MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF COTTAGE OWNERS Notice of Annual General Meeting Saturday, November 1st, 2003 Registration 9:00 A M Meeting at 10:00 A M Garden City Canad Inn, Salon "B" 2100 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba This meeting is not limited to executive members only All are welcome Speakers Mr. Don Rocan, Manager of Clean Drinking water, Provincial Government, speaking on new provincial regulations for safe drinking water A member from the RCMP speaking about water safety, cottage watch and other cottage related issues Display Booths There will be a $10 registration fee in advance $15 registration fee at the door Lunch will be provided To register phone Mrs. Shirley Nixon 261-5050 Numbers influence government therefore it is imperative that we have a large turnout at this meeting.  Because of Walkerton On. our government has passed new legislation regarding water and the first draft of new regulations are now available for consultation.  This issue will effect all Manitobans on semi public or public water systems.  This is your opportunity to have input into the new regulations and to ask questions. Manitoba Association of Cottage Owners  MACO Volume 2 Issue 2 October 2003 Education Funding During the last election the Conservative Party's main thrust was the removal of education tax from property.  NDP figures were used to show that education could be funded from general revenue.  Now that the NDP is in power we must continue to lobby the government to remove education funding from property.  Those in power are beginning to realize just how unfair this method of taxation really is. In our last newsletter MACO distributed a petition to all associations, the petition asked government to completely remove education funding from properties. It is imperative that presidents and secretaries of all associations have distributed copies of this petition among their membership and obtained many signatures. The completed petitions must be mailed to MACO as we expect to be meeting with government, the more signatures we can obtain, the sooner we can realize our objective. Copies of the petition are available and will also be at the MACO AGM scheduled for November 1st, 2003. POLLUTION AND BEACH CLOSURES This year proved to be very significant for the exposure of pollution with emphasis on Lake Winnipeg.  As reported in our last newsletter, at the Freshwater Forum, Minister of Conservation Steve Ashton announced the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg.  The big problem is the watershed that empties into Lake Winnipeg.  The watershed begins at the Alberta - B.C. border, collects pollutants from cattle defecating and urinating in rivers and streams along the way till it finally empties into Lake Winnipeg. Pollution has occurred from the discharge of sewage effluent from the sewage plant in Winnipeg. The pollutants from the Red River flowing north from the U.S. also have to be considered. MACO received exposure to the public through various interviews on both radio and television.  In all cases MACO presented a strong case for changes in regulations, more inspectors for trouble spots and those who blatantly disregard the law. As a result of the media interviews MACO has been meeting on a regular basis with Dwight Williamson, Manager, Water Quality Management Section of Manitoba Conservation, Water Branch. During these meetings we have ascertained that there are no provincial regulations regarding farm animals defecating and urinating in bodies of water unless those bodies of water are used for drinking purposes.  In a recent letter from Minister Ashton's office, it was indicated that the government is reviewing their legislative options to this problem. New onsite wastewater management systems operations came into effect on April 28th, 2003.  These new regulations need changes as they still allow for private pit privies (outhouses with a hole in the ground) among other things. MACO executive has requested a meeting with Minister Ashton to discuss these issues.  Pinawa Sewage Dump On July 12th, 2003 sewage was found floating in Pinawa Bay.  It appears this was raw sewage likely released from a holding tank. The conservation office was called on that very day; it took ten (10) days to have a conservation officer to attend the site.  At which time, when the test was taken, the e coli present was within guidelines. A complaint was registered with Lac du Bonnet Conservation office about wastewater disposal upon the surface of the ground. The reply from the conservation office quoted regulations that were no longer in effect.  Cottage owners must dispose of their waste in a proper manner according to provincial regulations.  Not to do so adds to the problem of beach closures and algae blooms in our lakes, rivers and streams. We must all become involved in the protection of our environment for our children and our children's children, or soon there will be no environment. Clean Potable Water Since Bill 36, the Drinking Water Safety Act, was passed (in 2001) the Bill was not proclaimed because the government has been in the process of producing regulations to go with the bill. The first draft of these regulations was completed in September 2003, and after consultation with interested groups the bill will come into force. MACO is hopeful we will be part of the consultation groups. This legislation and new regulations will mean significant change for many Manitobans.  One change will be that all semi- public and public water systems will have to be chlorinated.  Each system will require a trained, licensed water system operator. Mr. Don Rocan, Manager of the Safe Drinking Water office for the Province of Manitoba is scheduled to speak on safe drinking water at MACO's Annual General Meeting on November 1st.  Opportunity will be afforded at that time to ask questions about the legislation and regulations. Please be sure to attend or send a delegate. Canadian Coalition of Provincial Cottage Associations (CCPCA) The principles of the CCPCA are as follows: Ø Sharing information on issues common to cottage owner. Ø Promoting legislation that enhances the quality of cottage life. Ø Presenting a unified voice on matters related to the environment. Ø Participating at provincial conferences or regional meetings. Ø Supporting cottage owners in each province in developing an effective organization. Ø Raising public awareness at the national level about the issues and concerns of cottage owners across Canada. Ø Promoting environmental stewardship initiatives. MACO dues to member associations are set according to the numbers of cottagers in that association.  The assessment is a mere $1.00 per cottage. CCPCA dues on the other hand, are set at $500 per province regardless of the numbers of association members in the provincial associations such as MACO. Because Manitoba has relatively few cottage associations as members in comparison to a province like Ontario, we feel this is undemocratic and very unfair. A committee was to have been set up by the CCPCA to examine the dues structure.  To date the committee has not provided us with a firm conclusion.  It has been difficult due to the distance between participants. In speaking with the president, Mr. Art Lamoureux, it is possible this can be dealt within the next year. Meanwhile MACO is still a member. It is anticipated that you the members wish to continue membership with the CCPCA.  The CCPCA financial statement and budget will be presented at the AGM The CCPCA made presentation to the Senate Committee on the Personal Watercraft Bill S-10.  It was passed by the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.  The vote was unanimous both Liberal and Conservative senators who attended the meeting voted in favor of it without amendment.  The same day the bill was reported to the full senate and is now on the order paper for third reading and the final senate vote. Bill S-10 allows for municipal regulation of Sea-doos. The CCPCA is now a Canada wide organization, as Prince Edward Island has recently become a member.  The only provinces currently not part of the CCPCA are Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.  Just a little more lobbying and perhaps the eastern provinces will recognize the advantages of being part of a Canada wide lobby group. A perfect example of work done by the CCPCA would be regarding Bill S-10.  Members of the Federated Ontario Cottage Association worked with Senators Barbara Robson and Mira Spivak to make changes to legislation that was proposed.  Of course the results of the senate vote to allow municipalities to regulate Sea-doos will not please everyone, but regardless of how the vote had gone, it wouldn't please everyone. If and when you have issues affecting you and other cottagers, fax, e-mail or write your Ministers please! Here are the addresses. Premier Gary Doer, Room 204, Legislative Building 450 Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Fax:  949-1484 (preceded by 1 - 204 if rural) E-mail: premier@leg.gov.mb.ca Minister Steve Ashton, Minister of Conservation, Room 333, Legislative Building, 450 Broadway Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Fax: 945-3586 E-mail: mincon@leg.gov.mb.ca MinisterRoseanneWowchuk, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Room 301 Legislative Building, 450 Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Fax: 945-1383 e-mail: minia@leg.gov.mb.ca Minister Ron Lemieux, Minister of Education Room 168, Legislative Building, 450 Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Fax:  945-1291 e-mail: medu@leg.gov.mb.ca Changes to our Constitution The executive began the process of proposed changes to the Constitution in June 2003, when it became obvious that we had also changed.  These are recommended changes. Article 2 - Membership, Line (c) change "payed" to "paid" Article 2 - Membership,  Item  2, Payment of assessments and levies shall be made to the treasurer "for the current year" Article 4 - Composition of the Association  Item (a) shall read:  The Executive, "and" Article  5  Representation and Voting  Item (a) shall read:  after entitled to cast one (1) vote. "Member associations having more than 50 members are entitled to a second vote.  A representative must be in attendance for each vote." Article 6,  item (1) should read: Directors - a minimum of two and a maximum of six (6) directors Article 6 Item (g) should read: Director (2) at large: Duties of Directors at large are the same as Directors and that regular attendance not required. (h) that MACO shall have Area Representatives who receive and submit information from the areas of their cottages.  They can attend meetings, but regular attendance is not required, they are not counted in the quorum and have no vote unless by special request of the executive.  Area representatives can be appointed by the executive at any time. Article 7 - election of Executive. The term of office of the president, the Secretary and "three" of the Directors… Line 3, beginning with the Treasurer and "three" other Article 8 - Nomination and Election of Executive Line 2 "on or before the 15th day of February shall be changed to read "the 15th day of July" in each year… Article 9 Line 1 shall be changed to read "a simple majority shall constitute a quorum for Executive meetings." Article 12  Amendments Conclusion of line 2 shall read… "Executive by July 15th " Article 13 Meetings a) Annual Meetings The Annual meeting of MACO shall be held "between October 15th, and November 15th each year." b) Special Meetings Four (4) members of the Executive "or ten (10) different member associations." The Executive of the Manitoba Association of Cottage Owners respectfully submit these changes to the Constitution and recommend their acceptance. Manitoba Association of Cottage Owners, P. O. Box 281, Station Main, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 2G9 Telephone 1 - 204 - 754-8573 or 261-5050 Fax 1 - 204 - 754-2636 e-mail  dnlneal@mts.net MACO Executive members President - Doug Neal Vice President - Shirley Nixon Treasurer - Bill Russell Secretary - Lorraine Neal Directors Rene Comeault Dave Crabb Daryll Hyslop Barb Hyslop Terry Kane Jim Neufeld