The issue is not where to locate tiny houses or not have these at all. The issue is to provide basic housing of some type to all. Talking does not do this. The City and County have to put money in and if if this requires raising taxes, so be it.
It is always a hard decision if to fight an appeal to the Lands Tribunal or settle with some compromise. However, Councillor Lauer is correct that a municipality should not give in just because it may cost a significant amount to defend Council's original decision. Otherwise, the word gets out that Orillia is not willing to defend its decisions which than makes the local planning process a meaningless exercise.
I suggest the world is getting too complex if we have to have an "environmental assessment" for a traffic light --- How about a strait forward traffic review and then get on with installing the light.
I suggest a rich, civilized country should still have reliable, country wide postal system, which is connected to the international service. So Canada should have such a system. To achieve this it is time for the Federal Parliamentarians to quit squabbling in Ottawa and pass the necessary legislation to end the strike with fair compensation to employees and reasonable working conditions.
Growth has likely never paid for itself. The idea that growth is good and will solve problems has been accepted by the Canadian public and politicians for a few hundred years. Up to a point growth provides for better service, at higher cost, but beyond a certain size growth has no end benefit. I submit the Orillia area is large enough and would do very well with very small growth
For 10 years or more it has become obvious that the compensation package for family physicians is not working, which has caused the current lack of service. It is unfortunate, that the Provincial Government has not dealt with this issue to date. - The Provincial Government is preoccupied with lowering taxes and hence has no time to improve service.
There is nothing wrong with the a "ward system". A City wide election system favours incumbents, which in turn means Councillor tend to stay on longer.
I have no objection to the funding as infrastructure has to be maintained. However, remember, the Provincial money also comes from us, the taxpayer. So it is very much moving money from one pocket to another.
The Fins look after the elderly and people who can not survive in our competitive society. We could do it too. However, while the Fins look after these people Canadians worry about taxes. The Fins concern themselves with service not taxes..
Raise taxes and start building suitable housing and provide the necessary medical support from the new funds. As a temporary solution let people camp in designated areas not in public parks or on some front lawns.