Membership Renewal – 2022
As the sixth wave of the global pandemic continues, it certainly seems unconventional to be reaching out to you about your yearly membership dues. But it is your membership that [...]
25 Apr, 2022
13 Apr, 2022
Welcome to the Muskoka Ratepayers Association new web site
We are pleased to have launched our new website and member portal ahead of our membership renewal drive for 2022. Between April 13 and 25 we will be performing additional [...]
7 Mar, 2022
Ratepayers Comments on Septic Inspection By-Law
Subject: Comments on Septic Inspection By-Law To: TML Council and Planning Committee From: Muskoka Ratepayers Association Date: March 4, 2022 The Muskoka Ratepayers' Association (MRA) has reviewed the [...]
7 Mar, 2022
Ratepayers Comments on Site Alteration By-Law
Subject: Comments on TML Site Alteration Proposal. To: TML Council and Planning Committee From: Muskoka Ratepayers Association Date: March 4, 2022 The Muskoka Ratepayers' Association (MRA) has reviewed [...]
30 Nov, 2021
Ratepayers Comments on TML Draft Budget 2022
November 30, 2021 My name is Don Furniss and my address is XXXX Beaumaris Rd, Beaumaris, ON P1L 0M8, I am speaking on behalf of the Muskoka Ratepayers' Association. The [...]
20 Oct, 2021
Ratepayers Comments on Official Plan Update V2
Oct 20, 2021 Your Worship, Councillors and Members of the Planning Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide the Muskoka Ratepayers Association’s (MRA) input on the latest draft of [...]
30 Sep, 2021
Ratepayers Comments on 2022 Budget Process
September 30, 2021 The Muskoka Ratepayers' Association (MRA) would like to thank Council and staff for listening to the MRA and members of the public’s concerns regarding the lack of [...]
8 Feb, 2021
Red, Blue or Amber – The Great Bubbler Debate
Red, Blue or Amber – The Great Bubbler Debate If you use a bubbling system on your waterfront to protect your dock or boathouse you may be aware of the [...]
30 Jan, 2021
MRA – Comments on 2021 Township Operating Budget
Date: January 30, 2021 MRA - Comments on The Township of Muskoka Lakes 2021 Operating Budget & 2022 and 2023 Operating Forecasts The MRA would like to thank Treasurer Donaldson, [...]
25 Jan, 2021
MRA – Comments on 2021 Township Capital Budget
Date: January 25, 2021 Subject: Ratepayers' Comments on the Township of Muskoka Lakes 2021 Capital Budget and Ten-Year Forecast To: Mayor Harding and Council The MRA would like to thank [...]
18 Sep, 2020
Letter to Council Re: Official Plan
Date: Sept 18, 2020 Muskoka Ratepayers' Association's Comments on the Township of Muskoka Lakes July 23, 2020 Draft Revision of the Proposed Official Plan The Muskoka Ratepayers' Association (MRA) would [...]
27 Aug, 2020
Letter to Ministry of the Environment – Torrance Barrens
August 27, 2020 Hon. Jeff Yurek, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, 900 Bay St., 2nd Floor, McDonald Block, Toronto, ON M7A 1N3 SUBJECT: MUSKOKA LAKES PARKS Dear Minister Yurek, [...]
29 Apr, 2020
Ratepayers Comments on 2020 Budget
The following comments from the Muskoka Ratepayers were sent to Township Council after the release of draft 1 of the Township budget. The Park's Department Capital budget includes $420,000 for [...]
30 Mar, 2020
Thank You To Our Service Providers
As we experience the impact of the pandemic on our individual lives and families, our fears and our health, it is essential to follow the government mandated protocols of isolation, [...]
15 Jan, 2020
Economic Snapshots – Winter 2019 / 2020
This edition is devoted to the recently released major review of the flood events that occurred in the Spring of 2019. Flooding in our Township can have a major impact [...]
3 Oct, 2019
Bubbler Etiquette
Important Safety Considerations for Bubblers With the temperature dropping, our thoughts turn to preparing our cottages for the cold and snow to come. For some, this means closing up the [...]
7 Aug, 2019
Economic Snapshots – Summer 2019
2018 Township Building Activity Overview Construction of homes, cottages, and commercial buildings is important to everyone who has an interest in the economy of our Township. Construction projects create meaningful [...]
4 Jun, 2019
A Letter of Thanks to the Township of Muskoka Lakes
May 28, 2019 The residents of the Township of Muskoka Lakes owe a big thank you to the Township for their actions during the recent flooding. The team led by [...]
11 Feb, 2019
Ratepayers Comments on 2019 Budget – Draft 1
Good Evening. My name is Mike Webb and I am commenting on the Township's 2019 budget on behalf of the Muskoka Ratepayers' Association. Budget deliberations are difficult, and the Ratepayers’ [...]
11 Feb, 2019
TML Budget 2019 – Update – Feb 11, 2019
A Special Committee of the Whole was held on Monday, February 11th, 2019 to review Version 2 of the Draft 2019 Budget. t the beginning of the meeting the budget [...]
3 Feb, 2019
Economic Snapshots – Budget 2019
At the Special Committee of the Whole meeting on January 22nd, 2019 Treasurer, Shannon Johnson introduced Version 1 of the Township's Draft Budget. Treasurer Johnson explained she saw no challenges [...]
24 Jan, 2019
Budget 2019 – First Draft
Treasurer Shannon Johnson presented Version 1 of the 2019 Township of Muskoka Lakes budget to the Committee of the Whole on January 22, 2019. Ms. Johnson stated that the Township [...]
18 Jan, 2019
Economic Snapshots – Winter 2019
After we issued the previous Economic Snapshot which discussed how tax rates compare across the District, some of our members told us that they would like to see a broader [...]
5 Oct, 2018
Economic Snapshots – Fall 2018
Can the upcoming election improve our lives in Muskoka? We sure hope so, isn’t that why we vote in the first place? This is an election year for our municipal [...]
5 Oct, 2018
The Muskoka Ratepayers Association And Development
It has often been said that no community can stand still. It either moves forward or it slides back. We at the Muskoka Ratepayers' Association believe that the Township of [...]
23 Aug, 2018
Candidate Endorsement
August 23. 2018 The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association Stance on Candidate Endorsement The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association (MRA) works hard to keep members informed about the activities of the Township of Muskoka [...]
1 Jun, 2018
MRA Letter to Council – June 2018
Friday, June 1st, 2018 Dear Mayor and Councillors, The MRA has traditionally been, and continues to be focused on the economic growth of our community, the social vibrancy of the [...]
7 Apr, 2018
Elections – Call For Candidates
Elections for our Township and District governments will be held this October. Have you thought about running for office to serve your community?The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association is calling on those [...]
27 Mar, 2018
Economic Snapshots – Spring 2018
Building activities continue to be one of the largest economic activities in the Township of Muskoka Lakes. In 2017 the value of all construction permits issued in the Township was [...]
7 Mar, 2018
Muskoka Etiquette
Here are a few suggestions from the Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association on what we consider to be good “cottage etiquette” when enjoying your Muskoka vacation property. Basically, this simply means … [...]
31 Jan, 2018
MRA 2018 TML Budget Comments
Good Evening, I am pleased to have this opportunity to offer you the thoughts of the Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association with regards to the proposed Township Budget. First let me thank [...]
7 Dec, 2017
Economic Snapshots – Fall 2017
December 2017 This past summer the Township of Muskoka Lakes (TML) asked its citizens for feedback regarding its service levels. The Township conducted a survey and public meetings to learn [...]
14 Nov, 2017
Commercial Resort Properties – Comments
November 14, 2017 The District Municipality of Muskoka (the District) has, for more than a year, been undertaking a public review process for the updating of its Official Plan (OP). [...]
14 Aug, 2017
Alert – OPP Costs in the Township
August 8, 2017 IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND HOW YOU CAN HELP In 2014, the Government of Ontario created a new funding formula for OPP services. Of the 323 municipalities in Ontario, [...]
26 Jul, 2017
MRA – 2017 Annual General Meeting
The MRA held its 56th Annual General Meeting on Saturday, July 15th, 2017 at the Port Carling Community Centre. A crowd of approximately 90 individuals heard two minute presentations from [...]
10 Jun, 2017
Did You Know? About the Health Hub??
Hello Everyone: We hope everyone has a safe and healthy summer – but just in case...... With the arrival of summer, we thought it would be timely to let you [...]
24 May, 2017
A Muskoka Walk In The Woods – Look for Spring Ephemerals!
When I was a little girl, a highlight of early spring, was a visit to “the cabin”, near Greenwood, Ontario and a hike with Aunt Lorene. My cousins and I [...]
24 May, 2017
Economic Snapshots – Spring 2017
The building industry in the Township of Muskoka Lakes is important to all of us. It is collectively the largest employer in the Township. In order to better appreciate all [...]
15 Jan, 2017
Bala Falls – Small Hydro Electric Project – 2017
Overview In 2005 in response to a Request For Proposal (RFP) from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Swift River Energy Limited (SREL) submitted a proposal to construct and operate [...]
23 Nov, 2016
In Memoriam – Madeline Fielding
In Memoriam - Madeline Fielding - Past President and Long TIme MRA Director If only one observation could be made about Madeline – it would be that she loved Muskoka. [...]
7 Nov, 2015
Municipal Conflict Of Interest Act
November 7, 2016 The strange, unprecedented and unacceptable behaviour of Councillor Ruth Nishikawa has brought new focus to the good governance of the Township of Muskoka Lakes, particularly over the [...]
20 Oct, 2015
Beware of Japanese Knotweed
Further to the Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association “Did You Know” of July 23rd, 2015 (Japanese Knotweed and Other Information) relating to Japanese Knotweed, it has come to our attention that the [...]
18 Jul, 2015
MRA – 2015 Annual General Meeting
July 18, 2015 Port Carling About 90 people were on hand for the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association (MRA) Saturday at the Port Carling Community Centre. [...]
15 May, 2015
Japanese Knotweed and Other Interesting Information
May 2015 ... that Japanese Knotweed is a problem in Muskoka? There is plant slowly marching through Muskoka that the Muskoka Ratepayers’ were recently made aware of…Japanese Knotweed. It is [...]
17 Apr, 2015
Township of Muskoka Lakes – 100 Day Report Card
The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association (MRA) is pleased once again to provide our observations of the newly elected Township of Muskoka Lakes Council. With the election of a new mayor, Muskoka [...]
25 Mar, 2015
Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2014-14
The new Comprehensive Zoning By-Law (2014-14) was passed in a recorded vote of six to three at the February 13 Council meeting, and the period to appeal the by-law ended [...]
11 Mar, 2015
Planes Crash Into Lake Muskoka – A True Story
During the Second World War, Camp Borden near Barrie was one of the main centres used as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. On December 12, 1940, during [...]
15 Feb, 2015
Best Suggested Operating Practices for Dock & Boat House De-icer Systems
Just because your neighbours’ have installed a de-icer system, that does not necessarily mean that you also need one. If your property is located off the main body of a [...]
4 Dec, 2014
TML – Inaugural Council Meeting
December 1st, 2014 was a day of inaugural meetings for municipal councils across the Province of Ontario. The inaugural council meeting in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, held in the [...]
5 Nov, 2014
MRA Election Commentary
MRA Election Commentary The 2014 Township of Muskoka Lakes election results are now certified, and the outcome declared. While a number of incumbents were returned, there will be three new [...]