Collingwood, ON [6 December 2024] – Earlier today, Steve Pinsonneault, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, attended Town Hall along with Brian Saunderson, MPP, to announce the Town of Collingwood as a recipient of $40,000 under the Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant. Council approved matching funding in the 2024 Budget, resulting in a total investment of $80,000.
The Town applied for the grant to help expedite the development approvals process through investment in the increased efficient use of CityView, an electronic workflow and tracking system for land use planning, building applications, and other related tasks like engineering work after approvals and by-law enforcement.
“Our government understands the vital role economic development initiatives have in strengthening small towns and rural communities across the province,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs. “By way of this RED investment, we are helping to streamline development approvals for the Town of Collingwood through the CityView program. This investment will support communication and problem-solving efforts to help build, grow, and expand businesses and residential communities while driving economic opportunity in the region.”
“Our riding is home to several vibrant towns and rural communities, all of them play an important role in our local economy,” said Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson. “In Collingwood, this important funding will help fuel development in a growing town that is a desired four-season destination for new residents and businesses.”
“This grant is an investment in our community that will ensure a quicker development approval process. This means a more affordable housing supply in Collingwood. Thank you, MPP Saunderson, PA Pinsonneault and the Ministry of Rural Affairs, for this funding”, says Mayor Yvonne Hamlin.
Although the Town already uses CityView, the Town isn’t currently taking advantage of its full suite of features, especially for land use planning and engineering activities. This project will help the Town improve how CityView is used, making it easier for different departments, divisions, and outside agencies (e.g., Conservation Authorities, School Boards, and the County of Simcoe) to work together to communicate more effectively and streamline workflows. This means reviewers can analyze and solve problems simultaneously, making the process faster and more efficient, as well as ensuring all core functions are tracked and automated where possible.
“This upgrade will speed up land use planning and permit approvals, improve teamwork between stakeholders and enhance customer service, saving time and cost that can be passed on to end-users,” notes Summer Valentine, Director, Planning, Building and Economic Development.
Streamlining the development review and approval process will help the Town attract more investment in commercial and industrial properties. It will also speed up the approval process for housing, helping to ease the housing shortage and making it easier for local businesses to attract and retain workers.
This project is funded in part by the Ontario government through the Rural Economic Development Program.
