Greater Sudbury Official Plan, phase 2 – Joint

On June 2, 2022   /   Climate Change, Concerns, Water Quality  

Photo by Al Oman

We are very concerned that subwatershed studies are not being incorporated into the Official Plan, and that this will likely have to wait until the next review (5-10 years or more from now). Our community has been waiting a long time for subwatershed studies. As a ‘City of Lakes,’ watershed health and water quality is extremely important to the community. With small, sensitive watersheds, lakes at ‘the edge’ (e.g. for phosphorus levels), and growing stress from urbanization and climate change, recommendations from subwatershed studies should be implemented as soon as possible, and integrated into city policies, including our Official Plan, in a timely manner.

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Stormwater Funding Feasibility Study

On March 29, 2022   /   Concerns, Stormwater, Stormwater Funding Feasibility, Studies, VRS Comments, Water Quality  

The VRS recognizes the importance of finding a more equitable and sustainable way to pay for stormwater management. However, it would be best to do this by charging an additional surtax on properties with large impervious surfaces. In addition, the City should offer Green Tax Credits for those property owners removing hard surfaces and incorporating naturalized areas and green infrastructure that filters and absorbs stormwater where it falls. These measures would help fund the increased stormwater costs, discourage grey infrastructure, and encourage green infrastructure to lessen stormwater runoff.

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Ramsey Lake Subwatershed Study and Master Plan – Phase 2 Report

On May 1, 2020   /   Blue Green Algae, Climate Change, Concerns, Drinking Water, Heavy Metals, Junction Creek, Natural Heritage, Ramsey Lake, Septic Systems, Stormwater, Studies, VRS Comments, Water Quality, Watershed Studies  

If the design objective is to meet and provide peak flow control for storm events, it is necessary to plan beyond the 1:100-year peak flow, and instead plan for the new norm of a 1:1000-year flood event.  Planning for the appropriate peak flow is crucial to building climate resilience and meeting the demand over the full lifecycle of the infrastructure.  If an inadequate peak flow formula is used it could result in significant additional costs to the City if it has to repair or tear up failing infrastructure to rebuild and increase capacity before it has reached its end-life.  “Even a 1000-year return period has a 5% risk of being equalled or exceeded in a 50-year period.”

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Review of the Draft 2020 – 2030 Sudbury Forest Management Plan

On January 15, 2020   /   Access, Climate Change, Concerns, Natural Heritage, Sudbury Forest Man., VRS Comments, Water Quality  

The specific areas of concern (AOC) for the VRS are the Margaret, Anne and Three Corner Lake areas in Louise and Lorne Townships.  The forest area within and surrounding this triangle of lakes has cultural heritage landscape values and is of significance to this community.  The area has been used for cross country skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, trapping and fishing by the Finnish Community since the early 1900s.

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Official Plan Review – Phase 2

On June 17, 2019   /   Blue Green Algae, Climate Change, Drinking Water, Natural Heritage, Septic Systems, Stormwater, VRS Comments, Waste Water, Water Quality  

The extremes of climate change will affect the operation of critical infrastructure such as water and wastewater treatment plants, sewers, the electrical grid, public transport and roads that are sensitive to temperature and weather thresholds.  Beyond these thresholds, infrastructure may have reduced capacity or may not function at all.

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Speak out against Bill 66

On January 13, 2019   /   Concerns, Mining, VRS Comments, Water Quality  

Update:  Victory!! Provincial Government announced that Schedule 10 will be withdrawn from Bill 66 because of the huge public outcry.  People power works!  

A big thanks to all those who signed petitions and contacted their MPPs!!

The Government of Ontario is proposing Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018. It is unacceptable that Schedule 10 of this Bill would enable municipalities to simply pass an “open-for-business planning by-law” under the Planning Act, to exempt local development from the application of key components of several important provincial laws, plans and policies, including the:
• Clean Water Act, 2006, Section 39
• Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015, Section 20
• Greenbelt Act, 2005, Section 7
• Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008, Section 6, and
• Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2003, Section 7

It’s also extremely troubling that a municipal open-for-business planning by-law would not be subject to public notice, comment or appeal provisions which are currently mandatory under the Planning Act. Read more →

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Bill 66 – Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018 – Request to Mayor & Council

On January 12, 2019   /   Concerns, Heavy Metals, Life on the River, Mining, Natural Heritage, VRS Comments, Water Quality  

It is crucial that we reject Bill 66, as risky development decisions made in this jurisdiction or adjacent municipalities could have negative impacts on Sudbury’s air, land and/or water, as well as the Great Lakes and many other highly valued ecosystems. Being “Open for Business” is a good thing, unless it is at the expense of public health and safety or the environment. 

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