GORE BAY—While the Manitoulin Planning Board (MPB) passed a motion to accept base funding for 2024-2025 from the province to administer planning operations of the unincorporated townships on Manitoulin Island, it did not pass without concerns being raised. One issue has to do with the amount of funding the province provides for this, as it has not increased for many years. The board also raised a second concern that has to do with the fact that the province is two years behind on appointing new members for unincorporated townships to the board.
“We’re requesting that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) attend our next board meeting and explain why they haven’t increased our funding for the unincorporated townships since 2009,” said MPB board member Ken Noland.
Theresa Carlisle, secretary/treasurer of the board explained, “the province allocates funds to the board for taking care of the unorganized townships’ planning. Again in 2024-2025 we are to receive $16,073, an amount that hasn’t been increased since 2009. However, the ministry has provided special case funding to the board over the years for several projects.”
“Funding has not been increased and has remained the same since 2009. It is an issue, but they have also provided additional special business case funding for several projects,” said Ms. Carlisle.
“I voted against the motion to accept the funding from the ministry this year,” said Mr. Noland. “I’m questioning why we should continue to administer the planning on behalf of the MMAH for unincorporated townships if we aren’t receiving an increase in funding. The work done by staff in our office for the unincorporated municipalities is a lot more than they were in 2009. We’re asking ministry representatives to attend our next board meeting in October.”
Lee Hayden, MPB chair, said another concern relating to the lack of increase in funding the MPB has received over the years, “there have been a lot more infractions relating to our zoning bylaws over the years. This requires time out of the office for our office staff to do these site visits and with only having two full-time people in the office, it makes it more difficult. We are finding more people have a lack of concern regarding zoning bylaws, more people seem to be ignoring the bylaws.”
Mr. Hayden said on the issue of appointees for the unincorporated areas to MPB, “this has to be undertaken by the province.”
“There has been a process in place to replace the current representatives of the unincorporated townships on the board,” said Mr. Hayden. “The new appointees were supposed to be appointed in 2022. But nothing has happened, and the advertising for new appointees hasn’t even been taken by the province.”
“Nothing has happened, and we are running into issues,” said Mr. Noland. He explained the board is comprised of 10 board members, however one municipal council representative lives off-Island and can’t attend meetings in person (and the board cannot provide for Zoom meetings at its office location). We have another board member who has medical issues and isn’t able to attend the majority of the meetings.”
A third board member has resigned, said Mr. Hayden.
“We need six members at our meetings for a quorum. So far, we have had seven board members attend meetings regularly, but if two don’t attend a future meeting, we wouldn’t have a quorum and couldn’t hold a meeting,” said Mr. Noland.
Ms. Carlisle pointed out the MPB has forwarded a letter to the MMAH outlining the concerns and have invited the MMAH officials to its next board meeting in October to discuss these issues.
