February 6, 2026

200+ BUILDERS, SUPPORTERS OPPOSING MUSKOKA LAKES COUNCIL PROPOSAL FOR CONTRACTOR LICENSING STUDY

MUSKOKA LAKES TOWNSHIP — A draft proposal for township staff to investigate a bylaw for a Municipal Contractor Licensing System is being vehemently opposed by a couple hundred plus Muskoka Lakes Township builders and supporters.

Last month Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Muskoka Builders’ Association and Our Muskoka Stakeholders Association wrote to the township requesting it reconsider staff exploring any type of licensing system.

This as Muskoka is also suffering the effects of a nation-wide housing shortage.

It followed a request by council to look in to the feasibility, prompted by a complaint by a home owner about a contractor.

A planning committee meeting has forwarded a motion to the full council meeting Feb. 11 to ratify this direction to staff for work to begin.

“Which means there’s still time for the council to reconsider,” says Norah Fountain, executive director of the chamber of commerce.

She said that on Wednesday, Feb 4 at 11 a.m., a call for others in the business community to endorse its letter of opposition.

“By the end of day there were a couple dozen endorsements. As of 6 p.m. today (Thursday) there are now well over 200 and rising.

“The community feedback seems clear — the licensing idea is not a popular one.”

She said they understand at least one councillor has asked that this resolution be pulled out of the consent agenda for discussion.

“If it isn’t pulled out, it’s possible this could get passed without anyone knowing about it. It speaks to an initial review and creation of potential options for a proposed licensing system. It still needs to be approved by council on Feb 11 for staff to begin working on it.”