Over the years, a small municipality has been a leader in right-thinking when it comes to protecting their public purse and private property rights. In 1990s, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) claimed that the beaches shared by cottagers in fact belonged to the government and were public not private property. https://www.tinycottager.org/1992/10/01/mnr-land-claim-private-property-ownership-challenged Long story short, in 2000, the courts ruled that the shoreline belonged to the property owners. “During the trial, the patents for all the perimeter lots in Tiny were examined by the Court. The court ruled that when the Crown sold the original township lots around Tiny’s perimeter, all of the township lots were granted or sold by the Crown to the water’s edge. The Court found that when the Crown granted those township lots, except in a limited number of grants, it did not reserve or retain any land or special rights along the water’s edge.” https://centreipperwashcommunity.ca/court-rulings-dont-support-claim-of-open-beaches/
And now Tiny township has done it again. According to an article by Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter MidlandToday.ca, “Tiny is ready to see if it’s easy being green as they explore the connection of climate change to the financial component of the township.
Following up on a deputation last month from governance resource advocate group KICLEI (Kicking the International Council Out of Local Environmental Initiatives), Coun. Dave Brunelle asked the municipality to explore one of the group’s inquiries.
“I believe it was a valid presentation,” stated Brunelle. “Due to the key concepts of high costs and financial impact, and also the urban bias and rural underfunding, I’d like (council to have staff) identify and declare the costs of implementing the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program since signing on in 2018.”
Bravo to KICLEI and Tiny township!
Read the full article here: