Our natural environment is our foundation for our local economy.
Ontario's population is projected to increase by 24.4%, adding nearly 4.0
million residents to reach over 20.2 million by 2051. Much of that growth will
take place in the Greater Toronto Area and will drive population growth in
Muskoka. In order to accommodate this growth and ensure the environment
thrives and remains healthy like it is today, we will need to put the
environment first in our land use policies and our by-laws.
Responsible Development is the cornerstone of our foundation.
It encourages development that will protect the “view from the canoe”,
our wetlands and offers the help we need to protect ourselves from
increasing flood and fire risk. With future population growth, responsible
development will help ensure our environment is sustainable.
In an era of climate change and population growth, Council can’t find solutions
to increasingly complex issues alone.
We need to work closely with the provincial and federal governments to meet
our environmental, responsible development, housing and economic
development goals, among others.
In Muskoka, we have an incredible history dating back to the 1870s of
permanent and seasonal residents working together to create a vibrant
local economy as resorts were built, which drew an increasing number of
visitors which in turn prompted the growth of cottaging and the number
of cottagers.
Let’s build on this history and write the next chapter together to build a
healthy environment and a healthy economy with long-term secure jobs