George reports from FOCA

Report from March 2, 2024 FOCA AGM

by George Offshack

Long time CEO of FOCA, Terry Rees announced his retirement.  It was Terry who presented Linda Sheppard and I the 2006 Association of the Year award at the 2007 AGM.  The new CEO, Leslie Lavender was introduced.

Rogers will be introducing new 5G internet service throughout eastern Ontario in 2024.  It will be 100MBPS, unlimited data, for a flat $50 per month with no contract.  You will be able to start and stop service on a monthly basis without penalty.  The pricing is special to FOCA members.

The MNRF is working with other provincial ministries and Transport Canada to address the floating accommodation issues that are becoming a problem in Georgian Bay and elsewhere in Muskoka.  The ministry is also allocating $3.6B in 2024 toward the invasive species fight.

FOCA continues its long-time association with Cade Insurance to offer the “Cottage First” insurance package at special member pricing.

The LWRA will be paying a slightly higher membership fee to FOCA starting this year.  The amount increases from $125 to $150 base rate and the per member rate will increase from $4 to $5.  This fee change was passed almost unanimously at the AGM portion of the meeting.  FOCA represents roughly 525 member associations.

Compliance with the finally enacted ONCA is mandatory by October 18, 2024.  FOCA will have a sample by-law on their web site shortly that we can use as a template to edit our operating by-law to be in compliance.  This has been an on-going issue for over 10 years.

FOCA, in conjunction with Trent University will be publishing a guide to aquatic plants later in 2024.  (not only invasive, but all aquatic plants commonly found in Ontario waterways)

There was a presentation on fire safety.  It was interesting that the focus was no longer on fire-fighting equipment, but on static fire preparedness.  The crux of it was to have sprinklers permanently installed on your property to keep the surrounding vegetation green and to be on standby in case of fire.

The Lake of Bays association won the Association of the Year award for their work on containing a roughly 40 cottage development on an island on the lake.  While they were not able to stop the project, they won significant concessions and improvements in it.  (sound familiar?)

MPAC may or may not be conducting a total re-assessment in 2024.  They have not received a mandate from the province yet one way or the other.  In the meantime, due to COVID they are still using the 2016 assessment with updates as properties are built or renovated.  MPAC is now working with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to create a Provincial Electors List.  This will move determining who is a voter in a municipality from the local level to the provincial level.  A topic of importance to seasonal residents.

FOCA continues to monitor and provide input on Bill 23 as time goes by.

There will be an opportunity for public input on both the federal and provincial efforts to make wearing a PFD mandatory.  FOCA will provide information about this public input period once it is scheduled.  

The meeting wrapped up with a presentation on boating fatality statistics over the past 13 years.  The number of deaths in Ontario hovers around 25 on average.  The most likely demographic to die in a boating accident is 65 to 74 yrs. of age, followed by 20 to 30 year olds.  The most dangerous type of boat is a traditional hulled boat under 18 feet.  The safest boat is a hulled boat over 18 feet.  Just as an FYI, a “No Wake Zone” is unenforceable.  Slower speeds have to be set by a definite speed limit and can only be set by Transport Canada at this time.  Unfortunately, due to increased violence on the water, the student ride-along program has been cancelled and OPP patrol boats now have two fully outfitted officers in the boat.  This has caused a shortage of patrol boats on the water in the last few years.  There are 150 new marine officers now undergoing training.