The outlined purpose of the Green Star Program is to promote safer water and waste water systems in the Municipality of Shuniah but it in fact is forcing the continuation unsafe situations. Each association is considered as one property in the program so all member lots must be compliant for any one member in the association to get a building permit. Not all lots are currently compliant with this new rule, disallowing additional properties to become compliant. For example, my property is not compliant and does not have running water or a septic system but I am not able to change this with the current restrictions and I was denied a building permit that included a certified septic system and well. The program therefore goes against its outlined purpose and the Official Plan.
 
The intended purpose of the program appears to be to sever all lots within campers’ associations to increase the tax base. The reality is that most of us are moving in this direction but the severing process will take a minimum of 2-3 years. During this time, according to the Program, no building permits can be approved that involve water systems, therefore, restricting noncompliant properties in becoming compliant. This would be 2-3 years at minimum without related building permits for all campers associations – so minimal increase in compliant lots and a significant loss in revenue for the Municipality. In some situations, the conversion to freehold may actually never happen (due to lot sizes and land negotiations with CN), leaving the future of properties in association lands uncertain.
 
The program is perpetuating unsafe wastewater and water systems and hindering the betterment of Shuniah. Please support the request to amend the Green Star Program to allow individual building permit requests for properties in Campers' Associations.