NEWS RELEASE
RESCUE LAKE SIMCOE COALITION
*************************
The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition (RLSC) has put forward suggestions to the Province of Ontario ahead of the 2026 budget, urging practical steps that connect housing development, transit improvements, and environmental protection within the Lake Simcoe watershed. Based on its recent report, “Protect Our Plan: From Good Goals to Practical Progress,” RLSC’s submission highlights how decisions made in the provincial budget can encourage growth in suitable areas while addressing long-term environmental and infrastructure challenges in one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions. “Lake Simcoe illustrates why housing, transit, and environmental care must be planned together,” said Jonathan Scott, executive director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. “When growth happens in serviced, transit-friendly communities, it helps minimize sprawl, preserves natural areas, and cuts down long-term infrastructure and water treatment costs.” Lake Simcoe is home to over half a million residents and offers drinking water, recreational opportunities, agricultural output, tourism benefits, and natural flood defense throughout the region. Key points from RLSC’s 2026 pre-budget recommendations include: Focus on housing and transit-led growth in serviced locations: RLSC encourages the province to emphasize compact residential development that is close to public transport within existing community boundaries, especially along established rail lines. Targeted funding for regional transit and associated infrastructure enables communities to grow upwards rather than outwards. This helps limit sprawl while safeguarding natural spaces and reducing runoff as well as flood risks to the lake. Utilizing tax relief for environmental gains: The coalition advocates for expanding Ontario’s Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program and creating a specific riparian tax exemption for naturalized buffers along rivers and streams around Lake Simcoe. These buffers help manage runoff and flooding while lowering downstream infrastructure costs-offering tangible environmental benefits through an incentive-based system. “Cutting taxes to protect our water is good policy and good politics,” said Scott. Minimizing road-salt pollution while aiding small businesses: RLSC also suggests implementing a limited-liability framework for certified snow removal contractors similar to models used elsewhere like New Hampshire. This framework would help reduce excessive salt use which protects waterways as well as infrastructure while providing more certainty and savings for small businesses. This adjustment could be included in the budget bill. Making sure infrastructure investments enhance watershed health: The submission emphasizes maintaining and upgrading stormwater systems as part of broader infrastructure renewal efforts. Properly maintained stormwater facilities are key to supporting higher-density living in serviced areas while managing flood risks effectively and protecting water quality. RLSC’s submission also recognizes recent provincial support for Lake Simcoe such as funding for the Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Reduction Facility alongside resources allocated towards monitoring activities, research initiatives, agricultural washwater treatment projects, and natural heritage protection efforts. It stresses building on these investments through coordinated policy choices as well as budget allocations. “Ontario has an opportunity to demonstrate that housing development, transit expansion, and environmental protection can work hand-in-hand,” said Scott. “The 2026 budget presents a chance to align those elements practically at a reasonable cost.” RLSC has shared its submission with members of Provincial Parliament from the Lake Simcoe area and looks forward to ongoing discussions as preparations move forward for the 2026 budget. *************************
Source link
RESCUE LAKE SIMCOE COALITION
*************************
The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition (RLSC) has put forward suggestions to the Province of Ontario ahead of the 2026 budget, urging practical steps that connect housing development, transit improvements, and environmental protection within the Lake Simcoe watershed. Based on its recent report, “Protect Our Plan: From Good Goals to Practical Progress,” RLSC’s submission highlights how decisions made in the provincial budget can encourage growth in suitable areas while addressing long-term environmental and infrastructure challenges in one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions. “Lake Simcoe illustrates why housing, transit, and environmental care must be planned together,” said Jonathan Scott, executive director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. “When growth happens in serviced, transit-friendly communities, it helps minimize sprawl, preserves natural areas, and cuts down long-term infrastructure and water treatment costs.” Lake Simcoe is home to over half a million residents and offers drinking water, recreational opportunities, agricultural output, tourism benefits, and natural flood defense throughout the region. Key points from RLSC’s 2026 pre-budget recommendations include: Focus on housing and transit-led growth in serviced locations: RLSC encourages the province to emphasize compact residential development that is close to public transport within existing community boundaries, especially along established rail lines. Targeted funding for regional transit and associated infrastructure enables communities to grow upwards rather than outwards. This helps limit sprawl while safeguarding natural spaces and reducing runoff as well as flood risks to the lake. Utilizing tax relief for environmental gains: The coalition advocates for expanding Ontario’s Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program and creating a specific riparian tax exemption for naturalized buffers along rivers and streams around Lake Simcoe. These buffers help manage runoff and flooding while lowering downstream infrastructure costs-offering tangible environmental benefits through an incentive-based system. “Cutting taxes to protect our water is good policy and good politics,” said Scott. Minimizing road-salt pollution while aiding small businesses: RLSC also suggests implementing a limited-liability framework for certified snow removal contractors similar to models used elsewhere like New Hampshire. This framework would help reduce excessive salt use which protects waterways as well as infrastructure while providing more certainty and savings for small businesses. This adjustment could be included in the budget bill. Making sure infrastructure investments enhance watershed health: The submission emphasizes maintaining and upgrading stormwater systems as part of broader infrastructure renewal efforts. Properly maintained stormwater facilities are key to supporting higher-density living in serviced areas while managing flood risks effectively and protecting water quality. RLSC’s submission also recognizes recent provincial support for Lake Simcoe such as funding for the Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Reduction Facility alongside resources allocated towards monitoring activities, research initiatives, agricultural washwater treatment projects, and natural heritage protection efforts. It stresses building on these investments through coordinated policy choices as well as budget allocations. “Ontario has an opportunity to demonstrate that housing development, transit expansion, and environmental protection can work hand-in-hand,” said Scott. “The 2026 budget presents a chance to align those elements practically at a reasonable cost.” RLSC has shared its submission with members of Provincial Parliament from the Lake Simcoe area and looks forward to ongoing discussions as preparations move forward for the 2026 budget. *************************
Source link
