00 $35,000.00 Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, Town of $53,000.00 $53,000.00 Northern Bruce Peninsula, Municipality of $64,000.00 $64,000.00 Northumberland, County of $495,000.00 $495,000.00 Norwich, Township of $49,000.00 $49,000.00 Oakville, Town of $1,886,000.00 $1,886,000.00 O'Connor, Township of $24,000.00 $24,000.00 Oil Springs, Village of $3,000.00 $12,000.00 $15,000.00 Oliver Paipoonge, Municipality of $58,000.00 $58,000.00 Opasatika, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Orangeville, Town of $135,000.00 $135,000.00 Orillia, City of $205,000.00 $355,000.00 $560,000.00 Oro-Medonte, Township of $116,000.00 $116,000.00 Oshawa, City of $1,697,000.00 $1,697,000.00 Otonabee-South Monaghan, Township of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Ottawa, City of $13,400,000.00 $20,869,000.00 $34,269,000.00 Owen Sound, City of $157,000.00 $125,000.00 $282,000.00 Oxford, County of $584,000.00 $584,000.00 Papineau-Cameron, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Parry Sound, Town of $32,000.00 $32,000.00 Peel, Regional Municipality of $20,581,000.00 $20,581,000.00 Pelee, Township of $44,000.00 $37,000.00 $81,000.00 Pelham, Town of $1,212,000.00 $86,000.00 $1,298,000.00 Pembroke, City of $159,000.00 $159,000.00 Penetanguishene, Town of $49,000.00 $49,000.00 Perry, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Perth, County of $184,000.00 $184,000.00
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Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Perth East, Township of $51,000.00 $51,000.00 Perth South, Township of $21,000.00 $21,000.00 Perth, Town of $226,000.00 $39,000.00 $265,000.00 Petawawa, Town of $85,000.00 $85,000.00 Peterborough, City of $886,000.00 $886,000.00 Peterborough, County of $441,000.00 $441,000.00 Petrolia, Town of $468,000.00 $30,000.00 $498,000.00 Pickering, City of $833,000.00 $833,000.00 Pickle Lake, Township of $24,000.00 $24,000.00 Plummer Additional, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Plympton-Wyoming, Town of $143,000.00 $44,000.00 $187,000.00 Point Edward, Village of $603,000.00 $17,000.00 $620,000.00 Port Colborne, City of $125,000.00 $125,000.00 Port Hope, Municipality of $90,000.00 $90,000.00 Powassan, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Prescott and Russell, United Counties of $468,000.00 $468,000.00 Prescott, Town of $53,000.00 $53,000.00 Prince Edward, County of $336,000.00 $336,000.00 Prince, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Puslinch, Township of $38,000.00 $38,000.00 Quinte West, City of $469,000.00 $469,000.00 Rainy River, Town of $26,000.00 $26,000.00 Ramara, Township of $77,000.00 $77,000.00 Red Lake, Municipality of $54,000.00 $54,000.00 Red Rock, Township of $27,000.00 $27,000.00 Renfrew, County of $557,000.00 $557,000.00 Renfrew, Town of $49,000.00 $49,000.00 Richmond Hill, City of $1,747,000.00 $1,747,000.00 Rideau Lakes, Township of $93,000.00 $93,000.00 Russell, Township of $348,000.00 $81,000.00 $429,000.00 Ryerson, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Sables-Spanish Rivers, Township of $47,000.00 $47,000.00 Sarnia, City of $407,000.00 $407,000.00 Saugeen Shores, Town of $100,000.00 $100,000.00 Sault Ste. Marie, City of $351,000.00 $351,000.00 Schreiber, Township of $29,000.00 $29,000.00 Scugog, Township of $224,000.00 $224,000.00 Seguin, Township of $51,000.00 $51,000.00 Selwyn, Township of $232,000.00 $106,000.00 $338,000.00
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Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Severn, Township of $88,000.00 $88,000.00 Shelburne, Town of $35,000.00 $35,000.00 Shuniah, Municipality of $54,000.00 $54,000.00 Simcoe, County of $4,354,000.00 $1,816,000.00 $6,170,000.00 Sioux Lookout, Municipality of $1,143,000.00 $61,000.00 $1,204,000.00 Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, Township of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Smiths Falls, Town of $106,000.00 $106,000.00 Smooth Rock Falls, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 South Algonquin, Township of $37,000.00 $37,000.00 South Bruce, Municipality of $30,000.00 $30,000.00 South Dundas, Municipality of $60,000.00 $60,000.00 South Frontenac, Township of $128,000.00 $128,000.00 South Glengarry, Township of $72,000.00 $72,000.00 South Huron, Municipality of $57,000.00 $57,000.00 South River, Village of $87,000.00 $20,000.00 $107,000.00 South Stormont, Township of $68,000.00 $68,000.00 Southgate, Township of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Southwest Middlesex, Municipality of $31,000.00 $31,000.00 South-West Oxford, Township of $38,000.00 $38,000.00 Southwold, Township of $22,000.00 $22,000.00 Spanish, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Springwater, Township of $98,000.00 $98,000.00 St. Catharines, City of $2,048,000.00 $726,000.00 $2,774,000.00 St. Clair, Township of $78,000.00 $78,000.00 St. Joseph, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 St. Marys, Town of $79,000.00 $79,000.00 St. Thomas, City of $429,000.00 $429,000.00 St.-Charles, Municipality of $34,000.00 $34,000.00 Stirling-Rawdon, Township of $26,000.00 $26,000.00 Stone Mills, Township of $45,000.00 $45,000.00 Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, United Counties of $353,000.00 $353,000.00 Stratford, City of $362,000.00 $362,000.00 Strathroy-Caradoc, Municipality of $111,000.00 $111,000.00 Strong, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Sundridge, Village of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Tarbutt, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Tay, Township of $67,000.00 $67,000.00 Tay Valley Township $48,000.00 $48,000.00 Tecumseh, Town of $234,000.00 $234,000.00
Page 10 of 12
Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding Tehkummah, Township of $26,000.00 $26,000.00 Temagami, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Temiskaming Shores, City of $49,000.00 $49,000.00 Terrace Bay, Township of $33,000.00 $33,000.00 Thames Centre, Municipality of $63,000.00 $63,000.00 The Archipelago, Township of $34,000.00 $34,000.00 The Blue Mountains, Town of $385,000.00 $99,000.00 $484,000.00 The Nation, Municipality of $191,000.00 $62,000.00 $253,000.00 The North Shore, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 South Bruce Peninsula, Town of $89,000.00 $89,000.00 Thessalon, Town of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Thornloe, Village of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Thorold, City of $104,000.00 $104,000.00 Thunder Bay, City of $1,240,000.00 $1,240,000.00 Tillsonburg, Town of $92,000.00 $92,000.00 Timmins, City of $731,000.00 $199,000.00 $930,000.00 Tiny, Township of $124,000.00 $124,000.00 Toronto, City of $288,587,000.00 $109,688,000.00 $398,275,000.00 Trent Hills, Municipality of $88,000.00 $88,000.00 Trent Lakes, Municipality of $84,000.00 $84,000.00 Tudor and Cashel, Township of $16,000.00 $16,000.00 Tweed, Municipality of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Tyendinaga, Township of $22,000.00 $22,000.00 Uxbridge, Township of $207,000.00 $207,000.00 Val Rita-Harty, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Vaughan, City of $2,602,000.00 $2,602,000.00 Wainfleet, Township of $39,000.00 $39,000.00 Warwick, Township of $494,000.00 $20,000.00 $514,000.00 Wasaga Beach, Town of $162,000.00 $162,000.00 Waterloo, City of $2,411,000.00 $1,217,000.00 $3,628,000.00 Waterloo, Regional Municipality of $5,644,000.00 $5,644,000.00 Wawa, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Welland, City of $283,000.00 $283,000.00 Wellesley, Township of $86,000.00 $86,000.00 Wellington, County of $463,000.00 $463,000.00 Wellington North, Township of $62,000.00 $62,000.00 West Elgin, Municipality of $36,000.00 $36,000.00 West Grey, Municipality of $72,000.00 $72,000.00 West Lincoln, Township of $66,000.00 $66,000.00
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Safe Restart Support for Municipal Operating Budgets - December 2020
Application- Municipality 2021 Funding TOTAL FUNDING Based Funding West Nipissing, Municipality of $80,000.00 $80,000.00 West Perth, Municipality of $44,000.00 $44,000.00 Westport, Village of $13,000.00 $13,000.00 Whitby, Town of $1,163,000.00 $1,163,000.00 Whitchurch-Stouffville, Town of $423,000.00 $423,000.00 White River, Township of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Whitestone, Municipality of $20,000.00 $20,000.00 Whitewater Region, Township of $43,000.00 $43,000.00 Wilmot, Township of $204,000.00 $204,000.00 Windsor, City of $14,406,000.00 $5,086,000.00 $19,492,000.00 Wollaston, Township of $18,000.00 $18,000.00 Woodstock, City of $225,000.00 $225,000.00 Woolwich, Township of $233,000.00 $233,000.00 York, Regional Municipality of $9,921,000.00 $9,921,000.00 Zorra, Township of $42,000.00 $42,000.00 $395,731,000.00 $299,269,000.00 $695,000,000.00
Page 12 of 12
AMe~" Municipalities Ontario FCS-11-2020-Info-C Phase 2 Restart Agreement Municipal Funding
December 16, 2020
This morning, AMO President Graydon Smith joined Mayor John Tory, Member of Parliament Adam Vaughan, and the Honourable Minister Steve Clark for a major announcement on additional relief funding for Ontario's municipal governments.
The Ontario government is allocating the second phase of the Safe Restart Agreement (SRA) funding to municipal governments in the amount of $695 million. Minister Clark noted that the government is helping to ensure that every single municipality in Ontario is entering 2021 without an operating deficit from 2020. This $695 million in relief funding is broken out into two sections:
• First, $396 million will be allocated to 48 individual municipalities that have demonstrated the need for additional assistance in covering operating deficits for 2020.
• The remaining $299 million will be allocated across all 444 municipalities to help provide additional financial relief to help support operating budgets in 2021.
o AMO understands that 20% ($59.8 million) of this allocation will be provided to all municipalities on a per household basis (like Phase 1 SRA funding).
o The remaining 80% ($239.2 million) is to be allocated through a new methodology that proportionally reflects COVID-19 case counts with data provided by Ontario's 34 Public Health Units. More information on this methodology and the associated allocations will be provided by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
AMO is pleased that the remaining Safe Restart Agreement funding is being provided to municipal governments at this time. “This funding will ensure municipalities in every part of Ontario are in a better position to maintain vital municipal services in 2021 and to proceed with capital investments essential to Ontario’s economic recovery”, said AMO President Graydon Smith.
In addition, Minister Clark indicated that the Province is notionally allocating $1.3 billion for municipal transit systems above and beyond the initial allocation of $700 million made under Phase 1 of the SRA. More details about this funding will be available in January 2021.
This financial relief package and, notably, the early support in 2021 follows AMO's direct advice to create greater certainty around the financial needs of municipal governments. This will help ensure municipalities continue to protect our communities and play an essential role in Ontario's economic recovery as we enter the coming year ahead.
For more information: Phase 2 of SRA Funding - Municipal Allocations.
FCS-11-2020-Info-D
Ministry of Ministère des Municipal Affairs Affaires municipales and Housing et du Logement
Office of the Minister Bureau du ministre 777 Bay Street, 17th Floor 777, rue Bay, 17e étage Toronto ON M7A 2J3 Toronto ON M7A 2J3 Tel.: 416 585-7000 Tél. : 416 585-7000
MIN-234-2020-5724
December 16, 2020
District Chair John Klinck District Municipality of Muskoka [email protected]
Dear District Chair Klinck:
From the outset of COVID-19, our government knew that the pandemic was going to put a significant strain on Ontario’s municipalities. That is why we are committed to working with all levels of government to ensure municipalities can continue to deliver the critical services Ontarians rely on.
In our negotiations with the federal government, what started as a $14 billion national proposal was negotiated into the $19 billion Safe Restart Agreement – securing up to $4 billion for Ontario’s municipalities and transit systems.
In August, our government committed $695 million in an initial round of allocations under the $1.39 billion municipal operating stream. Earlier today, I announced that the Ontario government is investing an additional $695 million under the historic Safe Restart Agreement’s municipal operating stream to help our municipal partners manage the financial impacts of COVID-19 and start 2021 in a more secure financial position.
I am pleased to advise that your municipality’s allocation is $601,000. While your application for additional funding did not demonstrate 2020 operating pressures in excess of the initial amount your municipality received, this funding is being provided to help your municipality with ongoing COVID-related costs in 2021.
Allocations for 2021 funding for all 444 municipalities are based on the number of households in the municipality and the proportion of COVID-19 cases occurring in the municipality’s public health unit. Funding under the municipal operating stream is in addition to funding being provided under the Safe Restart Agreement for municipal transit systems, Social Services Relief Fund and public health.
…/2 - 2 -
We know municipalities will continue to feel the impacts of COVID-19 into 2021. Our government is providing this additional support as you develop your 2021 budgets. With this funding, your municipality can continue to deliver the high-quality local services your residents and business rely on every day and have the confidence you need to proceed with budgeting for planned capital projects in 2021.
We have heard that you require flexible funding and we are delivering. Funding under the municipal operating stream of the Safe Restart Agreement can be used to support your municipality’s highest priority COVID-related operating needs. The province expects that any amount of funding not required by your municipality in 2020 will be used to address 2021 pandemic-related operating needs.
As previously communicated, your municipality will be expected to report back to the province in March 2021 with information about your COVID-related operating pressures and use of both funding allocations. This report template will be available via the Transfer Payment Ontario system by late January 2021. Municipalities will also be expected to report back on 2021 operating pressures due to the pandemic at a later date.
I am requesting that your municipal treasurer sign the acknowledgement below and return the signed copy to the ministry by December 24, 2020 by email to [email protected]. Please note that we must receive this acknowledgement before making a payment to your municipality. We expect to begin making payments to municipalities in December 2020 and complete all payments by the end of January 2021.
Municipalities are welcome to contact their municipal advisor or e-mail [email protected] with any questions.
Thank you once again for your commitment to serving your residents during these challenging times. Our government will continue to stand with our municipal partners because we know that strong communities are the foundation of a strong Ontario – your success is Ontario’s success.
Sincerely, ~~
Steve Clark Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing c. Municipal Treasurer and Chief Administrative Officer
…/3 - 3 -
By signing below, I acknowledge that the allocation of $601,000 is provided to District Municipality of Muskoka for the purpose of assisting with COVID-19 operating costs and pressures and that the province expects that any funds not required for this purpose in 2020 will be used to support COVID-19 operating costs and pressures in 2021.
I further acknowledge that District Municipality of Muskoka is expected to report back to the province on 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 operating costs and pressures and the use of this funding.
Name:
Title:
Signature:
Date:
The District Municipality of Muskoka
Community and Planning Services Committee – Electronic Meeting
Meeting CPS-14-2020
Minutes
This meeting was held electronically in accordance with section 238 of the Municipal Act, as amended. Members of the public were encouraged to view the Committee proceedings through the District’s webcasting platform.
Place: Electronic Meeting
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Date: December 21, 2020
Present: Committee Chair N. Alcock; District Chair J. Klinck Members: A. Edwards, P. Cooper, P. Kelly, M. Peppard, D. Smith
Officials Present: J. Stevens, Chief Administrative Officer; S. Hastings, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services; N. Barrette, Commissioner of Health Services; A. Back, District Clerk
Also Present: M. Witzel, Muskoka Watershed Advisory Group; B. Dart, D. Doolittle, Gravenhurst Against Poverty; C. Doyle, Director, Environmental and Watershed Programs; C. Faber, Director, Programs; J. Mattice, Director, Programs; S. Valentine, Director of Planning; H. Elliott, Manager, Children and Senior’s Programs; C. Parlett, Manager of Programs; D. Morgan, Manager, Housing Development; R. Willison, Watershed Planning Technician; J. Duncan, Administrative Assistant; C. Hammond, Deputy Clerk
Call to Order
Committee Chair Alcock called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
Declaration of Pecuniary Interests
None were declared.
Invited Presentation a) Mardi Witzel Chair, Muskoka Watershed Advisory Group (MWAG) Overview of MWAG’s Recommendations to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (Minister) Ms. Witzel highlighted the recommendations from the MWAG interim report for three different categories: integrated watershed management; flood mitigation to address the spring flood risk; and specific projects for enhanced watershed health. She confirmed that comments from the Minister on next steps in the process had not yet been received.
A discussion occurred regarding the geographic area studied as per the terms of reference provided by the Minister for the Muskoka River Watershed; potential oversight options for any approved initiatives; and possible appointments from community groups to be included within any proposed community round tables.
Oral Presentation (Deputations/Delegations) a) Bonnie Dart Chair, Gravenhurst Against Poverty (GAP) Desarae Doolittle, GAP Gravenhurst Community Hub Kitchen
Moved by P. Kelly and seconded by M. Peppard P74/2020-CPS
THAT the request by Bonnie Dart for leave to make a delegation with respect to the Gravenhurst Community Hub Kitchen be granted.
Carried.
Ms. Dart and Ms. Doolittle highlighted the increased need for the services provided by GAP during the pandemic which include: food support; no cost transportation program for essential town trips; and community space for young adults. Ms. Dart requested to sublet kitchen and office space at the District’s Community Services Office in Gravenhurst.
An extensive discussion occurred regarding the request to sublet; GAP’s current space at Trinity United Church; the District’s changing space requirements due to the provincial employment system transformation; and potential upgrades required for the Gravenhurst Community Services Office to accommodate a sublet. Due to the complex nature of subletting, staff requested time to draft a resolution for Council’s consideration at the Council meeting later that day.
Subsequent to the meeting District Council passed Resolution 205/2020 which authorized staff to identify options, requirements, and costs to sublet to GAP, with an update report to be brought forward to Council in January 2021.
Subsequent to the District Council meeting, in consultation with the District and Committee Chairs, it was determined that an update would be provided to the CPS Committee at its January 21, 2021 meeting. Environment
a) Muskoka Watershed Advisory Group Report CPS-14-2020-1
Ms. Doyle acknowledged the contributions of community partners during the process, the work completed by MWAG and that next steps would be brought forward once direction from the Minister was received. b) The District’s Water Strategy Update and Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program – 2019 Annual Report Report CPS-14-2020-2
Ms. Doyle and Ms. Willison provided a presentation on the District’s Water Strategy Update and Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Planning a) Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 50 – 2020 Lake System Health Update Report CPS-14-2020-3
Ms. Valentine highlighted the report and the recommended amendment to the Muskoka Official Plan related to vulnerable lakes. She confirmed that once a lake was identified as vulnerable the District’s enhanced protection policies would be instituted related to potential development applications, in advance of formal policy changes.
Moved by J. Klinck and seconded by D. Smith R75/2020-CPS
THAT draft Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 50 (2020 Lake System Health Update) be circulated to the Area Municipalities, agencies, impacted lake associations, and other stakeholders for input;
AND THAT a statutory public meeting be scheduled.
Carried.
b) Proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 51 (McColl) and Township of Lake of Bays Official Plan Amendment OPA 01/20 LOB and Zoning By-law Amendment Z 18/20 LOB Report CPS-14-2020-4
Moved by M. Peppard and seconded by A. Edwards R76/2020-CPS
THAT the draft Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 51 (McColl) and Township of Lake of Bays Official Plan Amendment OPA 01/20 LOB and Zoning By-law Amendment Z 01/20 LOB be circulated to the neighbouring property owners, agencies, and other stakeholders for comments;
AND THAT a concurrent statutory public meeting be scheduled with the Township of Lake of Bays.
Carried.
Children’s Services a) Early Years and Child Care Sector - Verbal Update
Ms. Elliot provided an Early Years and Child Care Sector Update on 2020 achievements; the status of the District’s licensed child care; the status of provincial funding; and the program and services approach for the province wide lockdown.
Housing a) Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) – Verbal Update
Ms. Morgan highlighted the RHI expression of interest issued by the District and the discussions with the lower-tier municipalities for potential project options. Discussions with the Ministry confirmed that applications were expected to far exceed the available funding and projects would need to be in advanced stages to receive funding. Based on this information the District did not have any projects in a position to move forward and would not be submitting a RHI application. Staff will continue to move housing initiatives forward to capitalize on future funding opportunities.
Ontario Works a) Social Assistance Recovery and Renewal Update Presentation CPS-14-2020-5
Due to meeting time constraints this item was deferred to the January 21, 2021 Community and Planning Services Committee meeting.
Information Items a) Delegated Staff Approvals, Extensions/Amendments to Draft Approval
i. Draft Plan of Subdivision File S2010-7 (Bliss) located in the Town of Huntsville, was granted an extension on November 27, 2020.
ii. Draft Plan of Subdivision File 44T-89002 (Clearbrook Trail Corporation) located in the Town of Bracebridge, was granted an amendment and extension on December 10, 2020.
iii. Lifting of Part Lot Control By-law 2020-58 (Rayville Developments (Legacy) Inc.), located in the Town of Huntsville, exempt Part of Block 23, Registered Plan 35M-694 from part lot control, was approved on December 7, 2020.
iv. Draft Phased Condominium Description File S2020-01 (Campus Trail) located in the Town of Huntsville, was approved on December 2, 2020.
v. Local Official Plan Amendment 1/20 (Reisman) to the Town of Gravenhurst Official Plan, as adopted by Town By-law 2020-43, was approved on November 26, 2020. b) Final Approved and Registered Plans
i. Standard Condominium Description, File C2018-12 (The Waterfront at Grandview), located in the Town of Huntsville, was granted Final Approval on November 26, 2020. c) Appeals to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) Received
i. Plan of Subdivision & Common Element Condominium Descriptions, Files S2020-06 & C2020-07, “Hampton Woods”, located in the Town of Huntsville, received appeal on November 27, 2020.
Adjournment
Moved by A. Edwards and seconded by P. Cooper P77/2020-CPS
THAT the Community and Planning Services Committee adjourns to meet again on December 21 at 11:15 a.m.
Carried.
The meeting adjourned at 11:07 a.m.
______Deputy Clerk To: Chair and Members Community and Planning Service Committee
From: Christy Doyle Director of Environmental and Watershed Programs
Samantha Hastings Commissioner of Community and Planning Services
Date: December 21, 2020
Subject: Muskoka Watershed Advisory Group
Report: CPS-14-2020-1 ______
Origin
This report is provided for information.
Analysis
In response to the increasing number and severity of floods experienced in Muskoka, particularly the significant flood events of 2013 and 2016, Ontario’s Premier Ford announced the establishment of the Muskoka Watershed Conservation and Management Initiative on August 22, 2018.
The Province, through the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (Minister), appointed the Muskoka Watershed Advisory Group (MWAG) to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister to help protect and safeguard the Muskoka River watershed and support economic growth in the region (Government of Ontario, 2019). The members of the MWAG are shown in Appendix A.
The MWAG’s mandate is to:
• provide advice and make recommendations to the Minister on: o priority areas; o addressing priority issues; and o types of projects that could be undertaken. • assist in identifying municipal, federal and private funding opportunities; • participate in public and Indigenous engagement efforts upon request from the minister; and
Page 1 • communicate with local organizations and communities represented by the advisory group and bring these perspectives forward during advisory group meetings.
Over the course of a year, the members of MWAG were involved in community outreach with “over 60 distinct entities including municipal governments, First Nations, lake associations, stewardship organizations, economic stakeholders, waterpower producers, local planners and consultants, local educators, representatives from the local agricultural industry and members of the general public” (Muskoka Watershed Advisory Group, 2020).
The advice and recommendations of MWAG were submitted to the Minister, on June 29, 2020 in the report “Interim Advice and Recommendations to Address Priority Environmental Issues in the Muskoka River Watershed”. This report was subsequently released by the Province to the public on October 19, 2020 and may be accessed by the following link: https://www.ontario.ca/page/advisory-group-report-protecting-muskoka-river-watershed
The report has not yet been specifically addressed by the Minister.
The recommendations of the MWAG are comprised of 19 distinct projects that fall into three broad categories:
1. Integrated Watershed Management: The Primary Recommendation; 2. Flood Mitigation to Address Spring Flood Risk: The Most Pressing Need; and 3. Specific Projects for Enhanced Watershed Health.
Appendix B outlines MWAG’s recommendations, including a summary of work that is underway or not yet started as well as other preliminary commentary for Committee’s information.
Financial Considerations
The Province’s announcement of its Watershed Conservation and Management Initiative included an investment of $5 million “to better identify risks and issues facing the Muskoka Region, allowing the community and Province to work together to protect this vital area.” The Province also announced that it would match tax-deductible donations from people and businesses to this initiative, and any funding from other levels of government, up to a total of an additional $5 million (Government of Ontario, 2018).
Communications
Following a briefing from MWAG Chair Mardi Witzel with District Chair John Klinck, MWAG Vice Chair Councillor Don Smith, and senior District staff in November 2020, Chair Witzel has been invited to provide an overview of MWAG’s recommendations to the Community and Planning Services Committee in December 2020.
Page 2 Strategic Priorities
~ A iit s. 1.1,• 1.2, s. 2.2, 2.6, s. 3.1•, 3.3, s. 4.4 s. 5.2, 5.6 1.3, 1.4., 1.5 2.9 3.4
Respectfully submitted,
Original signed by:
Christy Doyle, Director of Environmental and Watershed Programs; and Samantha Hastings, MCIP, RPP, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services
Page 3 Appendix A
Members of the Muskoka Watershed Advisory Group (Government of Ontario, 2019)
Appointments and Vacancies
No. Position Member Term Location
1 Chair (Part-Time) Mardi Witzel 06-Aug-2020 – Waterloo 06-Mar-2022
2 Vice Chair (Part-Time) Don Smith 06-Aug-2020 – Bracebridge 06-Mar-2022
3 Member (Part-Time) Chris Cragg 06-Aug-2020 – Toronto 06-Mar-2022
4 Member (Part-Time) John Miller 06-Aug-2020 – Bracebridge 06-Mar-2022
5 Member (Part-Time) Julie Cayley 06-Aug-2020 – Wyebridge 06-Mar-2022
6 Member (Part-Time) Kevin Trimble 06-Aug-2020 – Port Carling 06-Mar-2022
7 Member (Part-Time) Norman Yan 06-Aug-2020 – Bracebridge 06-Mar-2022
8 Member (Part-Time) Patricia Arney 06-Aug-2020 – Bala 06-Mar-2022
9 Member (Part-Time) Unfilled
Page 4 Appendix B: MWAG Recommendations and Preliminary Considerations Rec # Recommendation Summary (from the Yan summary Recommendation Details Proposed Lead Participating Timeframe Cost Status document) Organizations 1 Implement Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) in the Implement Integrated Watershed CRT? Long $$$ Not initiated Muskoka River Watershed (MRW). Management (IWM) in the Muskoka River Watershed (MRW) as a way of managing land and water resources that protects and promotes a healthy ecosystem and also achieves economic and social objectives.
1a Establish a Community Round Table (CRT) as an interim body Establish a Community Round Province MWAG, Provincial Short $ Not initiated to implement IWM. Table (CRT) as an interim body Ministries, DMM, AM, First for the implementation of Nations, Community Integrated Watershed Organizations Management in the MRW. 1b Develop and execute a plan to communicate IWM to and with Develop and execute a Public CRT MWC, DMM, Province Long $ MWC has published several the public. Communications Plan aimed at: articles in local media related to a) educating the public about IWM and intends on bringing Integrated Watershed an "information roadshow" Management in the Watershed, about it to all watershed b) providing local watershed- municipalities (including AH related information to the public. and Seguin) and c) creating a vehicle through which the public may raise questions and/or concerns and receive science-based answers about watershed issues. 1c Study and recommend an optimal model of watershed-scale Undertake a study of different CRT MWAG, Experts in IWM Short $$ Not initiated governance. models for watershed-scale planning & implementation governance and the development of plan for long-term watershed- scale governance in the MRW.
2 Establish Water Quantity, Water Quality and Land task forces Establish three IWM Task Forces CRT, Water MWAG, MNRF, MECP, Short $ Not initiated as data synthesizers and advisors of the CRT. as technical working groups Quantity TF - DMM, AM, Westwind, MC, under the direction of the CRT, to MNRF, Water MWC, GBB, SSEA collect and synthesize existing Quality TF - data and undertake the first steps DMM/MECP, of IWM: Terrestrial TF - • A Water Quantity Task Force DMM/MECP/MNRF • A Water Quality Task Force • A Land/Terrestrial Task Force 3 Identify a comprehensive set of indicators of environmental, Undertake a project to identify a CRT MWC, DMM, AM, MNRF, Medium $ Partially initiated through economic and social health in the MRW. comprehensive set of Watershed- MECP, MCF, GBB previous initiatives including the scale health indicators that reflect Muskoka Watershed Report environmental, economic and Card, Vital Signs, State of the social goals. These indicators Bay, and SMDHU's "Changing would provide the environmental Climate: assessing health and ecological metrics by which impacts & vulnerabilities due to IWM could facilitate optimal, climate change within Simcoe evidence-based decision-making Muskoka". Water quality among the full range of specific indicators already management options and their included in DMM's MOP/ LSH environmental, economic and policies (MOP C2.6.3.2) and social impacts. also general encouragement for performance checklists/ assessment tools for human health, green development standards, sustainable development/design, subdivision guidelines, etc. Related preliminary research initiated (i.e., Ryerson University student project (MOP D20.3 to D20.7) - DMM Economic Development and Community Profile also include a number of indicators
4 Develop an eco-hydrologic model reflecting the ecological Develop a watershed-scale CRT Experts in modelling, MECP Medium $$ Not initiated structure and dynamics of the MRW. ecohydrology model for the MRW that reflects the ecological structure and dynamics of the watershed. A watershed-scale ecohydrology model would inform the range of IWM projects and facilitate the implementation of IWM. 5 Review land policies across watershed jurisdictions aiming for Undertake a land use policy CRT DMM, AM Short $ Partially initiated through the guidelines that will promote resilience. review across all jurisdictions comprehensive review of the within the MRW with the objective District's Muskoka Official Plan of generating consistent and best- (2019) with significant updates in-class guidelines promoting to DMM policies Re; lake resiliency throughout the system health, environmental watershed, to be incorporated protection, climate, etc. Other into revised land use policies at AM OPs under review. Local the local municipal level. OPs & Zoning By-laws need to be updated to ensure implementation. - Next step is for AMs to updated their OPs and zoning/community planning permit/site plan by-laws for implementation
6 Establish a continuing role for the MWAG in support of the CRT Establish a continuing role for the Province MWAG Short $ Not initiated and IWM task forces. MWAG in support of the formation of the Muskoka River Watershed CRT and the IWM Task Forces, as part of the early implementation of Integrated Watershed Management in the MRW. 7 Encourage the Province to assume a leadership role in the Reflecting the provincial mandate MWAG DMM, AM, MWC, MC, Short $ Discussed, not initiated formation of the CRT and IWM task forces. to protect the environment and its FMW, other community ability to engage and coordinate organizations various interests within the MRW, the formation of the IWM Community Round Table and IWM Task Forces requires that the Province take a leadership role.
8 Flood mitigation projects. Undertake a set of flood MNRF DMM, AM, MWC, MWAG Long $$$ Not initiated; can use data from mitigation projects to understand the District's new floodplain the root causes of flooding and maps. develop specific strategies for flood mitigation in the MRW. 8a Evaluate the potential to adjust Muskoka River Water Undertake a near-term project to MNRF Experts in hydrology, Short $ Discussed, not initiated Management Plan (MRWMP) drawdown triggers and spring evaluate and potentially adjust modelling, climate science, operating levels. MRWMP drawdown triggers and shorelines and species target spring operating levels for habitats, local waterpower enhanced management of spring producers flood risk.
8b Explore if natural and manmade features in the watershed can Explore flood mitigation options Water Quantity Experts in hydrology, Medium $$ Partially initiated through be altered to minimize flood risk. involving modifications to the Task Force modelling and climate DMM's flood plain mapping MRW, including removal of science project natural and manmade constraints and/or the development of flood control structures, either dams or natural formations, based on eco- hydrologic modelling and considering the role of climate change.
8c Expand and enhance the District’s floodplain maps. Expand and enhance the District DMM AM Short $$ Initiated - application submitted of Muskoka floodplain mapping for additional NDMP funding project to include critical areas of Nov 30/2020. Floodplain data & the MRW that were not LiDAR available on newly completed in 2019. launched GeoHub (Nov 2020). Floodplain data to be incorporated into MOP.
9 Develop a comprehensive water quality program, including Develop a comprehensive water DMM Organizations that test Short $ Initiated. DMM's long-standing monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis and intervention. quality program in support of water quality including watershed-wide Lake System water quality protection, DMM, MECP-DESC, Lake Health recreational water enhancing the existing piecemeal Associations, SSEA, GBB, quality program may be used programs in support of long-term MWC as a foundation for expanded lake system health. efforts as needed & augmented by partnership efforts of MWC, MECP/SMDHU, Lake Associations & Lake Partner Program. Key documents may include: HESL Revised Water Quality Model and LSH Program Report (2016), Muskoka Stormwater Management Strategy (2008) and recs from ongoing DMM causation studies (MOP C2.6.6) 9a Improve meteorological, physical & chemical data to detect Develop a plan to dramatically DMM MNRF, MECP, MWC, Medium $ Ongoing. DMM is committed to environmental issues and trends. improve meteorological, physical Universities, GBB, SSEA routinely reviewing its and chemical data collection from recreational water quality and the MRW in order to improve data drinking water monitoring available for early detection of programs to ensure that problems, baseline shifts, trends, emerging science and data are scenario development, flood incorporated where possible prediction, and success of (i.e., for recreational WQ, remedial interventions. inorganic carbon and silver are relatively new parameters added to almost 50 tested). Causation studies are designed to include the collection of lake- specific data as part of a sampling program and compilation of various existing sources of historical data. Ongoing partnerships are key, (i.e., MWC undertaking algae pilot project)
9b Refine and customize models on climate change for the MRW. Support research on climate MWC DMM, Universities, AM, Medium $$ Partially completed through change with a focus on refining DESC MWC's Climate Change global models to predict impacts Report, the District's New Leaf of climate change on air and Strategy and Climate Action water temperature, soil moisture, Plan (Nov 2020) and DMM's seasonality of precipitation, wind ongoing support for research patterns and ice behaviour in the initiatives (i.e., Laurentian MRW. University, Canadian Water Network); DMM staff working closely with SMDHU on Climate Vulnerability assessments
9c Develop indicators and monitoring plans of emerging water Develop water quality health Water Quality Task MWC, DMM, AM, MNRF, Medium $ Partially initiated through quality stressors. indicators that reflect emerging Force MECP, MCF, GBB DMM's MOP (i.e., algae global threats to aquatic included as an environmental ecosystem health that have local indicator(MOP C2.6.3.2); DMM relevance and develop a plan for road salt management monitoring of these indicators in initiatives; MWC's algae Muskoka. monitoring pilot project; DMM Causation Study findings 9d Assess the threat of novel contaminants such as Assess the presence and threats DMM MWC, GBF Short $$ Partially initiated: MWC issued pharmaceuticals, biocides and microplastics. of novel contaminants including a recent paper on endocrine pharmaceuticals, hormones, disrupting compounds in the herbicides such as glyphosate watershed. DMM currently not and microplastics. Initial work testing but is considering ways should target logical sources of to collect relevant data. such contaminants. 9e Study the feasibility of developing a world-class institute of lake Conduct a feasibility study to Province MWC, DMM, DESC, FMW, Short $$$ Past discussions were science in Muskoka with the infrastructure to assess impacts of consider the development of a AM, NRCan, DFO spearheaded by the Town of multiple stressors during a time of climate change. world-class limnology institute in Bracebridge. FMW fundraises Muskoka that would house the on this initiative. infrastructure needed to assess the interactive impacts of multiple stressors during a time of climate change. 10 Identify, inventory and assess natural capital within the MRW, Inventory, identify and assess DMM/Westwind DMM/Westwind, MWC, AM Medium $$ Partially initiated; both DMM starting with forests, wetlands and lakes. natural capital (incl. water, land, and MWC have worked with air, and renewable and non- university students to produce renewable resources such as preliminary assessments about plant and animal species, forests, potential natural asset air, water, soils) within the MRW. management in Muskoka. New MOP policies provide support for Natural Capital Asset Planning (MOP C1.6.2) and encourages the consideration of a framework and ultimately a DMM-wide strategy. MWC's Muskoka Watershed Inventory Project may assist. Other key docs may include DMM’s Urban Natural Heritage Review (2011), Species At Risk: Potential Suitable Habitat Mapping (2009), and Natural Heritage Valuation of Muskoka (1994). Can use existing GIS data related to forest cover and wetlands produced/maintained by DMM or Province. MOP includes policies on Consideration of Cumulative Impacts (MOP C1.6.3), 11 Dredge the Muskoka River delta at Lake Muskoka. Undertake a project to dredge the BR Short $$ Initiated by the Town of Muskoka River Delta at Lake Bracebridge. Muskoka, including the disposal of dredged material and the implementation of mitigation measures for the future as feasible. 12 Survey where in the MRW shoreline erosion is emerging as a Conduct a survey of locations DMM Geomorphologist, MWC Medium $ Partially initiated - DMM LiDAR, new problem. throughout the MRW where air photos, and flood plain shoreline erosion has occurred as mapping work can assist a result of fluctuating water levels efforts; community reports like and develop strategies or Mary Lake Association's techniques to remediate and limit shoreline assessment may shoreline damage. help. 13 Undertake a project to reduce levels of road salt in Muskoka Undertake a project to reduce DMM Salt Working GR, MWC, FMW, Medium $ Partially initiated; DMM's road Bay of Lake Muskoka and Jevins Lake. road salt levels in Muskoka Bay of Group Universities salt initiatives include trials to Lake Muskoka and Jevins Lake reduce amount of road salt which could include an used and information can be experimental management shared as needed. Specific intervention. projects for Muskoka Bay or Jevins Lake have been discussed with MWC.
14 Expand the capacity of the ASHMuskoka program to remediate Provide resources to expand the FMW DMM, DESC, Universities, Short $ Program in progress. Plans to calcium decline in local forests and lakes, given calcium decline capacity of the ASHMuskoka OMSPA expand discussed. is damaging half the lakes in the MRW. program aimed at remediating calcium deficiency in MRW forests. 15 Develop a research program to understand and predict Develop a Hazardous Algal Province/DMM MWC, Universities, MECP, Short $ DMM's MOP includes an algae Hazardous Algal Blooms (HABs) in the MRW. Blooms (HABs) research study Lake Associations indictor with an emerging list of and program that will increase the affected local lakes. MWC pilot capability of detecting, algae monitoring program in understanding and predicting the progress (2021=Year 2) presence of HABs within the funding needed to expand MRW. watershed-wide.
16 Develop a watershed-wide residential septic program aiming to Develop a Watershed-wide Province MECP, DMM, AM, SSEA Short $ DMM assessment of provide consistency and effectiveness of permitting, inspections Residential Septic Program aimed regulations and implementation and enforcement. at establishing a consistent and in progress. high-performance approach to the permitting, inspection and enforcement of residential septic systems throughout the MRW. 17 Develop a forest restoration project aimed at supporting long- Develop a Muskoka-specific Westwind/Forest DMM, AM, MNRF, MWC Medium $ Completed for Crown land term forest health. forest restoration project aimed at Ontario/Terrestrial forests by Westwind and supporting long-term forest Task Force MNRF. Expansion to private health. This project would identify land forests needed. Can build and plan planting to replace on MOP policies that recognize invasive species, restore forests as renewable resources aggregate pits and repair areas of that provide opportunities for wind damage. stormwater management, climate change mitigation/resiliency, wildlife habitat, good production, tourism and recreation (MOP H1.3) - Build on MOP policies that limit rural development to avoid fragmentation of forests and natural heritage features and areas (J3.1 c), J3.5.1 g) and K4.3.1 c))
18 Develop a wetland project aimed at wetland protection and Develop a strategic wetland DMM/MWC/Terrest DMM/MWC, MNRF, Medium $$ Partially initiated; MOP policies restoration. project aimed at wetland rial Task Force Universities, Environmental protect ALL wetlands, not just protection and restoration. This Consultant those that are Provincially project would include a pilot Significant (MOP C1.3.1, and/or research component to C1.3.2, C1.4.1) verify wetland functions and values in strategic wetland areas relative to achieving a combination of ecological targets (localized but in the watershed ecosystem framework) as well as flood attenuation possibilities.
19 Provide an inventory of public access points to the waters and Enhance public access and DMM AM Short $ In progress; DMM has GIS forests of the MRW. support the local environment information on many private through a study that inventories and public access points public access points throughout throughout the watershed. the MRW and provides options GeoHub launched Nov 2020. for policy decisions that support the balance of environmental, social and economic priorities. To: Chair and Members Community and Planning Services Committee
From: Christy Doyle Director of Environmental and Watershed Programs
Rebecca Willison Watershed Planning Technician
Date: December 21, 2020
Subject: The District’s Water Strategy Update and Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program – 2019 Annual Report
Report: CPS-14-2020-2 ______
Recommendation
This report is provided for information.
Origin
Continued comprehensive environmental management is crucial to sustain the quality of Muskoka’s environment and, in turn, the quality of our lives, and our vibrant tourist and recreational economy. It has long been recognized that Muskoka’s rich ecological environment is a major driver of its economy, providing opportunities for healthy outdoor recreation and tourism throughout the year.
The Muskoka Water Strategy is a core component of the District’s management of Muskoka’s natural resources, including ongoing support for Muskoka Watershed Council and the District’s Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program as key initiatives in this Strategy.
Analysis
One of the core components of the Muskoka Water Strategy is the Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program. This program is comprised of:
• recreational water quality monitoring; • shoreline land use surveys; and • technical assistance to individuals and community organizations (including various schools and lake associations) interested in undertaking volunteer-based biological monitoring programs, including benthic (“bugs in the mud”) macroinvertebrate monitoring. Page 1 Appendix “I” to this report identifies the lakes monitored by the District in 2019.
Recreational Water Quality Monitoring
The District of Muskoka’s (District) monitoring program is a field-based program that monitors approximately 193 sites on 164 lakes on a rotational basis. The purpose of the monitoring program is to establish a long-term record of key water quality parameters so that trends in water quality and overall lake system health can be identified and appropriate management decisions can be made to protect Muskoka’s recreational lake water quality. In collaboration with the Dorset Environmental Science Centre (DESC), Secchi depth (a measure of clarity), calcium and phosphorus concentrations are taken as part of the Provincial Lake Partner Program. In addition, DESC tests for other parameters, such as pH, conductivity, alkalinity, chloride, and nitrogen, so that a more complete understanding of lake chemistry can be achieved. While drawing samples from lakes, District Water Quality Technicians also record dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles.
In 2019, 93 sites were monitored on 76 lakes for chemical parameters including phosphorus, Secchi depth, dissolved oxygen and temperature (Figure 1 attached to this report). Details of the monitoring program, including the data for each lake, are provided in the Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program 2019 Annual Report, and alternatively, available on the District‘s website at http://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/live- and-play/Lake-System-Health.aspx.
While the District’s Water Quality Monitoring Program was suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19, as were most recreational monitoring programs across Ontario, it is anticipated that the Program will resume in 2021. Given that the Program examines trends and long-terms impacts, it is not anticipated that a year-long gap in sample collection will have a significant impact on the overall data.
2019 Trends in Recreational Water Quality Data
Sixty-eight of the 91 sites (75%) sampled in 2019 that had been sampled before had a spring phosphorus (TP) reading higher than the previous reading for the lake, taken in either 2018, 2017 or 2016, depending on the sample rotation. When comparing the 2019 spring phosphorus reading to the 10-year average for each lake, 48 of the 91 sites (53%) had an increase. This spike in phosphorus seen on many of the lakes in 2019 are likely attributed to both early spring flooding across the watershed combined with late ice-off conditions, although further monitoring and assessment of these results should continue to confirm this.
Access to 2019 Data
Lake Data Sheets for individual lakes that track change over time are available upon request or can be downloaded from the Muskoka Water Web site (www.muskokawaterweb.ca). Lake Data Sheets for lakes monitored in 2019 are also available in Appendix 5 of the Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program 2019 Annual Report available at http://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/live-and-play/Lake- System-Health.aspx.
Page 2 Recreational Water Quality Policy
Staff note that Report CPS-14-2020-3, included in this Committee agenda, reflects on- going work to ensure that the Muskoka Official Plan (MOP) is updated appropriately to reflect best available information on lakes in Muskoka.
Biological Monitoring Program
The District’s Biological Monitoring Program was developed in 2003 for lake associations interested in becoming more involved in lake monitoring and broader lake planning. The 2019 Biological Monitoring Program focused on the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network (OBBN) benthic protocol. Benthic sampling occurred at 22 sites on 21 lakes and 1 river (Figure 2 attached to the report). In addition, hands-on workshops and presentations were given to over 800 youths through schools, camps, and community events throughout 2019. Though suspended in 2020, the program is anticipated to continue in 2021.
Shoreline Land Use Surveys
Since 2002, the Lake System Health Program has included shoreline land use surveys, which document all built structures, the condition of the shoreline and general land uses adjacent to the lake. This information is available for municipal planning programs as well as lake associations, Area Municipalities and other interested parties. In 2019, one lake, Peninsula Lake (HT/LOB) was partially surveyed (Figure 2).
2021 Monitoring Schedule
Following the program’s suspension in 2020, approximately 89 sites on 71 lakes are scheduled to be sampled in 2021 for chemical parameters as identified in Appendix “II”, based on a long-standing rotating sampling schedule which represents a watershed- wide assessment. It is anticipated that benthic monitoring will occur on at least 22 sites in 2021, and that the Shoreline Land Use Survey for Peninsula Lake will be completed.
Muskoka Watershed Council: 2020 Highlights
District staff assigned to Muskoka Watershed Council (MWC) and the volunteers that comprise MWC continue to focus on developing and delivering evidence-based programs that evaluate and promote the health of the watershed in a rigorous, defensible manner and produce results that can be understood and implemented by agencies and residents across the watershed and beyond.
With the District’s continued support for MWC, and the remarkable efforts of its dedicated and diverse volunteers, the organization has thrived over the past several months and is making significant strides in the emerging virtual world. Virtual meetings are now routine and preliminary observations suggest that general attendance has modestly increased at all virtual MWC meetings, both at its General Council meetings and at the various project sub-committees and outreach events, perhaps because people from across the watershed and beyond may now participate from any location at
Page 3 their convenience. Of course, this has the added advantage of lessening carbon emissions which is consistent with other objectives of MWC.
In 2020, MWC has undertaken the following key project and programming priorities:
1. Elected its new Chair for the 2020-2022 term; 2. Initiated an organizational strategic review to reaffirm Muskoka Watershed Council’s mandate and membership responsibilities; 3. Concluded Year One of its algae monitoring pilot program within the watershed, with an Interim Report (https://www.muskokawatershed.org/programs/algae- monitoring-program/) and with an anticipated continuance of the pilot program in 2021; 4. Produced and issued a white paper related to the need for Integrated Watershed Management in Muskoka (https://www.muskokawatershed.org/wp- content/uploads/IWMP-WhitePaper-Jan2020.pdf). Work continues to advance related outreach and communications, and to facilitate the initiation of the proposed approach and, in turn, implement the recommendations of the white paper; 5. Developed a “climate education capsule” appropriate for both elementary and secondary school curriculums. This content was originally intended to be delivered in-person, in classrooms, but is now being recorded and will soon be offered for local schools to use in their online learning modules; 6. Hosted and/or participated in over twenty online outreach sessions across Muskoka and beyond, covering topics like algae, climate, and recreational water quality. Speakers scheduled for upcoming MWC meetings Lakefield University’s Dr. Ellen Fields discussing her work on Communicating Climate Change (November 2020), and students from Trillium- Lakelands School Board outlining their recently issued Climate Change Action Plan (November 2020); 7. Produced various communication products, including over 10 columns in the local media and two newsletters. MWC has also recently refreshed its website to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards. 8. Supported various programming initiatives through the employment of a Watershed Health Intern (December 2019-May 2020) funded in part by MWC and primarily through external funds secured through a grant from Colleges and Institutes Canada. MWC Stewardship Programs in Partnership with the District
The District also supports additional stewardship programs undertaken by the Muskoka Watershed Council, including:
• shoreline assessments through the Love Your Lake program; and • shoreline re-naturalizations through The Natural Edge program.
Page 4 Love Your Lake Program
Though suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19, the District has supported the Love Your Lake shoreline assessment program since 2013, which is delivered by the Muskoka Watershed Council and funded by the Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Government of Canada through the Canada Summer Jobs program.
This action-oriented program provides resources and training to local organizations with the goal to deliver engaging and effective programs to help landowners protect and restore their shorelines. In 2019, approximately 696 Love Your Lake shoreline assessments were carried out on Kahshe Lake (GR) and another 34 properties were assessed on Bass Lake (GR) with the assistance of the Kahshe Lake Ratepayers’ Association. Property reports from the 2018 assessments were available for order for residents on Bruce Lake (ML), McKay Lake (BR) and Lake Vernon (HT), and lake-wide reports were completed for these three lakes based on data collected through the Love Your Lake program in 2018. See Figure 2 attached to this report for lake locations.
This Program is anticipated to be continued in 2021, though the participating lakes have yet to be confirmed.
The Natural Edge
The Natural Edge is a shoreline re-naturalization program administered in the Muskoka area by the Muskoka Watershed Council with the support of the District to encourage waterfront property owners to plant native species along the water’s edge. The program was created by Watersheds Canada with funding support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Daniel and Susan Gottlieb Foundation (2019) and the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Love Your Lake (2020). The program is open to any shoreline property owner in Muskoka.
Under The Natural Edge program, 17 site visits were conducted by District staff in 2019 on six lakes and included the development of planting plans for each property. Funding was received to subsidize five Shoreline Re-naturalization Starter Kits, and a total of 346 native plants were planted by landowners under the program on approximately 110 metres of shoreline.
The Natural Edge program continued in 2020, with 23 site visits being conducted by District staff on 11 lakes, in 7 municipalities across the watershed. Over 15 Shoreline Re-naturalization Starter Kits were distributed.
It is anticipated that the District will continue to work with MWC and various lake associations across the watershed to implement both the Natural Edge and the Love Your Lake program on lake(s) yet to be confirmed for the 2021 season.
Financial Considerations
Funds for continuing the Water Quality program have been included within the 2021 Tax Supported Operating Budget for on-going implementation of this program.
Page 5 Since 2017, the District has also contributed a stipend of $6,000 annually through the Tax Supported Operating Budget as base support for the Muskoka Watershed Council, in addition to its support through accommodating the organization’s office space and meetings as needed and the assignment of two District staff serving the organization on a part-time basis.
Other programs are funded primarily through external private, Provincial or Federal grants.
Communications
A printed copy of the Lake System Health Water Quality Monitoring Program 2019 Annual Report will be distributed to each library and Area Municipality in Muskoka. The report will be available on the District website (www.muskoka.on.ca) and Lake Data Sheets, Shoreline Land Use Maps, and Aquatic Invertebrate Data Sheets are available online on the Muskoka Water Web site (www.muskokawaterweb.ca). A digital copy of the report will be sent to program partners, including the Dorset Environmental Science Centre. Notification to the general public that the report has been released and that the data has been posted will occur through a media release issued by the District and shared through the District’s social media channels. A notice will also be posted on the Muskoka Water Web site, and lake associations will be notified via email using the District’s lake association contact list.
Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area. ~ A iit s 1.1,• 1.2, • s 2.2, 2.6 s 4.4 s 5.2 1.4, 1.5
Respectfully submitted, Original signed by:
Rebecca Willison, BSc., Watershed Planning Technician; Christy Doyle, MES (PI), MCIP, RPP, Director of Environmental and Watershed Programs; and Samantha Hastings, MCIP, RPP, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services
Page 6 Appendix “I”
Sites Monitored in 2019
Lake Quaternary Lake Municipality Parameter Monitored Number Watershed I I I I Ada 15-1 ML Lake Rosseau Chem/Benthic
Barron's 225-1 GB Severn River Chem/Benthic
Bass 239-1 GR Kahshe River Chem/Benthic/LYL
Ben 6903-1 GR Kahshe River Chem
Bigwind 413-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Bonnie 532-1 BR N. Muskoka River Chem
Brandy 562-1 ML Lake Muskoka Chem/Benthic
Brooks 590-1 LOB Oxtongue River Chem
Bruce 604-2 ML Lake Rosseau Chem/Benthic/LYL
Buck 617-1 HT Mary Lake Benthic
Camp 713-3 LOB Big East River Chem
Chub 7061-1 HT Mary Lake Benthic
Clark 6910-2 HT Little East River Chem
Cooper 976-2 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Cornall 988-1 GR Severn River Chem
Dark 6913-1 ML Lake Muskoka Chem
Devine 1173-1 HT N. Muskoka River Chem
Dickie 1193-1 LOB S. Muskoka River Chem
Doeskin (Doe) 1216-1 GR Kahshe River Chem
Dotty 1237-1 LOB Oxtongue River Chem
Echo 1326-2 LOB S. Muskoka River Chem
Page 7 Lake Quaternary Lake Municipality Parameter Monitored Number Watershed
Fawn (Deer) 1440-1 BR N. Muskoka River Chem
Flatrock 7243-1 GB Moon River Chem
Fox 1550-1 HT Mary Lake Chem/Benthic
Gartersnake (Long) 1626-1 BR Kahshe River Chem
Gibson - North 1644-2 GB Gibson River Chem
Gibson - South 1644-1 GB Gibson River Chem
Golden City 5750-1 HT Mary Lake Chem
Grindstone 1777-1 LOB Upper Black River Chem
Gull 1791-2 GR Lake Muskoka Chem
Haggart 1818-1 GB/ML Moon River Chem
Healey 1923-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Henshaw 1946-3 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
Hoc Roc River – GR Lake Muskoka Benthic
Jessop (Jingo) 2154-2 HT Little East River Chem
Jevins 2155-1 GR Severn River Chem
Kahshe - Grant’s Bay 2217-2 GR Kahshe River Chem/LYL
Kahshe - Main 2217-5 GR Kahshe River Chem/LYL
LaFarce 7073-1 GB Gibson River Chem
Lake of Bays - Dwight Bay 2469-2 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Lake of Bays - Haystack 2469-5 LOB Lake of Bays Chem Bay
Lake of Bays - Rat Bay 2469-9 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Lake of Bays - S. Muskoka 2469- LOB Lake of Bays Chem River Bay 11
Page 8 Lake Quaternary Lake Municipality Parameter Monitored Number Watershed
Lake of Bays - South 2469-8 LOB Lake of Bays Chem Portage Bay
2469- Lake of Bays - Ten Mile Bay LOB Lake of Bays Chem 10
Lake of Bays - Trading Bay 2469-6 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Leonard 2540-3 ML Lake Muskoka Chem
7064- Little Go-Home Bay GB Severn River Chem 30
Longline 6509-1 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Mary 3032-3 HT Mary Lake Chem/Benthic
Mary Jane 605-1 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
McCrae 7259-1 GB Severn River Chem
McDonald 7245-1 GB Severn River Chem
McKay 3123-2 BR S. Muskoka River LYL
McRey 7044-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Menominee 3181-3 LOB Lake of Bays Chem/Benthic
Morrison 3331-1 GR Severn River Chem
Myers (Butterfly) 3408-1 GB Moon River Chem
Nine Mile 3469-1 ML Gibson River Chem
North Muldrew 4074-1 GR Severn River Chem
Otter 6916-1 HT Mary Lake Chem/Benthic
Oudaze 4202-1 HT Big East River Chem
Oxbow 4213-2 LOB Oxtongue River Chem
Paint (St. Mary) 5145-4 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Pell 6683-1 LOB Lake of Bays Chem
Page 9 Lake Quaternary Lake Municipality Parameter Monitored Number Watershed
Peninsula - East 4309-4 LOB Mary Lake Chem/Benthic/Shore
Peninsula - West 4309-5 HT Mary Lake Chem/Shore
Pine 4379-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Pine 4378-1 GR Lake Muskoka Chem
Prospect 4468-1 BR Kahshe River Chem
Rebecca Feb-67 LOB Big East River Benthic
Rickett's 6921-1 ML Lake Rosseau Chem
Ril 4627 LOB S. Muskoka River Benthic
2476- Rosseau - Brackenrig Bay ML Lake Rosseau Chem 12
2476- Rosseau - East Portage Bay ML Lake Rosseau Chem 11
2476- Rosseau - Main ML Lake Rosseau Chem 13
2476- Rosseau - North SE Lake Rosseau Chem 14
2476- Rosseau - Skeleton Bay ML Lake Rosseau Chem 10
Ryde (Buck) 4750-1 GR Kahshe River Chem
Silver 4951-2 GR Lake Muskoka Chem
Silver 4952-1 ML Lake Muskoka Chem
Silver Sand 4959-1 GB Moon River Chem
Six Mile - Cedar Nook Bay 4978-1 GB Severn River Chem
Six Mile - Main 4978-4 GB Severn River Chem
Six Mile - Provincial Park 4978-5 GB Severn River Chem Bay
Page 10 Lake Quaternary Lake Municipality Parameter Monitored Number Watershed
Solitaire 5037-1 LOB Big East River Chem
South Muldrew 5075-1 GR Severn River Chem/Benthic
Spence - North 5102-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Spence - South 5102-2 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
Stewart 5166-1 GB/ML Lake Rosseau Chem/Benthic
Tasso 5303-5 LOB Big East River Chem
Three Mile - Hammel's Bay 5362-5 ML Dee River Chem
Three Mile - Main 5362-6 ML Dee River Chem/Benthic
Toronto 5416-1 GB Moon River Chem
Turtle (Long Turtle) 5485-1 GR Severn River Chem/Benthic
Vernon - Hunter's Bay 6455-6 HT Mary Lake LYL
Vernon - Main 6455-7 HT Mary Lake Benthic/LYL
Vernon - North Bay 6455-8 HT Mary Lake LYL
Walker 5710-2 LOB Mary Lake Benthic
Waseosa 5741-1 HT Little East River Chem
Webster 7074-1 GB Gibson River Chem
Weismuller 6927-1 BR Kahshe River Chem
Wood 5961-1 BR S. Muskoka River Chem
BR (Bracebridge) GB (Georgian Bay) GR (Gravenhurst) HT (Huntsville) LOB (Lake of Bays) ML (Muskoka Lakes) SE (Seguin)
Chem - Spring Phosphorus & Other Chemical Parameters Shore - Shoreline Land Use Survey LYL - Love Your Lake Shoreline Assessment Benthic - Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring
Page 11 Appendix “II”
Lakes Scheduled to be Monitored in 2021 for Chemical Parameters
Lake Quaternary Lake Municipality Number Watershed
Axle 6901-1 LOB Lake of Bays
Barron's 225-1 GB Severn River
Bass 239-1 GR Kahshe River
Bass 240-1 ML Lake Rosseau
Baxter 6929-1 GB Severn River
Bella 319-1 LOB Big East River
Bird 425-2 BR South Muskoka River
Brandy 562-1 ML Lake Muskoka
Bruce 604-2 ML Lake Rosseau
Buck 617-1 HT Mary Lake
Buck 616-1 LOB Lake of Bays
Butterfly 676-1 ML Lake Rosseau
Cardwell (Long) 747-1 ML Rosseau River
Cassidy 775-1 ML Moon River
Chub 7061-1 HT Mary Lake
Chub 853-2 LOB South Muskoka River
Clear (Torrance) 5419-1 ML Lake Muskoka
Clearwater 901-1 GR Severn River
Clearwater 6911-1 HT North Muskoka River
Cognashene Bay 7064-37 GB Georgian Bay
Crosson 1049-1 BR Upper Black River
Page 12 Lake Quaternary Lake Municipality Number Watershed
Echo 1326-2 LOB South Muskoka River
Fairy - Main 1420-2 HT Mary Lake
Fairy - North Muskoka River Bay 1420-4 HT Mary Lake
Fifteen Mile (Angle) 1456-1 LOB Lake of Bays
Foote 1524-1 LOB Big East River
Gibson - North 1644-2 GB Gibson River
Gibson - South 1644-1 GB Gibson River
Gilleach 7042-1 BR North Muskoka River
Go Home 1667-7 GB Moon River
Go Home Bay 7064-38 GB Georgian Bay
Grandview 1723-2 LOB South Muskoka River
Hardup (Poverty) 1863-1 LOB Lake of Bays
High 1964-1 ML Skeleton River
Joseph - Cox Bay 2460-5 ML Lake Rosseau
Joseph - Hamer Bay 2460-4 SE Lake Rosseau
Joseph - Joseph River 2460-8 ML Lake Rosseau
Joseph - Little Lake Joseph 2660-1 SE Lake Rosseau
Joseph - Main 2460-6 ML/SE Lake Rosseau
Joseph - North 2460-11 SE Lake Rosseau
Joseph - South 2460-10 ML Lake Rosseau
Leech 2529-1 BR South Muskoka River
Leonard 2540-3 ML Lake Muskoka
Little Long (Rutter) 4748-1 ML Skeleton River
Page 13 Lake Quaternary Lake Municipality Number Watershed
Long (Bala) 2773-1 ML Gibson River
Long’s (Utterson) 6926-1 HT Dee River
Loon 2807-2 GR Severn River
McKay 3123-2 BR South Muskoka River
Medora 3171-1 ML Lake Muskoka
Mirror 7094-2 ML Lake Muskoka
Moot 3325-2 LOB North Muskoka River
Muskoka - Bala Bay 2465-14 ML Lake Muskoka
Muskoka - Boyd Bay 2465-21 BR/ML Lake Muskoka
Muskoka - Dudley Bay 2465-11 ML Lake Muskoka
Muskoka - Main 2465-15 ML Lake Muskoka
Muskoka - Muskoka Bay 2465-10 GR Lake Muskoka
Muskoka - Whiteside Bay 2465-16 ML Lake Muskoka
Neilson 3441-1 ML Lake Muskoka
North Bay * 7064-18 GB Severn River
Nutt (Mud) 4109-1 ML Skeleton River
Penfold 4307-1 HT Mary Lake
Peninsula - East 4309-4 LOB Mary Lake
Peninsula - West 4309-5 HT Mary Lake
Porcupine 4428-1 LOB Upper Black River
Rebecca 4567-2 LOB Big East River
Ril 4627-2 LOB South Muskoka River
Rosseau - Wallace Bay 2476-20 ML Lake Rosseau
Page 14 Lake Quaternary Lake Municipality Number Watershed
Sixteen Mile (Long) 4980-1 LOB Lake of Bays
Skeleton 4982-2 ML Skeleton River
South Bay * 5058-17 GB Severn River
South Nelson 7236-1 LOB Oxtongue River
Sparrow 5094-3 GR Severn River
Spring 5119-1 BR South Muskoka River
Stewart 5166-1 GB/ML Lake Rosseau
Stoneleigh 6923-1 BR North Muskoka River
Tackaberry 7234-1 LOB South Muskoka River
Three Mile 5361-1 GR Kahshe River
Three Mile - Hammel's Bay 5362-5 ML Dee River
Three Mile - Main 5362-6 ML Dee River
Tooke 5411-1 LOB Lake of Bays
Tucker 7235-1 HT Mary Lake
Twelve Mile - East 7064-0 GB Moon River
Twelve Mile - West 7064-24 GB Moon River
Vernon - Hunter's Bay 6455-6 HT Mary Lake
Vernon - Main 6455-7 HT Mary Lake
Vernon - North Bay 6455-8 HT Mary Lake
Wah Wah Taysee 7064-39 GB Georgian Bay
Walker 5710-2 LOB Mary Lake
Young (Trout) 5993-1 ML Skeleton River
* Data provided by the Severn Sound Environmental Association BR (Bracebridge) GB (Georgian Bay) GR (Gravenhurst) HT (Huntsville) LOB (Lake of Bays) ML (Muskoka Lakes) SE (Seguin) Page 15 To: Chair and Members Community and Planning Services Committee
From: Summer Valentine Director of Planning
Christy Doyle Director of Environmental and Watershed Programs
Date: December 21, 2020
Subject: Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 50 – 2020 Lake System Health Update
Report: CPS-14-2020-3 ______
Recommendation
THAT draft Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 50 (2020 Lake System Health Update) be circulated to the Area Municipalities, agencies, impacted lake associations, and other stakeholders for input;
AND THAT a statutory public meeting be scheduled.
Origin
Official Plan Amendment 47 (OPA 47) was approved by the Province on June 28, 2019. OPA 47 updated the Lake System Health policies in the Muskoka Official Plan (MOP). The revised policies require an annual review and update of lakes that are potentially vulnerable from a recreational water quality perspective based on scientifically-based criteria.
Analysis
The District undertakes a comprehensive recreational water quality monitoring program annually. The data collected from this program is used to identify lakes that are considered vulnerable based on specific water quality indicators such as blue-green algae blooms as confirmed by the Health Unit and/or Province or increasing phosphorus levels. Lakes that are considered vulnerable are listed as a schedule in the MOP and are subject to an enhanced level of protection until a causation study can be completed. The MOP contains specific policies relating to how lakes are added or removed from the list based on annual monitoring results.
Page 1 The review of the data for 2019 as outlined in Report CPS-14-2020-2 is complete. The 2020 monitoring program was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, staff continued to receive notification of confirmed blue-green algae blooms from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) in both 2019 and 2020. While very few lakes were impacted in 2019, it is acknowledged that the 2020 summer and fall seasons were quite different. Ten lakes or bays experienced confirmed blue-green algae blooms in 2020. An amendment to the MOP is required to implement the changes to lake classification resulting from the 2019 and 2020 data.
Proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment (OPA) 50
The existing Schedule E2 to the MOP lists ten lakes that are considered to be vulnerable from a recreational water quality perspective, in accordance with three potential indicators (Appendix “II”). The purpose of the proposed OPA is to update the classification of lakes in Schedule E2 as follows:
Table 1: Waterbodies Proposed to be Added to Schedule E2
Lake Name Lake Location Reason for Change
Bass Lake Muskoka Lakes Confirmed blue-green algae bloom – 2019/2020
Black Lake Muskoka Lakes Confirmed blue-green algae bloom - 2020
Brandy Lake Muskoka Lakes Confirmed blue-green algae bloom - 2019/2020
Echo Lake* Lake of Bays Confirmed blue-green algae bloom - 2019
Kahshe Lake Gravenhurst Confirmed blue-green algae bloom - 2020
Little Lake Georgian Bay Confirmed blue-green algae bloom - 2020
Ril Lake Lake of Bays Confirmed blue-green algae bloom - 2020
Silver Lake Muskoka Lakes Confirmed blue-green algae bloom - 2020
Ten Mile Bay, Lake Lake of Bays Confirmed blue-green algae bloom - 2020 of Bays
Weismiller Bay, Muskoka Lakes Confirmed blue-green algae bloom - 2020 Lake Muskoka
Page 2 Table 2: Other Proposed Modifications to Schedule E2
Lake Name Lake Location Reason for Change
Peninsula Lake* Huntsville/Lake Remove from Schedule E2 - Causation study of Bays completed and development not identified as a primary cause of algae blooms
Three Mile Lake* Muskoka Lakes Remove from one indicator on Schedule E2 - No longer shows long-term trend of phosphorus over 20 ug/L. Retain as a lake with a confirmed blue-green algae bloom**
* Causation study completed, underway or planned.
** Note: The effect of the proposed OPA would be to de-list Three Mile Lake under the long-term elevated phosphorus indicator only. Three Mile Lake experienced confirmed blue-green algae blooms in 2019 and 2020 and will remain on Schedule E2 for that indicator.
In 2020, blue-green algae blooms were also confirmed for Bruce (ML), Leonard (ML), Stewart (GB/ML), and Three Mile (ML) Lakes as well as Boyd’s Bay of Lake Muskoka (BR/ML). Those five waterbodies are already listed on Schedule E2 of the MOP and no further revisions are required at this time. Causation studies are planned for Leonard, Stewart and Three Mile Lakes (as well as Bass (GR) and Echo (LB) Lakes) and any recommended policy changes from those projects would be considered in the future.
The proposed OPA would result in ten new waterbodies being identified as potentially vulnerable and listed in Schedule E2. Any proposed development on lakes added to Schedule E2 would be subject to the enhanced protection policies of the MOP and be eligible for a District-led causation study to determine the relative contributing causes to the lake’s vulnerability.
At this time, one lake is proposed to be removed from Schedule E2. In 2019, a pilot causation study was initiated for Peninsula Lake. In September of 2020, the Community and Planning Services Committee accepted the consultants’ final report. The report concluded that development was not the principle cause of the lake’s vulnerability to blue-green algae blooms. In accordance with Section C2.6.6.1 h) of the MOP, should a causation study determine that the cause of the water quality indicator is not related to development, the waterbody shall be removed from Schedule E2 and may be subject to the standard protection policies of the MOP. However, Section C2.6.6.1 i) of the MOP does suggest that the enhanced policies should continue to apply if the causation study determines that development has the potential to exacerbate the principle causes of the lake’s vulnerability.
In the case of Peninsula Lake, the causation study recognized that the impact of storms and associated run-off could be an aggravating factor to the primary climatic and
Page 3 weather-related causes and recommended continued implementation of policies, programs and practices to improve storm water management in developed areas. Therefore, while Peninsula Lake is proposed to be removed from Schedule E2, it is recommended that the enhanced protection policies continue to apply to any future development applications.
In consideration of the proposed changes, there would be a total of 18 waterbodies (or approximately 11% of the lakes sampled through the District Water Quality program) listed as potentially vulnerable from a recreational water quality perspective across Muskoka.
A draft of the proposed OPA is attached as Appendix “II”. The MOP sets out the process for adding and/or removing lakes from Schedule E2 based, in part, on transparency. To ensure transparency, a formal planning process is to be initiated before policy changes are made to allow for increased public awareness, review and feedback. Therefore, staff are recommending that the proposed OPA be circulated to stakeholders and a public meeting be scheduled in accordance with the Planning Act. However, it should be noted that staff immediately start applying the enhanced protection policies to development applications once a lake is identified as vulnerable, in order to implement best known science and ensure a precautionary approach. The proposed OPA formalizes this process.
Staff have also been contacted by representatives from a few lake associations of waterbodies that are impacted by OPA 50, but have not yet been slated for a causation study. Understandably, individuals and associations are concerned about the recent algae blooms in 2020 and wish to undertake any actions that may assist in protecting or improving water quality as expeditiously as possible. However, at this time, staff would not recommend that further causation studies be immediately initiated. There are five causation studies commencing in early 2021 and staff anticipate that the preliminary results will provide a watershed-wide perspective that may lead to other recommendations, including policy changes and/or refinements to the scope of future causation studies, or other courses of action such as active management. In the interim, the District will continue to support lake associations in stewardship and lake planning activities as resources permit.
Related Programming Changes
Since the approval of OPA 47, staff have modified the recreational water quality monitoring program to implement additional activities on the lakes listed in Schedule E2, including conducting annual benthic surveys, increasing water quality sampling frequency to an annual basis, and encouraging stewardship activities (i.e. undertaking the Love Your Lake and/or Natural Edge shoreline programs). Also, in partnership with the Muskoka Watershed Council (MWC), the District has supported the MWC’s Pilot Program on Algae Monitoring on three of the lakes listed in the original Schedule E2 (i.e. Leonard, Peninsula, and Three Mile Lakes).
Page 4 In March 2020, the Province closed its Dorset Lab due to COVID-19 restrictions and additionally the five-year Transfer Payment Agreement between the MECP, which provides support for the District’s Water Quality Lab Technician, concluded. District and Provincial staff continue to negotiate a new Transfer Payment and a forthcoming agreement is anticipated to be executed by the end of 2020. The District’s Water Quality Monitoring Program is anticipated to resume in 2021.
Financial Considerations
Funds for the proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment are available in the 2020 Tax Supported Capital Budget and Forecast (Project 810038 – Official Plan Updates) and are expected to be sufficient to undertake the amendment process.
Communications
All agendas, minutes, reports, and resolutions from each of the Council and Committee meetings are available for viewing in FilePro and accessible from the District of Muskoka website. The notice of the public meeting will be circulated in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act and to impacted lake associations where they exist.
Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area. ~ A iit s. 1.1,• 1.2, • s. 2.2, 2.6 s. 3.3 s. 4.4 1.3, 1.4
Respectfully submitted,
Original signed by:
Summer Valentine, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning Christy Doyle, MCIP, RPP, Director of Environmental and Watershed Programs; and Samantha Hastings, MCIP, RPP, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services
Page 5 Schedule E2 WATERBODIES WHERE A WATER QUALITY INDICATOR HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICIES OF SECTION C2.6 OF THE MUSKOKA OFFICIAL PLAN
WATERBODIES WHERE LONG-TERM PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATIONS EXCEED 20 MICROGRAMS/LITRE
Barron’s Lake (GB) Bass Lake (GR)
Three Mile Lake (ML) WATERBODIES WITH A LONG-TERM STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT INCREASING TREND IN PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATION
None WATERBODIES WITH A CONFIRMED AND DOCUMENTED OCCURRENCE OF A BLUE-GREEN (CYANOBACTERIAL) ALGAL BLOOM
Bruce Lake (ML) Clark Pond (ML) Lake Muskoka – Boyd Bay (BR/ML) Leonard Lake (ML) Peninsula Lake (HT/LOB) Stewart Lake (GB/ML) Three Mile Lake (ML) Schedule “1” to Amendment 50 to the Muskoka Official Plan November 19, 2020 Schedule E2 WATERBODIES WHERE A WATER QUALITY INDICATOR HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICIES OF SECTION C2.6 OF THE MUSKOKA OFFICIAL PLAN
INDICATORS WATERBODY P Concentrations Increasing Blue Green >20 ug/L* P Trend** Algal Bloom*** BARRON’S LAKE (GB) x BASS LAKE (GR) x BASS LAKE (ML) x BLACK LAKE (ML) x BRANDY LAKE (ML) x BRUCE LAKE (ML) x CLARK POND (ML) x ECHO LAKE (LB) x KAHSHE LAKE (GR) x LAKE MUSKOKA – BOYD BAY x (BR/ML) LAKE MUSKOKA – x WEISMILLER BAY (ML) LAKE OF BAYS – TEN MILE x BAY (LB) LEONARD LAKE (ML) x LITTLE LAKE (GB) x RIL LAKE (LB) x SILVER LAKE (ML) x STEWART LAKE (GB/ML) x THREE MILE LAKE (ML) x
NOTES:
* WATERBODIES WHERE LONG-TERM PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATIONS EXCEED 20 MICROGRAMS/LITRE
** WATERBODIES WITH A LONG-TERM STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT INCREASING TREND IN PHOSPHORUS CONCENTRATION
*** WATERBODIES WITH A CONFIRMED AND DOCUMENTED OCCURRENCE OF A BLUE-GREEN (CYANOBACTERIAL) ALGAL BLOOM Appendix “I” November 19, 2020
AMENDMENT 50 TO THE MUSKOKA OFFICIAL PLAN (2020 Lake System Health Update)
SECTION 1. TITLE AND COMPONENTS OF THE AMENDMENT
Section 5 herein shall constitute Amendment 50 to the Official Plan of the Muskoka District Area.
Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 herein do not constitute part of the Amendment but provide more detailed information respecting the Amendment.
SECTION 2. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENT
2.1 PURPOSE
The purpose of proposed Amendment is to add ten (10) lakes to Schedule E2 of the Muskoka Official Plan (MOP) based on defined criteria in Section C2.6.3.2 and in accordance with the process outlined in Section C2.6.6.1 of the Plan. These lakes experienced confirmed and documented blue-green algal blooms in 2019 and/or 2020.
While a lake (Three Mile) is to be de-listed from Schedule E2 based for one criterion (i.e. long- term phosphorus levels), it remains on the Schedule under a second criterion (i.e. blue-green algal blooms). Peninsula Lake is also to be removed from Schedule E2 based on the results of a causation study, but the enhanced protection policies would continue to apply to development applications on that lake. Therefore, functionally, there is no change to policy applicability or implementation around these two lakes.
The effect of the proposed Amendment is to identify ten (10) additional lakes as vulnerable based on water quality indicators and to ensure that appropriate and proactive protections are applied through policy. In addition, as lakes can be listed in Schedule E2 for more than one indicator, a tabular format is being proposed as a simplified approach.
2.2 BACKGROUND
The District undertakes a comprehensive recreational water quality monitoring program annually. The data collected from this program is used to identify lakes that are considered vulnerable based on specific water quality indicators such as blue-green algae blooms as confirmed by the Health Unit and/or Province or increasing phosphorus levels. Lakes that are considered vulnerable are listed as a schedule to the MOP and are subject to an enhanced level of protection until a causation study can be completed. The MOP contains specific policies relating to how lakes are added or removed from the schedule based on annual monitoring results. The review of the data for 2019 and 2020 is now complete and an amendment to the MOP is required to implement the changes to lake classification.
Additional background information can be found in Staff Report CPS-14-2020-3.
SECTION 3. LAND SUBJECT TO THE AMENDMENT
The policies in this Amendment apply to shoreline and/or backlot and around Bass (ML), Black Lake (ML), Brandy (ML), Echo (LB), Kahshe Lake (GR) Lake Muskoka – Weismiller Bay (ML), Lake of Bays – Ten Mile Lake (LB), Little Lake (GB), Peninsula Lake (HT/LB), Ril Lake (LB), Silver Lake (ML) and Three Mile (ML) lakes, where development is proposed on private individual on-site sewage services. Appendix “I” November 19, 2020
SECTION 4. IMPLEMENTATION AND INTERPRETATION
The changes to the MOP as described in this Amendment shall be implemented in accordance with the applicable policies in Section A (Plan Basics: Applicability, Purpose and Organization of the Official Plan) and Section M (Implementation and Administration) of the Plan.
SECTION 5. THE AMENDMENT
5.1 Amend Section C2.6.6.1 e) to insert the following immediately after the first sentence:
“Despite being removed from Schedule E2 after the completion of a causation study, the enhanced protection policies of this Plan will continue to apply to Peninsula Lake (HT/LB) in accordance with Section C2.6.6.1 i).”
5.2 Delete Schedule E2 and replace it with the revised Schedule E2 attached as Schedule “I” hereto to:
• Insert “Bass Lake (ML), Black Lake (ML), Brandy Lake (ML), Echo Lake (LB), Kahshe Lake (GR), Lake Muskoka – Weismiller Bay (ML), Lake of Bays – Ten Mile Lake (LB), Little Lake (GB), Ril Lake (LB), and Silver Lake (ML)” as “Waterbodies with a Confirmed and Documented Occurrence of a Blue-Green (Cyanobaterial) Algal Bloom”;
• Delete “Three Mile Lake (ML)” from the category of “Waterbodies where Long-Term Phosphorus Concentrations Exceed 20 Micrograms/Litre”;
• Delete “Peninsula Lake (ML)” from Schedule E2 in its entirety; and
• Display waterbodies and water quality indicators in a tabular format. To: Chair and Members Community and Planning Service Committee
From: Summer Valentine Director of Planning, District of Muskoka
Date: December 21, 2020
Subject: Proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 51 (McColl) and Township of Lake of Bays Official Plan Amendment OPA 01/20 LOB and Zoning By-law Amendment Z 18/20 LOB
Report: CPS-14-2020-4 ______
Recommendation
THAT the draft Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 51 (McColl) be circulated to the neighbouring property owners, agencies, and other stakeholders for comments concurrently with Township of Lake of Bays Official Plan Amendment OPA 01/20 LOB and Zoning By-law Amendment Z 01/20;
AND THAT a concurrent statutory public meeting be scheduled with the Township of Lake of Bays.
Origin
The property owner of 1069 Heney Lake Road, Baysville, Township of Lake of Bays (“the subject lands”) requested relief from the taxation and mandatory connection requirements associated with being within an urban service area where municipal water and wastewater services are reasonably available.
Background
The subject lands are developed with a single detached dwelling and accessory structures and front onto Heney Lake Road. The property is currently serviced with private individual onsite water and septic systems. The lands are located within the settlement and urban service area boundaries of Baysville in both the District and Township of Lake of Bays Official Plans.
In accordance with the District and Township Official Plans, all developable properties within urban service areas are to be serviced with both municipal water and sewer over the long term. Exceptions are only provided for cases where municipal services are not reasonably available, subject to additional criteria. The exceptions do not apply to the
Page 1 subject lands. Therefore, and as a consequence of the recent alignment of the land use planning and taxation systems at the District level, the property was identified as being subject to taxation rates applicable when municipal services are reasonably available and was also issued a mandatory connection letter. Whereas mandatory connection can be delayed based on the cost to connect to municipal services or age of existing on-site well and septic systems, there are no provisions to exempt property owners for the payment of taxes in the absence of a land use planning rationale.
In this case, municipal water and sewer services end approximately 100 metres from the subject lands and the property owner requested relief from the requirement to connect to municipal services and payment of the associated tax. In response to the request, a detailed property review was undertaken by District and Township staff in 2019. The outcome of the review indicated that site specific circumstances including the property’s location at the edge of a settlement area boundary, the extent of existing municipal services, and the growth projections for Baysville warranted the refund of urban service area taxes and the initiation of amendments to the applicable land use planning documents.
Analysis
The collective purpose of the proposed amendments would be to remove the subject lands from settlement and urban service area boundaries of Baysville, as well as to rezone the subject lands from a Community Residential (R) Zone to a Rural Residential with an exception to recognize the existing lot area. The effect of the proposed amendments would be to permit the lands to continue to be serviced by a private individual septic system and well. Any future development of the subject lands would be in accordance with the policies applicable to the Rural designation in both the District and Township Official Plans, as well as the requirements of the proposed Rural Residential zoning. In order to advance the planning process and receive feedback from the public on the proposed site-specific changes, staff are recommending that the draft amendments be circulated to stakeholders and a concurrent public meeting be scheduled in accordance with the Planning Act.
District and township staff have worked collaboratively on these amendments and staff reports and the proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 51 (McColl) and Township of Lake of Bays Official Plan Amendment OPA 01/20 LOB, and Zoning By-law Amendment Z 18/20 LOB are attached as Appendices “I”, “II” and “III” respectively.
Financial Considerations
Funds for the proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment are available in the 2020 Tax Supported Capital Budget and Forecast (Project 810038 – Official Plan Updates) and are expected to be sufficient to undertake the amendment process. Applicable tax refunds to the owner have been completed.
Page 2 Communications
This report is available through the District of Muskoka website as part of the Community and Planning Services agenda package. The notice of the concurrent public meeting will be circulated in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act.
Strategic Priorities
Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area. ~ A iit s 1.3,• 1.4, • s 2.3, 2.5 1.5
Respectfully submitted,
Original signed by:
Summer Valentine, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning; and Samantha Hastings, MCIP, RPP, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services
With concurrence from:
Melissa Marham, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning, Township of Lake of Bays
Page 3 S chedule A to Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 51 and Township of Lake of Bays Official Plan Amendment 01/20 LOB
LEGEND = PROVINCIAL HIGHWAY ~ DISTRICT ROAD TOWNSHIP ROAD PRIVATE ROAD -+-+-+-+ RAILWAY PROPOSED ROAD i TRAIL TRANSMISSION LINE LOT AND CONCESSION LINE j MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY
c:::J URBAN BOUNDARIES Appendix “I” December 21, 2020
AMENDMENT NO. 51 TO THE MUSKOKA OFFICIAL PLAN (McColl)
SECTION 1. TITLE AND COMPONENTS OF THE AMENDMENT
Section 5 herein shall constitute Amendment No. 51 to the Official Plan of the Muskoka District Area.
Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 herein do not constitute part of the Amendment but provide more detailed information respecting the Amendment.
SECTION 2. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENT
2.1 PURPOSE
The purpose and effect of proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 51 is to:
• Amend the boundaries of the Urban Centre of Baysville as shown on the applicable Muskoka Official Plan schedules to remove the subject lands from the Urban Centre Designation to reflect site specific circumstances including the property’s location at the edge of a settlement area boundary, the extent of existing municipal services, and the growth projections for Baysville;
• Remove the subject lands from the “Full Service Area” of Schedule B: Urban Service Areas; and,
• Re-designate the subject lands as being in the Rural Designation.
The effect of proposed Muskoka Official Plan Amendment 51 would be to permit the property to continue to be serviced by private individual on-site water and individual on-site septic services and to provide relief from the requirement to connect to municipal services and pay the associated tax. In recognition of the concurrent applications, any future development of the property would be in accordance with the policies applicable to the Rural Designation in both the District and Township Official Plans, as well as the requirements of the proposed Rural Residential with zone.
Additional background information can be found in Staff Report CPS-14-2020-4.
SECTION 3. LAND SUBJECT TO THE AMENDMENT
The lands subject to this amendment include Part of Lot 16, Concession 7, former Township of McLean, now in the Township of Lake of Bays, municipally known as 1069 Heney Lake Road, as shown hatched on Schedule A attached hereto.
SECTION 4. IMPLEMENTATION AND INTERPRETATION
The changes to the Muskoka Official Plan as described in this Amendment shall be implemented in accordance with the applicable policies in Section A (Plan Basics: Applicability, Purpose and Organization of the Official Plan) and Section M (Implementation and Administration) of the Plan. Appendix “I” December 21, 2020 SECTION 5. THE AMENDMENT
5.1 Amend Schedules A, B, C1, C2, D, E1, E3, F, and G and Appendices C and D as follows:
5.1.1 Remove the subject lands from the Urban Centre boundary of Baysville and include them within the Rural Designation as defined within Section J3.2 of the Muskoka Official Plan.
5.2 Amend Schedule B as follows:
5.2.1 Remove the subject lands from the “Full Service Area”. Appendix “II” December 21, 2020
SCHEDULE “A” to By-law 2021-XX
Amendment Number X
TO THE OFFICIAL PLAN OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAKE OF BAYS
SECTION 1: TITLE AND COMPONENTS
1.1 Section 6 herein constitutes Amendment Number X to the Official Plan of the Township of Lake of Bays.
1.2 Sections 1 to 5 herein do not constitute part of the formal amendment, but provide more detailed information respecting the amendment.
SECTION 2: LAND SUBJECT TO THE AMENDMENT
2.1 The lands subject to Section 6 of this amendment include Part of Lot 16, Concession 7, McLean Ward. The Civic address is 1069 Heney Lake Road. Roll No. 4427-040-009-00303, as shown on Schedule A.
SECTION 3: PURPOSE
3.1 The purpose of this amendment is to amend the Official Plan of the Township of Lake Bays to remove the subject lands from within the boundary of the Community of Baysville and the Water and Sewer Service Area in order to reflect site specific circumstances including the property’s location at the edge of a settlement area boundary, the extent of existing municipal services, and the growth projections for Baysville.
SECTION 4: BACKGROUND AND BASIS
4.1 The property subject to this amendment is currently developed with a single detached dwelling and accessory structures and fronts onto Heney Lake Road. The property is currently serviced with private water and septic systems.
4.2 The subject lands are currently designated “Community” (Baysville) and “Future Service Area” within the Township of Lake of Bays Official Plan.
4.3 The subject lands are currently designated “Urban Centre” (Baysville) and “Full Service Area” within the District of Muskoka Official Plan.
4.4 Properties within the “Urban Centre” designation of the Muskoka Official Plan and within the “Community” designation of the Township of Lake of Bays Official Plan are required to connect to municipal water and sewer services, where such services are available.
4.5 In this case, municipal water and sewer services end approximately 100 metres from the subject lands and the property owner requested relief from the requirement to connect to municipal services and payment of the associated tax.
4.6 After a review of the site-specific circumstances, it was determined that municipally-initiated amendments to the District of Muskoka Official Plan, the Township of Lake of Bays Official Plan, and the Township of Lake of Bays Comprehensive Zoning By-law would be initiated to remove the subject lands from the settlement area boundaries of Baysville and the associated Urban/Water and Sewer Service Areas.
4.7 No changes to any features shown on the subject lands are proposed.
Schedule “A” of By-law 2021-XX File: OPA No. X (McColl) Roll No. 040-009-00303 Part Lot 16, Con. 7, McLean Ward Appendix “II” December 21, 2020
SECTION 5: IMPLEMENTATION AND INTERPRETATION
5.1 The policy of this amendment will be implemented in accordance with the policies contained in the Official Plan of the Township of Lake of Bays, in addition to any specific provisions contained in Section 6 of this Amendment.
5.2 The boundaries as shown on Schedule A, attached to this Amendment, are approximate only and not intended to define the exact limits of development, except where they coincide with roadways and other clearly marked physical features. Where the general intent of the Plan is maintained, minor adjustments to the boundaries for the purpose of implementing this Plan through the site specific amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning By-law may be permitted without the requirement of an amendment to this Plan.
SECTION 6: THE AMENDMENT
6.1 Schedules A1, A2, A2-1, B1, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, and E1 are hereby amended by removing the subject lands from within the boundaries of the Community of Baysville and thereby changing the designation of the subject lands from “Community” to “Rural”.
6.2 Schedule A2-1 is hereby amended by removing the subject lands from the “Future Service Area” of the Water and Sewer Service Area.
Schedule “A” of By-law 2021-XX File: OPA No. X (McColl) Roll No. 040-009-00303 Part Lot 16, Con. 7, McLean Ward
Corporation of the Township of Lake of Bays By-law 2021-XX Appendix “III” December 21, 2020 Page 1 of 4
THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAKE OF BAYS BY-LAW 2021-XX
BEING A BY-LAW TO AMEND BY-LAW 04-181 KNOWN AS THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING BY-LAW (McColl)
WHEREAS it is deemed expedient to amend By-law 04-181.
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Lake of Bays enacts as follows:
1. Schedule "A" to By-law 04-181 is hereby amended by rezoning Part of Lot 16, Concession 7, McLean Ward, now in the Township of Lake of Bays, from a Community Residential “(R)” Zone and an Environmental Protection “(EP)” Zone to a Rural Residential with an Exception "(RR-EXX)" Zone and Environmental Protection “(EP)” Zone, as shown on Schedule "B" attached.
2. Section 6 of By-law 04-181 be amended by the addition of the following:
"RR-EXX
On lands zoned "RR-EXX", as shown on Schedule "B" attached to By-law 2020-18, no person shall use any lot or erect, alter or use any building or structure except in accordance with the Rural Residential “(RR)" zone provisions permitted uses and amended by the following:
a) Zone Provisions
i) Lot Area: 1.4ha
3. The existing Environmental Protection “(EP)” Zone identified on Schedule “B” will remain unchanged.
4. Schedules "A" and "B" hereby form part of this By-law.
4. All other provisions of By-law 04-181, as amended, shall apply.
READ a FIRST, SECOND and THIRD time this XXth day of MONTH, 2020.
Mayor – Terry Glover Deputy Clerk –Emily Thaler
SCHEDULE “A” By-law Amendment No. 2021-XX File Z 18/20 LOB (McColl) Property Roll No. 040-009-00303
LEGEND = PROVINCIAL HIGHWAY ~ DISTRICT ROAD TOWNSHIP ROAD PRIVATE ROAD -+--+--+--+ RAILWAY PROPOSED ROAD ! TRAIL on 1>1 ,:,r 11, ,.,.,.. ,,,.,.,.,.,._ TRANSMISSION LINE o'°"'"""',1u>•knfOflQl .. •,.. 11t•«""•·COpfrgu90,.,.,,.,.,:11111 . ..,..,., .... , .. C:E:UOll SCHEDULE "B" By-law Amendment No. 2021-XX File Z 18/20 LOB (McColl) Property Roll No. 040-009-00303 I SVILLE Subject Lands \ 1069 Heney Lake Ro Lands to be rezoned from Community Residential ("R") zone to Rural Residential with an Exception ("RR-EXX") zone. The District Municipality of Muskoka Special Community and Planning Services Committee – Electronic Meeting Meeting CPS-15-2020 Minutes This meeting was held electronically in accordance with section 238 of the Municipal Act, as amended. Members of the public were encouraged to view the Committee proceedings through the District’s webcasting platform. Place: Electronic Meeting Time: 11:00 a.m. Date: December 21, 2020 Present: Committee Chair N. Alcock; District Chair J. Klinck Members: A. Edwards, P. Cooper, P. Kelly, M. Peppard, D. Smith Officials Present: J. Stevens, Chief Administrative Officer; S. Hastings, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services; A. Back, District Clerk Also Present: C. Doyle, Director, Environmental and Watershed Programs; J. Mattice, Director, Programs; S. Valentine, Director of Planning; M. Malcolm, Manager of Programs; C. Parlett, Manager of Programs; J. Evans, Transportation Coordinator; T. Frenssen, Ontario Works, Case Aide; J. Duncan, Administrative Assistant; C. Hammond, Deputy Clerk Call to Order Committee Chair Alcock called the meeting to order at 11:20 a.m. Declaration of Pecuniary Interests None were declared. Ceremonial and Invited Presentation a) Community Services Recognition Program – Award Recipients Report CPS-15-2020-1 Presentation CPS-15-2020-1 John Klinck, District Chair Nancy Alcock, Chair, Community and Planning Services Committee Committee Chair Alcock welcomed the invited guests to the electronic meeting and members of the public watching on the webcast. Ms. Evans and Ms. Frenssen provided an overview of the recognition program and introduced each recipient and highlighted their specific achievements. Category Recipients Participants in Community Services • Matt Hamel programs who have shown • Alex Wange extraordinary growth and • Tammy Holmes achievement • Shawn Forget • Jennifer Donald Individuals who have served the • Rose and Paul Evans vulnerable through their • Pat Sims Eastwood contributions and volunteerism • Nellie Sheshewabic • Darlene Young • Sarah Tunney • Jody North (Mind Aid) The 2020 award program category for “organizations that have provided exceptional partnership and leadership in collaboration with Community Services and other community groups to strengthen the fabric of the Muskoka Community”, recognized the efforts of an increased number of community organizations that assisted residents during the COVID-19 pandemic through a photo slideshow and the community hashtag #muskokacares on social media. District Chair Klinck and Committee Chair Alcock recognized the achievements of all the award recipients during the pandemic and extended congratulations on behalf of Committee and Council. Adjournment Moved by D. Smith and seconded by P. Kelly P78/2020-CPS THAT the Community and Planning Services Committee adjourns to meet again on January 21, 2021 or at the call of the Chair. Carried. The meeting adjourned at 11:53 a.m. ______Deputy Clerk To: Chair and Members Community and Planning Services Committee From: Samantha Hastings Commissioner of Community and Planning Services Date: December 21, 2020 Subject: Community Services Recognition Program – Award Recipients Report: CPS-15-2020-1 ______ Recommendation This report is provided for information. Origin The Community Services Recognition Award Program was introduced in 2014 through Report CS-8-2014-4. The program was made an annual event in 2014, making 2020 the seventh year for this award celebration. Analysis The goal of the Community Services Recognition Program is to recognize outstanding contributions made by individuals or groups related to the broader objectives of instilling hope, changing lives and building communities through the provision of wide range of social services in Muskoka. It is also intended to strengthen our many partnerships within Muskoka and to recognize the extraordinary achievements or contributions of individuals. Recipients of the 2020 Community Services Recognition Awards Recipients will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to our community and will be presented with a framed certificate and a $100 gift card from an establishment of their choice to commemorate the occasion. For 2020, awards will be presented in the following two categories: 1. Participants in Community Services programs who have shown extraordinary growth and achievement; and Page 1 2. Individuals who have served the vulnerable through their contributions and volunteerism. The 2020 award recipients are as follows: Category Recipients Participants in Community Services • Matt Hamel programs who have shown • Alex Wange extraordinary growth and achievement • Tammy Holmes • Shawn Forget • Jennifer Donald Individuals who have served the • Rose and Paul Evans vulnerable through their contributions • Pat Sims Eastwood and volunteerism • Nellie Sheshewabic • Darlene Young • Sara Tunney • Jody North (Mind Aid) In previous years, the program has also sought nominations for organizations that have provided exceptional partnership and leadership in collaboration with Community Services and other community groups to strengthen the fabric of the Muskoka Community. For the 2020 award program and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than providing one or two organizations with an award this year we are recognizing the amazing work being done by a wide variety of organizations that have been working tirelessly to support our community during this difficult time. This recognition will be in the form of a photo slideshow themed to the established community hashtag: #muskokacares. Financial Considerations Program expenses for the 2020 Community Services Recognition Program are funded through the Community Initiatives budget. Communications Information regarding the 2020 Community Services Recognition Program was communicated through the District’s website via the Community Services Recognition Program webpage. A list of 2020 award recipients has been uploaded to the District website and friends and family members of award recipients have been invited to watch the award celebration as it is broadcasted live, along with an invitation to local media outlets. Following the award celebration, the District will issue a media release celebrating the program and award recipients. Page 2 Strategic Priorities Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area. ~ iit A • s. 2.1, 2.6 • s. 5.1, 5.6 Respectfully submitted, Original signed by: Samantha Hastings, MCIP, RPP, Commissioner of Community and Planning Services; and Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer Page 3 Correspondence: 1. The Township of Lake of Bays and the Town of Lincoln circulated a resolution regarding a request for an AODA website compliance extension. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-439 and 21-002) 2. The Township of Lake of Bays circulated a resolution regarding Bill 229 and Conservation Authorities. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20- 440) 3. The Town of Kingsville circulated a resolution requesting support for small business during the pandemic by allowing them to stay open with limited capacities. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-444) 4. The Town of Amherstburg circulated correspondence to Minister Yurek regarding Development Approval Requirements for Landfills – (Bill 197). (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 20-445) 5. Mr. D. Abernethy circulated a request and related documents that District Council prepare correspondence to the Ontario Premier to stop residential evictions during the lockdown. (District Chair, CAO and Community and Planning Services department) (Reference 20-446, 21-004, 21-006, 21-011, 21-023 and 21-026) 6. The Town of Lincoln circulated resolutions regarding AGCO licensing and application process and support of service clubs affected by the pandemic. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 21-002) 7. Mr. D. Abernethy circulated correspondence regarding availability of transit in the Town of Gravenhurst, a request for delivery services for seniors during the pandemic and a review of criteria to qualify for accessible transit programs. (District Chair, CAO and Community and Planning Services department) (Reference 21-005, 21-012, 21-013, 21-022) 8. The Town of Lincoln circulated a resolution of support for Hamilton’s letter to the Minister of Energy regarding a Request for an Interim Cap on Gas Plant and Greenhouse Gas Pollution and the Development and Implementation of a Plan to Phase-Out Gas-Fired Electricity Generation. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 21-015) 9. The Solicitor General circulated correspondence confirming an extension of the Community Safety and Well-being plan adoption to July 1, 2021. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 21-016) 10. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing circulated correspondence regarding Enforcement of Orders under the Reopening Ontario Act 2020. (Referred to District Chair and DSLT) (Reference 21-017) 11. The Township of Georgian Bay circulated a resolution requesting the District to procure Weather Forecasting Service for the Area Municipalities. (Referred to the District Chair, CAO and Engineering and Public Works department) (Reference 21-029) 12. The Townships of Georgian Bay and Muskoka Lakes circulated resolutions regarding the District of Muskoka Council Composition Review. (Referred to District Chair, CAO and Clerk) (Reference 21-030 and 21-031) 13. The Municipality of West Grey circulated a resolution requesting that the province repeal Schedule 8 of the Provincial Budget Bill 229, Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (amending the Crown Forest Sustainability Act). (Referred to District Chair, CAO and Planning Department) (Reference 21-032) 14. Mr. D. Abernethy circulated correspondence regarding the provincial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Referred to District Chair and CAO) (Reference 21-033) To: Chair and Members Muskoka District Council From: Tina Kilbourne Team Lead, CIU Date: January 18, 2021 Subject: Indigenous Awareness Staff Training Update and Outcomes Report: 1(2021)-1 ______ Recommendation This report is provided for information. Origin In 2019 The District Municipality of Muskoka (District) took meaningful steps to strengthen relations with the Indigenous Councils and Nations who have a current or historic interest in Muskoka. Steps included forming the Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT), creating a working group to draft the District’s Land Acknowledgement Statement, creating a working group to settle on a set approach around a municipal ‘duty to consult’, and launching Indigenous Awareness Training for District staff and beyond. Report 15(2019)-6 outlined the outcomes of the inaugural Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT) meeting held at Moose Deer Point First Nation on June 18, 2019, including overwhelming support for Indigenous Awareness Training for both District staff and District Councillors. Report 23(2019)-3 updated District Council on the various Indigenous-Municipal relationship strengthening initiatives, including the Indigenous Awareness Training that was held for Muskoka-area Councillors on November 29, 2019 at Wahta Mohawk First Nation, as well as the plans for staff Indigenous Awareness Training that was to be rolled out in 2020. Background To ensure all staff had access to Indigenous Awareness training, that all District operations could continue during the rollout, and that all staff would have access to a training option that best met their personal learning style, two training options were provided: Page 1 • Half-day, in-person, classroom-style workshops facilitated by Kelly Brownbill, an experienced Indigenous Cultural Awareness educator. • Online, multi-media course created by Indigenous Awareness Canada that could be completed at the individual’s pace in approximately four to six hours. More information about each training option is included in Appendix A. Staff had the option of joining one of 10 in-person workshops. Five workshops were held in February and March, and five further workshops were rescheduled and offered in September and November via Zoom as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The online training option was available throughout 2020 and was accompanied by an internal communications campaign to encourage staff to sign-up for and complete the training. Area municipalities were offered the opportunity to participate in either of the District’s Indigenous Awareness Training options. Staff participated from the Towns of Huntsville and Gravenhurst and the Townships of Lake of Bays and Georgian Bay. The Township of Muskoka Lakes is working directly with Kelly Brownbill to roll out Indigenous Awareness training to their staff. Additionally, the Muskoka Steamship and Discovery Centre and MP Scott Aitchison’s Office sent participants to the in-person training with Kelly Brownbill. In total, 530 individuals completed Indigenous Awareness training. • Online training: 160 staff • In-person training (live and via Zoom): 291 staff • District Councillor and Clerks: 32 • Non-District staff: 47 (4 online and 43 in-person) Analysis All staff were encouraged to evaluate their training experience by participating in a short survey. Paper-based questionnaires were made available after each in-person workshop, and links to Survey Monkey questionnaires were sent to participants for those who preferred to respond online. In total, 43% of participating staff completed an evaluation as follows: • 67% of the participants (e.g.195 respondents) who attended Kelly Brownbill’s in- person training; and • 20% of the participants (e.g. 32 respondents) who took the online training. The following charts illustrate how respondents rated the District’s different Indigenous Awareness Training formats. Page 2 Chart 1 Overall Experience 16% Outstanding 58% 58% Good 35% 23% Average 6% 3% Poor 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% ■ Online ■ In-person On average, 84% of participants rated their Indigenous Awareness Training experience as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. Overall, the in-person training was rated higher with 93% of respondents scoring the overall experience as either ‘good or outstanding’, while 74% of online respondents reported that the overall experience was either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. Chart 2 Overall Learning 16% Inspired to learn more 59% 42% Learned a lot 30% 42% Learned a little 9% 0% Didn't learn anything new I 2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% ■ Online ■ In-person In terms of overall learning, in-person respondents appeared to be ‘more satisfied’ with their experience. Almost 90% of in-person training respondents were either ‘inspired and wanted to learn more’ or ‘felt they had learned a lot’. The online training resulted in 58% of respondents being ‘inspired to learn more or reporting they had learned a lot’. Page 3 Chart 3 Good Use of Staff Time 23% Completely Agree 67% 58% Agree 29% 19% Disagree 3% 0% Completely Disagree I 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% ■ Online ■ In-person An average of 89% of respondents either ‘agreed’ or ‘completely agreed’ that Indigenous Awareness training was a good use of their time. Chart 4 Further Training on Indigenous Awareness or Cultural Diversity 48% Sign me up! 70% 32% Maybe 25% 19% Definitely Not 6% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% ■ Online ■ In-person Respondents were asked if they would like to participate in further Indigenous Awareness and/or cultural diversity training. Almost 60% responded enthusiastically. However, it appears as though the in-person format produced more enthusiasm as 70% of in-person respondents were keen to learn more as compared to 48% of those who took the online option. Page 4 When asked how relevant Indigenous Awareness training was: • 74% of respondents felt Indigenous Awareness Training was ‘relevant to all Canadians and were happy the District allowed them to participate’; and • A further 11% of respondents felt the training was ‘relevant to their role at the District and would help staff provide better service to clients and customers’. Based on the data and charts above, it appears as though in-person training was the more effective format as the results were consistently higher and more participants elected to complete the survey. Additionally, over 90% of respondents categorized Kelly Brownbill as either ‘an excellent and knowledgeable educator who allowed participants to learn in a safe environment’ or that she was ‘easy to connect with and created an enjoyable workshop’. Further evidence that the in-person training format produced more favourable outcomes came from the hundreds of open-ended responses. A sample of survey comments included in Appendix B. Additionally, many respondents from both training formats expressed appreciation to the District for providing Indigenous Awareness Training, as well as ideas about the future role of the District in providing cultural diversity training. A sample of comments are included in Appendix B. Next Steps Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not all staff and business areas were able to participate in Indigenous Awareness Training as originally planned (e.g. The Pines Long-term Care). As a result, two further in-person workshops will be provided in September 2021 for staff who were unable to attend or who are new to the District. This will allow approximately 100 additional staff to benefit from the in-person experience. Page 5 Financial Considerations The cost of Indigenous Awareness Training, including in-person, online and Councillor training, was approximately $49 per participant. The cost of the overall Indigenous Awareness Training initiative to the District is outlined in Chart 5. These expenditures were captured through the 2019 and 2020 tax supported operating budget. Table 1 Description Cost (not including HST) 10 in-person workshops $12,000 1-year license for online training $12,000 Councillor training (e.g. KAIROS Blanket Exercise) $1,000 Refreshments $1,000 Chargebacks for non-District staff ($2,115) TOTAL $23,885 The cost of the two in-person Indigenous Awareness Training workshops in 2021 will be $3,000 plus HST and are included in the 2021 draft tax supported operating budget under Human Resources. Communications District staff will be notified well in advance of the September 2021 Indigenous Awareness training opportunities to ensure all staff have an opportunity to participate. Information and updates about other initiatives of the MAILT will be provided to Council, as appropriate, including a Land Acknowledgement Guidelines and Framework that will be completed and presented in early 2021. Page 6 Strategic Priorities Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area. ~ iit A • s 2.9 s 3.•1, 3.3 S 5.1, 5.6 Respectfully submitted, Tina Kilbourne, B.Soc.Sc, MA, Team Lead, CIU; and Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer Page 7 Appendix A In-Person Training Trainer: Kelly Brownbill About the Workshop: This half-day in-person workshop lays a foundation upon which to build a working knowledge of Canadian-Indigenous relations and the issues facing Indigenous people today. High level of topics covered: • Predominant cultures in North America and Europe at first contact; • Land usage, governance, family structures and spirituality; • History of colonization and a chronological history of significant events starting from the Royal Proclamation of 1763; • Resulting conditions and realities in Indigenous communities; and • Moving forward, calls to action and tools for engaging Indigenous people and communities. This engaging workshop involves a slide presentation, short video clips, storytelling, and the opportunity for participants to ask questions and interact with the trainer and each other. About the Trainer: Kelly Brownbill’s spirit name, Wabunnoongakikwe, means Woman Who Comes from the East and she is proud to be Waabizhashi Dodem, Marten Clan. She is a member of the Flat Bay community of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Newfoundland. Kelly currently resides in Simcoe County and is a member of the Three Fires Midewin Lodge. Kelly has over 20 years of experience working with organizations across Ontario and helping their staff become more culturally competent in offering services to Indigenous Peoples. Her work includes conducting cultural awareness programs across a wide range of sectors, including health services, municipalities and social services. Kelly continues to follow the guidance of her elders, both here and in the spirit realm. Online Training Trainer: Indigenous Awareness Canada About the Course: This comprehensive and information-rich online course offers important foundational knowledge, background, and context about Indigenous issues, and aims to create greater understanding and enhance communications between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It serves as a tool for gaining awareness and understanding of a group of people who, through historical events, location, law, legislation and policies have remained separated, isolated, segregated and marginalized from mainstream society. The building of trusting and respectful relationships will occur through awareness, comfort, confidence and improved communications. Page 8 This online course: • Can be accessed through any electronic device with internet connectivity (e.g. tablet, phone, computer); • Allows individual learners to log-on as many times as needed; and • Includes on-screen reading, as well as other multi-media elements such as videos, photographs, charts and quizzes. While everyone will work at a different pace, the course is estimated to take a minimum of four hours to complete. About Indigenous Awareness Canada (IAC): This online program was developed and created by Canadian Indigenous scholars. Indigenous Awareness Canada has delivered online programs to more than 50 thousand learners from organizations in both public and private sectors, including municipalities, school boards, police services, federal agencies, and First Nations. Robert Laboucane, Director of IAC, has been delivering Indigenous Awareness training across Canada for over 30 years. For more information please go to Indigenous Awareness Canada. Page 9 Appendix B Sample Comments about the In-Person Indigenous Awareness Training: • All cultural training should come from someone who has past or present, or lived experience, to give a proper perspective to those that do not. • The most valuable part of the workshop was to have someone facilitate the session who had personal experience with some of the challenges faced by indigenous people. • Having an in-person format was the most valuable aspect of the workshop. It was important to listen to Kelly’s stories and hear from others in the group. • It was great to be able to ask questions without fear of being criticized or ridiculed. • All questions were encouraged and it was a very safe environment to ask them. • Kelly did not place blame and reinforced that we were not to blame. I would not have felt that through online training. • The most valuable aspect of the workshop was learning the personal experiences of an Indigenous Canadian. • I believe you need to be there in-person to get the full aspect of this training. • I am very happy to have had the opportunity to attend a half day, as opposed to a training session online, as being with Kelly was a lot more personable and relatable. • I loved that the speaker shared her experiences and made it very personal. The information resonates that much more because of the way it was delivered. We would not get that from an online course. Sample Comments about the District providing Indigenous Awareness Training: • I'm very proud to work for an organization that offers this type of training, acknowledges that Indigenous Awareness is important and is committed to providing an opportunity to promote learning. • The topic was very interesting and I feel it is important for every employee at the District to be knowledgeable about Indigenous People. • Thank you for the effort it took to put this large training objective into action. I took great value from today's experience and it will influence my beliefs and actions moving forward. • More opportunities like this please! I heard the KAIROS Blanket Exercise is also excellent and insightful. • This was one of the most valuable training initiatives I have participated in and I hope that additional opportunities will be made available to expand learning on this topic and to assist all staff to develop/improve relationships with Indigenous communities. • Thanks so much for providing this training to us. We are fortunate to be able to be a part of this! • It has left a lasting impression on me. I hope more of this information will be shared and that we will truly move forward in truth and reconciliation. • It was a very powerful session and I am glad I had the opportunity to participate and learn something new. • I loved this training and I would love to see more of this at the District. Page 10 • The training would be wonderful to offer to community members. As this training is costly to some organizations and groups, it wouldn't be feasible to participate otherwise. • I feel as though additional training should be provided on an ongoing basis to ensure this topic remains relevant and top of mind for all employees who will in turn (hopefully) educate their inner circles. Would love to have Kelly back to facilitate follow-up sessions if that's a possibility at all... she was fantastic! Well done. • Thank you for providing such a great opportunity for DMM staff to learn. • Keep them coming! This is not a "one-and-done" topic. The more we all know, the better! • I think we all have a responsibility as Canadians to know about the history and current affairs of Indigenous People in Canada. The training was a great opportunity to put everyone on the same page in terms of educating on the very basics on this topic. • Cultural diversity training is always beneficial. Thank you so much for giving us this valuable experience!! • If more training is available in the future, it could be relevant to Paramedics and help with sensitivity and interactions with Indigenous people we meet in times of medical need. Page 11 To: Chair and Members Muskoka District Council From: Tina Kilbourne CIU Team Lead Date: January 18, 2021 Subject: Council Strategic Priorities Report Card for 2020 Report: 1(2021)-2 ______ Recommendation This report is provided for information. Origin In October 2016, Muskoka District Council (Council) adopted the District of Muskoka Strategic Priorities outlined in Report 11(2016)-1, which set out Council’s goals and strategic priorities for the balance of its four-year term of office. Staff began referencing the newly adopted Council Strategic Priorities in all reports to Council and Committee in January 2017. Since then, Council Strategic Priorities Report Cards have been presented to Council in February 2018 through Report 3(2018)-2, January 2019 through Report 4(2019)-2 and February 18, 2020, through Report 4(2020)-1. Background Since Council adopted the District of Muskoka Strategic Priorities in 2016, the Continuous Improvement Unit (CIU) has been responsible for tracking and analyzing related data and providing an annual Strategic Priorities Report Card to Council. The purpose of this annual report card is to capture the frequency with which each goal and strategic priority is reported to Council through staff reports, and provide a foundation for future reviews of the District’s Strategic Priorities. Analysis The District of Muskoka Strategic Priorities document provides a framework to guide priority setting and decision making for Council and staff and is comprised of five goals that are related to the natural environment, governance, the local economy, infrastructure, and our community. For each goal, a number of strategies (38 in total) were identified. The Strategic Priorities section of staff reports differentiate the five goals Page 1 with a visual icon, and lists each of the corresponding strategies with which the report is associated, as illustrated below. Natural Governance Economy Infrastructure Community Environment Goals .. ~ A iit Strategies ~I-~> s. 2.2, 2.3 • To understand the extent to which each of the goals and strategies are being addressed, the CIU undertakes an annual review of staff reports and calculates the number of times each goal and strategy is referenced in both Council and Committee reports. Data is then combined for a District total. District totals are discussed below and a full report illustrating the data for each of the Committees and for Council is available in Appendix A – Council Strategic Report Card 2020. The radar graph below illustrates the total number of times that each of the five goals was referenced in staff reports in 2020 (a total of 984 references). While all five goals are represented, staff reports in 2020 referenced Governance and Community Goals most frequently. Natural Community Governance Page 2 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were fewer Committee and Council meetings in 2020 compared to the previous year resulting in less reports; however, when comparing the number of occurrences as a percentage of staff reports, the distribution remains similar year-over-year with Governance and Community Goals having the highest number of references. Table 1. Number of Goals Referenced in Committee and Council Reports Goal 2020 2019 2018 2017 Natural Environment 129 (13%) 171 (12%) 123 (10%) 71 (10%) Governance 417 (42%) 554 (39%) 501 (39%) 222 (32%) Economy 85 (9%) 121 (8%) 125 (10%) 38 (6%) Infrastructure 87 (9%) 143 (10%) 170 (13%) 86 (13%) Community 266 (27%) 435 (31%) 371 (29%) 271 (39%) Total References 984 1,427 1,290 688 Total number of Staff 198 267 334 345 Reports The difference in the number of references can be, in large part, attributed to the clarification of how goals and strategies were to be referenced in staff reports and a continued understanding of how to apply these references. The bar graph below displays the number of times each of the strategies was referenced in staff reports in 2020. 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1.1 1.3 1.5 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.7 2.9 3.2 3.4 3.6 4.1 4.3 4.5 4.7 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8 Environment Governance Economy Infrastructure Community Page 3 The most frequently referenced strategies remain relatively consistent with previous report cards and were: • Governance (2.2) – Continue to comply with legislative and program requirements and report on program achievements and improvements. • Governance (2.4) – Control or reduce expenditures and consider alternative methods of service delivery by continually investigating means of enhancing partnerships with the Area Municipalities and other public and private sector partners. • Governance (2.3) – Work with others to strengthen our overall financial position by developing a sustainable asset management plan, ensuring appropriate service delivery standards, prudent long range financial planning and timely reporting of results, and where possible, seek innovative funding tools and models. • Governance (2.9) – Streamline governance and the efficiency and effectiveness of program delivery across Muskoka by continuously investigating innovative methods, practices and approaches. • Community (5.3) – Assist in addressing the basic health, employment, housing, transportation and social needs of residents in our community, particularly the more vulnerable population, including children, youth, seniors, low income earners and people with disabilities. The least frequently referenced strategies were: • Economy (3.6) – Collaborate with others to develop post-secondary educational facilities and programming in Muskoka in support of these strategies. • Economy (3.7) – Recognize, promote and expand the role of the Muskoka Airport as a key economic driver in Muskoka that supports tourism, as well as the social and business needs of the area. • Infrastructure (4.2) – Collaborate with the Area Municipalities to complete a connected and safe regional active transportation as envisioned in our Active Transportation Strategy. While these results, and those presented in Appendix 1 – Council Strategic Priorities Report Card 2020, prompt worthwhile discussion on the general nature of the District’s work over the past four years, there are some limitations: • There is a high volume of financial related reports (i.e. variance, contract awards, etc.) throughout the year that address the Governance goal resulting in a high number of references to its corresponding strategies, compared to the other goals. Conversely, there are a number of topics (i.e. Official Plan Review, Flood Plain Mapping, etc.), that are of great importance to Muskoka and touch on multiple goals, but are reported on comparatively fewer times resulting in a lower number of references to the corresponding strategies; • Because some strategies are broad-natured, they correlate with a high number of reports; Page 4 • Conversely, other strategies are more specific and thus have a limited number of reports linked to them; • Different report authors may interpret the way their reports relate to the strategies differently; • The subject matter of some Committees lends itself more naturally to meeting the strategies under a particular goal, or multiple goals, than others; • The work of other Committees of Council (i.e. Municipal Modernization Committee, Accessibility Advisory Committee, etc.), or of other related organizations (i.e. Muskoka Watershed Council, Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table, etc.) is not directly captured in this analysis; and • Some goals and strategies may be more significant in some years of Council than other years, or issues may emerge mid-way through a term of Council and therefore not be directly correlated to a strategic priority (e.g. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-racism). In addition to delivering all of our ongoing programs and services, there is also valuable work being done at the District which is not captured through staff reports. Continuous efforts are being made to enhance relationships and build partnerships and stakeholder networks within Muskoka and beyond. An example of this is the degree of involvement that senior staff have in a wide variety of local, provincial and national groups. This type of involvement extends to staff at all levels of the District that belong to professional organizations and contribute in meaningful ways. In doing so, they represent Muskoka and gain valuable insights that benefit the work of the District. While not always captured through the staff reporting process, this work addresses Council’s Strategic Priorities and is of benefit to the District. The District of Muskoka Strategic Priorities is intended to carry-on and evolve with each term of Council and into the future. Financial Considerations There are no financial considerations at this time. Communications The CIU will continue to track the references to Council’s Strategic Priorities in staff reports to Council and Committee, and will continue to present an annual report to Council on the findings. Strategic Priorities Click on the icons below to view strategies under each priority area. ~ iit A • s 2.2, 2.7 • Page 5 Respectfully submitted, Tina Kibourne, B.Soc.Sc, MA, Team Lead, CIU; and Julie Stevens, CPA, CA, Chief Administrative Officer Page 6 Appendix A Council Strategic Priorities Report Card 2020 1 Goals and Strategies • 5 broad Goals with visual icons • 38 numbered Strategies Natural Governance Economy I nfrastru ctu re Community Environment . •·. Goals • ~ • A ~.,, s. 2.2, 2.3 Strategies ~t-~ > • October 2016: Adopted by District Council • January 2017: Implemented in staff reports 2 District Strategic Priorities Data Collection Approach: – Reviewed all 2020 Council and Committee reports. – Recorded each time a report referenced any of the 5 goals. – Recorded each time one of the corresponding 38 strategies were referenced. – Totals were compiled for Council and each Committee. 3 Total District (2020) – Goals Natural Environment 500 400 300 200 Community Governance 100 0 Infrastructure Economy 4 Total District – Strategies 120 100 80 -+------ 60 +------ 40 +------ 20 +11------1------1--1------1------ 0 1.1 1.6 2. 1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 5.8 5.9 Environment Govern ance Economy Infrastructure Co mmunity 5 Community and Planning Services – Goals Natural Environment 160 140 120 100 80 60 Community Governance 40 20 0 Infrastructure Economy 6 Community and Planning Services – Strategies 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 I I I 0 I I . . I I I I 1.1 l1.2 lu l1.4 l1.5li.6 2.1122 12.3 12.412.512.6 12.7 '2-sl2.9 3.113.213.313.413.513.613.7 4.114.2 14.3 14.414.s l4.6 14.7 5.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 ls.s ls.615.1ls.s ls.9 Environment Governance Economy Infrastructure Community 7 Engineering and Public Works – Goals Natural Environment 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 Community 15 Governance 10 5 0 Infrastructure Economy 8 Engineering and Public Works – Strategies 35 ~------ 30 +------ 25 +------ 20 +------ 15 +------f------ 10 +------1------~~------ 5 -H------f-----<----f------~ ------ Environment Govern ance Economy Infrastructure Community 9 Finance and Corporate Services – Goals Natural Environment 120 100 80 60 Community 40 Governance 20 0 Infrastructure Economy 10 * Finance and Corporate Services - Strategies 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Governance Community 11 Health Services – Goals Natural Environment 70 60 50 40 30 Community 20 Governance 10 0 Infrastructure Economy 12 Health Services - Strategies 18 16 14 12 10 - 8 - - - - - 6 - - - - - 4 - - ,------,___ 2 -- - ,------,- - - 0 n n n n 111121u l1.4 11.s l1.6 12.112.2 l2.3 l2.4 l2.s l2.6 l2.1 l2s l29 131 13213.313.413.513.613.7 141 k214.3 14.414.s l46 14.715 1ls.2 ls.3 ls.4ls.sls.6 ls.7 ls.8 ls 91 Environment Governance Economy Infrastructure Community 13 Council – Goals Natural Environment 120 100 80 60 Community 40 Governance 20 0 Infrastructure Economy 14 * Council – Strategies 25 20 15 10 5 0 I I I I I I I I I I I 1.1 l 1.2l u l 1.4 I1.5 11.6 2.1I 2.2 I2.3 I2.4 I2 .5I 2.6 I2.7 I2.s I2.9 3.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 I3.7 4.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 I4.6 I4.7 5.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.s I5.9 Environme nt Governance Economy Infrastru ctu re Co mmunity 15 THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA BY-LAW 2021-1 Being a by-law to requisition interim financing from the Area Municipalities before the adoption of the estimates for 2021 WHEREAS pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended (hereinafter “the Act”), Muskoka District Council may by by-law, in any year before the adoption of estimates for that year, requisition from each of the Area Municipalities a sum not exceeding an amount determined in accordance with section 316(1); AND WHEREAS any such by-law may provide for the due dates for payment of amounts due; AND WHEREAS payments in lieu of taxes received by the Area Municipalities shall be distributed in accordance with section 322 of the Act and the regulations thereunder; NOW THEREFORE the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. Each Area Municipality shall pay to the Treasurer of The District Municipality of Muskoka, the amounts hereafter specified on or before April 6, 2021. Amount of Area Municipality Requisition Town of Bracebridge $7,852,512 Town of Gravenhurst 7,660,820 Town of Huntsville 9,503,393 Township of Georgian Bay 5,098,045 Township of Lake of Bays 5,036,665 Township of Muskoka Lakes 16,238,964 Total $51,390,399 2. It is acknowledged and agreed that the amounts described in section 1 herein include the amounts required to be remitted on account of Payments in Lieu of Taxes. 3. In addition to the amounts described in section 1 herein, each Area Municipality shall pay to the Treasurer of The District Municipality of Muskoka an amount equal to the total payable by the Area Municipality to The District Municipality of Muskoka under the Act less any amounts paid under section 1 herein on or before the due date for the final payment of District of Muskoka levies as established by The District Municipality of Muskoka’s 2021 Tax Levy By-law. 4. This by-law shall come into force and take effect on January 1, 2021. Enacted and Passed this 18th day of January, 2021. THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA Per: ______District Chair J. Klinck District Clerk A. Back THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA BY-LAW 2021-2 Being a by-law to authorize the borrowing of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) on an interim basis, if necessary WHEREAS the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka deems it necessary to authorize the borrowing of the sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) on an interim basis if necessary to meet current and capital expenditures of the District of Muskoka, until the taxes are collected and other revenues are received; AND WHEREAS the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka proposes to authorize borrowing of the said twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) from various funds; THEREFORE, the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka enacts as follows: 1. (a) The District Municipality of Muskoka shall be and is hereby authorized to borrow from the Consolidated Reserve Funds, Trust Funds, or any other person from time to time by way of promissory note a sum or sums not exceeding at any one time twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) to meet current and capital expenditures of the District of Muskoka for the year 2021, until the taxes are collected and other revenues are received. (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any and all amounts borrowed pursuant to section 1(a) shall be repaid to the source together with interest, if any, on or before December 31, 2021. 2. The Treasurer and one of the Deputy Treasurer, Chief Administrative Officer or Chair are hereby authorized to sign, make or draw on from time to time promissory notes for the sum or sums so borrowed with interest. 3. The Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to apply in payment of all sums borrowed in accordance with section 1(a) and any interest thereon, all of the monies hereafter collected or received on account or realized in respect of the taxes levied for the current year and for any preceding years and all of the monies collected or received from any other source. 4. This by-law shall come into force and take effect on January 1, 2021. Enacted and Passed this 18th day of January, 2021. THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA Per: ______District Chair J. Klinck District Clerk A. Back THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA BY-LAW 2021-3 Being a by-law to authorize the borrowing of funds from the Bank of Nova Scotia WHEREAS pursuant to section 407 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 as amended, The District Municipality of Muskoka may authorize temporary borrowing until the taxes are collected and other revenues are received, the amount council considers necessary to meet the current expenditures of the municipality; AND WHEREAS the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka deems it necessary to borrow money for various purposes during the year 2021 from the Bank of Nova Scotia; AND WHEREAS the total amount which may be borrowed from all sources at any one time to meet the current expenditures of the Municipality, is limited by section 407 of the Municipal Act; AND WHEREAS pursuant to sections 5(3) and 17 of the Municipal Act, 2001 municipal powers, including the power to borrow, must be exercised by by-law except in limited circumstances; THEREFORE, the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. The District Municipality of Muskoka (hereinafter “the Corporation”) shall be and is hereby authorized to borrow from the Bank of Nova Scotia (hereinafter “the Bank”) from time to time by way of demand promissory note, bankers' acceptance or operating line of credit, a sum or sums not exceeding at any one time Twenty-Five Million dollars ($25,000,000) to meet, until the taxes are collected and other revenues are received, current expenditures of the Corporation for the year 2021. 2. The Corporation shall be and is hereby authorized to borrow on behalf of the Corporation from the Bank from time to time by way of promissory note or bankers' acceptance a sum or sums not exceeding at any one time Two Million dollars ($2,000,000) for Commercial Card availment. 3. The total amount which may be borrowed at any one time under this By-law, plus any outstanding amounts of principal borrowed and accrued interest, under section 407 together with the total of any similar borrowings that have not been repaid, shall not exceed from January 1st to September 30th of the current year, fifty percent of the total estimated revenues of the Municipality as set out in the budget adopted for the current year, and from October 1st to December 31st of the current year, twenty-five percent of the total of the estimated revenues of the Municipality as set out in the budget adopted for the current year or twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00), whichever is less. 4. The Treasurer shall be and is hereby authorized and directed to furnish to the Bank at the time of each borrowing and at such other times as the Bank may from time to time request, a statement showing the nature and amount of the estimated revenues of the current year not yet collected or where the estimates for the year have not been adopted, a statement showing the nature and amount of the estimated revenues of the Corporation as set forth in the estimates adopted for the preceding year and also showing the total of any amounts borrowed from any and all sources under the authority of section 407 of the Municipal Act in the current year and in any preceding year that have not been repaid. 5. For purposes of this By-law the estimated revenues referred to in section 3 and 4 do not include revenues derivable or derived from any borrowing, including through any issue of debentures, a surplus, including arrears of taxes, fees or charges, or a transfer from the capital fund, reserve funds or reserves. Page 2 of By-law 2021-3 6. The Treasurer and one of the Deputy Treasurer, Chief Administrative Officer or Chair, shall be and are hereby authorized to sign, make or draw on behalf of the Corporation and to furnish to the Bank from time to time promissory notes or bankers' acceptances for the sum or sums so borrowed with interest or any other charges at such rate as the Bank may from time to time determine. Any such document is valid only if signed by both the Treasurer and a second authorized signing officer. 7. All sums borrowed from the Bank and any interest thereon and any other charges in connection therewith shall be a charge upon the whole of the revenues of the Corporation for the current year and for any preceding years as and when such revenues are received, subject to any statutory requirements, and that the Chair and Treasurer shall be and are hereby authorized to sign all such assignments of the said revenues of the Corporation as the Bank may require. 8. The Treasurer shall be and is hereby authorized and directed to apply in payment of all sums borrowed from the Bank, and of any interest thereon and any other charges in connection therewith, all of the monies hereafter collected or received on account or realized in respect of the taxes levied for the current year and for any preceding years and all of the monies collected or received from any other source. 9. This by-law shall come into force and take effect on January 1, 2021. Enacted and Passed this 18th day of January, 2021. THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA Per: ______District Chair J. Klinck District Clerk A. Back THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA BY-LAW 2021-4 Being a by-law to Confirm the Proceedings of the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka at this meeting held on the 18th day of January, 2021 WHEREAS pursuant to section 5 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, as amended, the powers of The District Municipality of Muskoka are to be exercised by Muskoka District Council; AND WHEREAS pursuant to section 5 (3), the powers of Muskoka District Council are to be exercised by by-law, unless The District Municipality of Muskoka is authorized to do otherwise; AND WHEREAS it is deemed expedient that proceedings of the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka as herein set forth be confirmed and adopted by by- law; NOW THEREFORE the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. The actions of the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka at this meeting held on the 18th day of January, 2021 in respect of each recommendation contained in the Reports of Standing and Special Committees as adopted or amended and adopted and each motion and resolution passed and other action taken by the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka at this meeting is hereby adopted and confirmed as if all such proceedings were expressly embodied in this by-law. The foregoing includes but is not limited to the reports enumerated in Schedule "A" to this by-law. 2. The Chair and proper officials of The District Municipality of Muskoka are hereby authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to the actions of the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka referred to in section 1 herein. 3. The Chair and Clerk are authorized and directed to execute all documents necessary to give effect to the actions of the Council of The District Municipality of Muskoka referred to in section 1 herein and to affix thereto the Seal of The District Municipality of Muskoka. 4. Section 1 does not apply to any action or matter that is required by law to be done by resolution. 5. Section 1 does not apply to any action or matter to which Ontario Municipal Board or Local Planning Appeal Tribunal or other approval is required until such approval is obtained but sections 2 and 3 apply for the purpose of obtaining such approval. 6. This by-law shall come into force and take effect on the day it is passed. Enacted and Passed this 18th day of January, 2021. THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA Per: ______District Chair J. Klinck District Clerk A. Back Page 2 of By-law 2021-4 Schedule "A" to By-law 2021-4 Reports Resolution Number District Council Resolutions 1(2021) – January 18, 2021 Finance and Corporate Services Summary of Recommendations FCS-11-2020 – December 22, 2020 R52/2020; R53/2020; R54/2020; R55/2020; R56/2020 Community and Planning Services Summary of Recommendations CPS-14-2020 – December 21, 2020 R75/2020; R76/2020