The Township of Muskoka Lakes faces important challenges—from land planning, by-law enforcement, and responsible development to attainable housing, economic development, flooding, and fire risk. Your voice must be heard as we work together as a community to address them.
“I have every reason to believe in Muskoka’s future. Let’s make sure Council makes decisions that are future-proof: anticipating the future, building resilience and protecting Muskoka’s long-term sustainability.”
Pam Jeffery has a deep connection to Muskoka and an ability to find solutions.
She has the vision, proven leadership skills and experience to serve on Council.
Why I’m RunningIt is a critical time in Muskoka in part because of decisions made by the provincial government. I have been listening to many of you who are deeply concerned about development issues facing the next Council. Leading a community of 22,000 women helped sharpen my listening skills!
The provincial government passed Bill 185 into law in June 2024. It takes away the rights of lake associations, environmental groups and others to appeal most local planning decisions. Before this, appeals could be made to the Ontario Land Tribunal (an adjudicative body that settles land use planning disputes). In addition, ministerial zoning orders (MZOs) are being used to bypass local planning. It is more important than ever to elect councillors on October 26 who will embrace responsible development.
Second, our future is at stake as we face climate change. While we can’t predict the future in Muskoka, Council can anticipate it and prepare by applying a future-proof lens to decision making. I’ll share a personal story about climate change. My older son lives in Fort McMurray. He experienced the devastating 2016 wildfire that saw 80,000 residents flee when the evacuation order was issued at 2 pm in a city with one highway. When the fire jumped the highway, he and others drove north through flames-the only remaining route. The local municipality is now better prepared for the future with a robust evacuation plan which includes staged evacuation. I’d like to be at the Council table to make a contribution towards this kind of future-proof decision-making to find solutions to the issues we face in Muskoka.
I am running because I want to preserve, protect and strengthen what we have. Muskoka is our family gathering place, like it is for many of you whether you are permanent or seasonal residents. As parents and grandparents, my husband and I think a lot about the world we re leaving to the next generation.
Council can’t do it alone. I believe we need to work closely with the provincial and federal governments to meet our responsible development, environmental, housing and economic development goals, among others. Now that I am retired, I can share my experience over many years of working with provincial and federal governments on these issues.
As Muskoka grows, we must ensure every land use decision and by-law protects the natural environment that sustains our communities, economy, and quality of life for generations to come.
We must embrace responsible development that protects Muskoka’s iconic landscapes, and our community.
By working collaboratively with provincial and federal governments, we can secure the support needed to achieve Muskoka’s goals.
By growing a vibrant, sustainable economy, we can create quality local jobs, housing, and ensure Muskoka remains strong generations to come.
