IGAP planners smoking the 'wacky tobacky'

Dear editor:

What are they smoking? Hemson Consulting is more than likely smoking the same thing that Dillon Consulting was smoking when they provided their $3 million report, known as IGAP, (Inter Governmental Action Plan). IGAP is the basis for the County's growth management plans.

This letter is in response to Comments by Bruce Haire in the Sept. 26th edition.

It's been a known fact that the County of Simcoe, for some time, has been undergoing its own Official Plan Review and Growth Management Study. Any municipality in Simcoe County who has submitted recent Official Plans, including Innisfil, has done so prematurely at the ratepayers expense. Provincial Policy states that Municipalities within Simcoe County must conform to the County's Official Plan.

Innisfil's new Official Plan and Growth Management Study, also known as Official Plan Amendment #1, call for a population of 105,000 through the year 2031. Neither of these have been approved by the County but have cost the taxpayers of Innisfil tens of thousands of dollars.

Innisfil Council spent over $18,000 polling Barrie and Innisfil residents on their opinion as to whether they want growth. The majority of Barrie doesn't want a lot of growth. The Town of Innisfil has refused to make public the results of the entire survey, including Innisfil's thoughts on growth.

The reason that Hemson Consulting and Dillon Consulting defy all other planning documents is very clear. The Province and the County, along with Hemson and Dillon Consulting have concluded that the sustainability of Lake Simcoe is in jeopardy and, therefore, allocated population accordingly.

Our Council, which has had big representation at the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority, have chosen to ignore the latest in studies regarding the health of Lake Simcoe and moved forward with development plans over 100% of the target of the County's plans.

I might ask the question, what are the decision makers in Innisfil smoking?

John Hurd

Innisfil

Haire's Note: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs requires that Official Plans be upgraded every five years. In June of 2006, the Province brought out its Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. By that time the Innisfil OP was being printed and was passed in July. Municipalities throughout the area are trying to move forward in spite of a lack of direction from the Province. The Town has withdrawn OPA #1 awaiting the province. There is a big difference between 47,000 and 105,000.