It's time: Fall Cottage Life show!

It's time: Fall Cottage Life show!
 
This weekend:
Friday Nov.25 - Sunday Nov.27
The Great Outdoors and DIY event
at the International Centre (Toronto airport)
Find FOCA in Hall #3, Booth 2015
...right next to our friends from the Canadian Canoe Museum and Trantor & Associates, sponsors of the 2011 FOCA Cottage Succession Seminar Series.

Got a question for the experts? Bring it along!
Need a FOCA coffee mug or sweatshirt for a special holiday gift? Plan to pick one up there.

Cottage Life FALL Show

Cottage Life FALL Show - Toronto, November 25 - 27, 2011
At the International Centre


http://cottagelife.com/21020/shows/fall-cottage-life-show

SHOW DAYS

Friday, Nov. 25: 11 am–8 pm
Saturday, Nov. 26: 9 am–6 pm
Sunday, Nov. 27: 10 am–5 pm

FOCA Insurance Programs

FOCA Membership benefits. One of the most valuable is access to special insurance options. For over 10 years, FOCA has provided risk management and insurance programming support for Ontario’s waterfront community associations.

New in 2011
FOCA Member's Cottage and Watercraft coverage.

Please see page 21 of the FOCA Fall News Letter

http://www.foca.on.ca/xinha/plugins/ExtendedFileManager/demo_images/FOCA_RTM_Newsletter_FINAL_Fall_2011.pdf

Asian Carp: The Latest News

Asian Carp: The Latest News
Has the Asian carp invasion of the Great Lakes begun? The official answer seems to be, “not yet.” Although there have been anecdotal reports of carp in Lake Erie and beyond the electric barriers to Lake Michigan at Chicago, there is no evidence carp have reproduced in the Great Lakes. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) watches and evaluates the risk of an Asian carp invasion into Canadian waters. FOCA remains in contact with DFO and GLU (Great Lakes United) about this situation.

Read the article starting on page 8 of the FOCA Fall News Letter
http://www.foca.on.ca/xinha/plugins/ExtendedFileManager/demo_images/FOCA_RTM_Newsletter_FINAL_Fall_2011.pdf

The harshest month

The harshest month

November is an unforgiving month on the Great Lakes. More shipwrecks take place in November than in any other month.

http://www.midlandfreepress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3364326 Midland Freepress

If you are going boating this month please be careful

PROPERTY TAXATION

PROPERTY TAXATION

In 2011, FOCA carries on as a leader in property tax reform, continuing our long-term interests that were initially delivered through WRAFT (Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation) and CAPTR (Coatlition After Property

FOCA’s position on the residential property tax system is as follows: “downloading” by the Province onto municipalities, and hence property owners, is higher in Ontario than all the rest of Canada. This amplifies the problem with tying municipal tax obligations solely to MPAC determined property values.

For more information please read the page 4 of the FOCA Fall News Letter link below

http://www.foca.on.ca/xinha/plugins/ExtendedFileManager/demo_images/FOCA_RTM_Newsletter_FINAL_Fall_2011.pdf

An Update from Hydro One

An Update from Hydro One

In early 2011, FOCA wrote to the President/CEO of Hydro One Inc., outlining our concerns about the higher costs of the “seasonal” rate class which is applied to the property of many of our members. With changing demographics, many “cottagers” are making their cottages their permanent residence. So, seasonal customers are often next door to a permanent resident and paying delivery charges significantly higher than their neighbour.
Why are my seasonal rates higher than year-round residential rates?


In July, Hydro One provided a written response that we have posted to the FOCA website: www.foca.on.ca/rural- services. 
      
In accordance with government regulation, rural year- round residential customers receive cost relief as part of the monthly Rural and Remote Rate Protection subsidy. Without this subsidy, delivery rates for serving rural year-round residential customers would on average be higher.

In addition, Hydro One has provided the following Q&A on the subject:

Why does Hydro One have seasonal rates?

Delivery rates are developed using the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) approved cost allocation model, which allo- cates the costs to serve across the various rate classes (residential, seasonal, general service, etc.) served by Hydro One.”

“Unlike other utilities, we serve a large number of seasonal customers. A seasonal customer is someone who owns a residential property, in addition to their primary residence, typically in a rural or remote location. Our seasonal rate class allows us to recover the costs associated with deliv- ering electricity to these customers.” 

Read the full article in the FOCA News Letter starting on Page 24 Link to the PDF below
http://www.foca.on.ca/xinha/plugins/ExtendedFileManager/demo_images/FOCA_RTM_Newsletter_FINAL_Fall_2011.pdf

New! FOCA Newsletter - Fall 2011

Read the latest FOCA "Report to Membership" Newsletter (Fall 2011) with articles on blue green algae, what to do if you need a new septic system, updates on our programs and "hot topics" files, and more.

A print copy of this Newsletter is sent to all FOCA Individual members as well as the Executive of all our member Associations.

http://www.foca.on.ca/news_and_events/579

Well worth the read

Waterfront zoning is unnecessary, puntive: citizen

Waterfront zoning is unnecessary, puntive: citizen

http://www.midlandfreepress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3356131 Midland Feepress

Midland is looking at this. I hope Tiny does not. We already have 2 levels of government looking at the Shore Line, do we need a third?

Hydro rates switch to winter pricing

Hydro rates switch to winter pricing 


http://bit.ly/t0B7Dy Toronto Sun


Save money do not cook dinner until after 7PM