Backflow Controls – Public Input Deputation

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Following is the text of the statement made by Kevin Cowie before council on April 27, 2015

I’m speaking here tonight as a member of midlandcommunity.ca.

Others can speak much more eloquently and authoritatively about back flow prevention specifically; I’m more concerned with the greater impact of this and other over-reaching municipal policies.

The Town of Midland is burdened by a legacy of prior administrations who enthusiastically exceeded policy requirements and standards set by higher legislative authorities.  I can’t explain their motivation, and I won’t speculate here.  The important thing is for us to correct the course that was set before us.

Whether we are talking about back flow prevention or septic inspections or any other activity that impacts the cost and effort of maintaining a residence or business in Midland, it is important to recognise that every initiative impacts your ability to reduce our taxes from the highest levels in the county to your stated target of the 75th percentile.  (As an aside, I hope we will adopt a “continuous improvement” mindset and reset that target to an even better objective as we begin to make progress.)  And make no mistake – any costs imposed by municipal by-laws, whether they are on the annual tax bill, on the water and sewage bill, or are implemented as separate fees – all of these costs have the same impact as taxes in discouraging economic development and influx of residents to our town.

And it isn’t only directly attributable taxes and fees that are that impact our costs.  The staff time and consultant fees that are invested to establish the municipal position must also be paid for through our taxes.

A change in direction and internal culture is long overdue.  I recall a quote from a former councillor who stated that, “We must do everything possible to ensure the safety of our water supply.”  In fact, we don’t have to do everything possible; the cost of that would be crippling indeed.  We have to do everything reasonable and affordable and within the bounds of established legislation, but I fear that this attitude that “we must do everything possible” remains pervasive.

The simple fact is, the provincial and federal governments and national standards authorities employ hundreds of people with far greater qualifications than any of us to determine what standards ought to be adopted in pretty much all fields of health and safety, whether commercial or residential.  Other municipalities around Ontario and across Canada who simply accept and implement these standards find themselves far more attractive to businesses and residents than our fair town, both in terms of tax rates and in terms of bureaucratic hurdles to overcome.  Furthermore, those municipalities also find that they have far less work to do in developing and implementing their policies, resulting in a double dividend to taxpayers.

The response from residents who follow midlandcommunity.ca supports this position.  In our most recent poll, over 85% were in agreement with the following statement: “I support & encourage Midland municipal leadership to manage and operate the resources in a responsible manner, adhere to the laws and regulations that govern such, and embrace “minimums only”.  The sentiment is clear.  Midlanders are tired of the municipality’s appetite for flawed, comprehensive, misguided and over-reaching standards.

It’s time to demonstrate to Ontario and the world that Midland is open for business.  I encourage you to redirect staff toward this new reality, actually live the philosophy, and promote a resident- and business-friendly approach in all policy decisions.  Begin by repealing the back flow prevention by-law and simply adhere to the requirements of the Ontario Building Code.  Then take the next step – review and roll back all municipal by-laws imposing burdens that exceed provincial and national standards.  Finally, adopt an internal shift in philosophy for all staff to actively seek areas that can make Midland more attractive rather than less attractive to current and prospective residents and businesses.

Thank you for listening.

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