This message is reprinted from FOCA’s (Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations) Lake Stewards Newsletter/magazine. You can read it at https://foca.on.ca
The municipal level of government delivers some of our most valued public services including roads, policing and emergency response, land use planning, garbage and waste management, by-law development and enforcement. You pay annual property taxes in your municipality to fund these services, along with provincially mandated social services costs that are downloaded to the municipality by the Province.
Who can vote? You are eligible to vote if you are a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age or older, and are a resident, owner, or tenant of property in Ontario (or their spouse). IMPORTANT: If you own or rent a permanent and a seasonal residence in Ontario, you can vote in both municipalities. Your adult children do not qualify to vote at your second residence, unless they are co-owners or co-renters. Similarly, if the cottage is owned by a trust, you do not qualify to vote in that municipality. Check if you are on the municipal Voter List using “Voter LookUp”: https://voterlookup.ca/home.aspx. This service is managed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). Your municipal clerk is the ultimate authority and holder of the voters’ list, so check with them to confirm your status, or to ask any questions about the voting process in your municipality!
Why vote? Waterfront property owners (WPO) represent a significant number of the residents in many rural municipalities, and have a large stake in the future of these communities. WPO pay over $800-million in annual property taxes, forming the backbone of many rural municipal budgets. Municipal Councilors are more likely to be non-partisan, inclusive and accessible to lobbying efforts, and to vote as they choose (compared to Provincial or Federal politicians who are more likely to be compelled to vote with their party). It matters who represents you as your local elected officials. Learn more here: https://foca.on.ca/municipal-election/. Lake Associations: get involved.
Message from the editor. For Carling Township municipal election information,
Go to https//:carling.ca/municipal-information/municipal-elections-by-elections