RC117 MarApr 2025 - Magazine - Page 42
CLOSING SHOT
YOU CAN FIGHT CITY HALL
INY TOWNSHIP, nestled between rolling farmland and the serene beaches of southern
Georgian Bay, is facing a 昀椀nancial crisis
that threatens its future. A proposed $28
million municipal administrative centre
has sparked widespread concern among
residents, who fear it will burden them with
unnecessary debt and long-term 昀椀nancial strain.
What began as a routine infrastructure project has
quickly become a cautionary tale of 昀椀nancial mismanagement and disregard for public input.
The project, currently lacking adequate funding,
will force the township to borrow the entire $28
million. With interest, the total cost could reach $50
million—an extraordinary sum for a small community. Property taxes in Tiny have already risen
by 26 per cent over the past three years, a昀昀ecting
seniors on 昀椀xed incomes and young families. This
new debt has yet to be accounted for, and with
in昀氀ationary pressures and uncertain U.S. tari昀昀s,
the timing could not be worse.
The problem lies not only in the 昀椀nancial
cost but also in the council’s approach. Instead of considering 昀椀scal
realities, the council has pushed ahead, ignoring calls for a more
a昀昀ordable, scaled-back alternative. The Stop the Build campaign, led
by concerned residents, advocates for cost-e昀昀ective solutions, but their
concerns have been met with a lack of engagement and transparency.
This is a missed opportunity for dialogue and collaboration that could
have resulted in a solution better re昀氀ecting the community’s needs.
For municipal leaders, 昀椀nancial responsibility should be at the core
of decision-making. Responsible governance balances infrastructure
projects with the municipality’s long-term 昀椀nancial health. It’s not
enough to focus solely on short-term construction costs; the full scope
must include ongoing debt servicing, potential economic downturns,
and residents’ well-being. The current trajectory, driven by political
urgency rather than 昀椀nancial pragmatism, is deeply concerning.
Beyond immediate costs, hidden 昀椀nancial risks could worsen the
situation. If the project proceeds without proper public consultation,
it could lead to legal challenges, incurring signi昀椀cant costs. Lawsuits
from residents or advocacy groups could result in settlements and
erode public trust. The absence of a clear public mandate, coupled
with the project’s hurried nature, could lead to costly delays, unforeseen complications, and premium costs for rushed services.
Environmental concerns further complicate the issue. The selected
site lies within an ecosystem supporting one of only two locations in
Canada with Ice Age grass—an endangered species listed on both
by Erik Schomann
Erik Schomann, is
secretary, Tiny Township
Residents’ Alliance
42
RENEW CANADA – MARCH/APRIL 2025
federally and provincially Species at Risk. The Ministry of Environment,
Conservation and Parks is monitoring compliance, but the township
is aware and is meeting only minimal standards. Any failure to comply could result in 昀椀nes, in昀氀ating costs further. Preserving this species
should be a priority for any environmentally conscious community, yet
the council’s focus on the new building overshadows the need to protect
Tiny’s unique ecological heritage.
To underscore growing resistance, a petition with nearly 7,800 signatures calling for a referendum was delivered to the Ontario legislature
before the winter break. In response, Minister of Municipal A昀昀airs
and Housing Paul Calandra noted that the township could hold a
by-election and urged continued dialogue with citizens. The council
downplayed these recommendations and ignored follow-up overtures,
highlighting the deep disconnect between elected o昀케cials and the people they serve.
Tiny’s problems are not unique—many Canadian municipalities
su昀昀er from 昀椀nancial irresponsibility by elected o昀케cials. But what is
unique about Tiny is the organization, determination, and resistance of
its residents. The people here do not sit idly by when decisions threaten
their community. They have a legacy of standing up for what is right
and are doing so once again.
The residents of Tiny Township are not asking for drastic changes.
They are asking for the council to demonstrate 昀椀scal responsibility,
transparency, and a willingness to listen. The current proposal, as it
stands, is neither a昀昀ordable nor in the best interest of the community.
It is time for the council to reconsider its approach, take a step back,
and engage with the public in a meaningful way. In the long run, the
cost of ignoring the concerns of residents will far exceed the cost of any
building project. Tiny Township must build a future that is sustainable,
a昀昀ordable, and rooted in the principles of democratic governance.
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