Winter 2026 Challenges

The winds and snow squalls of January have been a challenge for many of us who dream of simply enjoying as many outdoor winter activities as we can.

So it is for the fiscal situation in the Town of Blue Mountains.  The heady days of burgeoning development charges to fund necessary infrastructure are seriously chilled.  

The current and future financial health of our Town are not what we knew in the past.  

And on top of this is the crippling reality that a major infrastructure project – Mill Street/Bay Street/Craigleith sewer main upgrades -- is projected to exceed its original budget by $19 million — about 50%.

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Our Questions to Council

BMRA is presenting to Council three key questions that require clear answers and timely corrective measures.  

These include:

• What are the critical learnings regarding financial oversight, project management discipline and timely communications and reporting?  How and when will these be implemented?

  
  

• Do Council and Staff leadership have confidence in our current asset management plan, how the Town will prioritize upgrades and replacements of other major infrastructure, and have a clear picture of what this means for our long term finances?

  
  

• Will an external audit also be conducted so that we get an unvarnished evaluation and further recommendations for the future?
  

But the biggest question may be:  

Can a town the size of Blue Mountains responsibly and effectively manage these kinds of large infrastructure projects?

A Potential Answer:

Municipal Services Corporation

The province has also raised this question, and considered a model for having such projects managed by a broader regional authority – a Municipal Service Corporation – working across multiple municipalities. This could be worthy of consideration for our region, with the municipalities of  Southern Georgian Bay seeming to be a logical geographic area to test this concept.

We depend on your support.

Renew for $25 by eTransfer to join.bmra@gmail.com

“Town Talks” in February

Watch for an update on an upcoming “Town Talks” forum in February, where our members can meet and chat with each other and members of the BMRA board.

What do you think?  Let us know!