On August 17th, at the monthly Township meeting, the Council for Algonquin Highlands plans to vote to enact a new bylaw that will in fact strip all residents of Algonquin Highlands of their rights under the PUBLIC LANDS ACT.  The bylaw - known as the Lease of Occupation bylaw - deals with the township owned property that surrounds almost every body of water in Ontario.  The poorly laid out and poorly communicated bylaw sought no input from the actual constituents.  As of August 5th, there has been no clarification from the Township as to the exact cost to each taxpayor and exactly how it would affect water access when dealing with "waterfront properties".  

Currently, these lands are deemed 'occupied' by the waterfront property owners as defined in the PUBLIC LANDS ACT.  The zoning -  SR1 or Shoreline residential 1 - is the exact same for every residential property surrounding a lake.  This newly planned bylaw unfairly targets those who are currently deemed waterfront under the PUBLIC LANDS ACT and have a road allowance between their property and the body of water.  The fees associated with this proposed bylaw, added insurance premiums to the waterfront property owners are expected to exceed $3,000 per household as well as an added tax burden of paying for an additional 2 bylaw officers/vehicle to police the residents...in addition to the $500 lease renewal fee due annually.

The township cites the reasoning for the new bylaw as being the residents have been 'freeloading' on the township and liability issues...despite the fact that there has never been a claim filed against the township on these lands.  The proposed bylaw in fact - as stated by township officials - clearly delineates the targeted waterfront properties as those who have the road between the waterfront property and the body of water.

We need your support with this petition so that we have something to take to Council at the August meeting to clearly state that residents are opposed to this new bylaw, opposed to the fees associated with the bylaw as well as the increased taxes that will come from the proposed bylaw and the agents hired to police it.  In addition to the above points, the PUBLIC LANDS ACT already grants waterfront property owners 'occupation rights' to these properties...the township simply needs to enforce the ACT for the residents without stripping the residents of their rights as afforded under the PUBLIC LANDS ACT.