Friends of Muskoka (FOM)…

Friends of Muskoka (FOM) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS).

FOM is a not-for-profit Canadian corporation with approximately 4,000 supporters across the District of Muskoka, including year-round residents and seasonal residents. We are a volunteer
organization, working to preserve and protect the natural environment and unique character of
Muskoka by promoting responsible use and development of its land and lakes.

We are pleased to see that a major change to the PPS is the requirement for municipalities to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate and whole-heartedly support the need for this policy direction. We hope that the Province can share best practices and standards in this regard with municipalities that might not have the knowledge or expertise to implement this requirement.

However, we are concerned that many of the proposed changes will diminish important protections for the natural environment by unduly favouring aggregate extraction and development.

Our key comments are described in more detail in the attached letter, and are as follows:
1. Refrain from encouraging private communal services in environmentally sensitive rural areas such as Muskoka
2. Retain the recognition that municipalities may impose higher standards than those set out in the PPS
3. Refrain from permitting mineral aggregate extraction in natural heritage areas (that are not provincially significant)
4. Require that aggregates companies demonstrate needs for their products
5. Retain and enhance protections for wetlands

We hope you will consider our comments in your PPS Review.