AMO/OMA Resolution Campaign, SALC Regulations, and Advocacy Updates
AMO/OMA Joint Resolution Campaign on Physician Shortage
Communities across Ontario have been facing critical health-care challenges, including long waitlists for primary care, shortages of doctors and other health care workers, and emergency room closures. These cracks in Ontario’s health care system are impacting economic development, health, and well-being at the local level. AMO and the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) have jointly developed a council resolution (PDF, Word) urging the provincial government to recognize the physician shortage in your municipality and throughout Ontario. By adopting this resolution, your municipality can play a crucial role in highlighting the urgent need for more healthcare resources and support.
Access to health services will be a key discussion at the AMO Conference in Ottawa from August 18-21. In addition to being a concurrent session on the topic, the OMA will be sponsoring the Rural Caucus Lunch on August 20 and has reserved meeting space at the Fairmont Château Laurier for both August 20 and 21 to meet directly with municipal leaders. To set up a meeting with the OMA, please reach out to Tarun.Saroya@OMA.org (Senior Advisor for Government Relations and Advocacy) to book a 15-30 minute time slot at your earliest convenience.
New Seniors Active Living Centres Act, 2017 Regulations
The new regulation under the Seniors Active Living Centres Act, 2017 intends to improve access to the Seniors Active Living Centres (SALC) program for underserved communities so more older Ontarians have opportunities to stay active and engaged. Municipalities play an important role in supporting SALC programs, however they may not have the budget to support the number of SALC programs needed in their community. The new regulation prescribes additional entities, and combinations of entities, that can make the required 20% funding contribution to better support underserved communities (e.g., Francophone, Indigenous, rural/remote).
The Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility worked with AMO to conduct two focus groups of municipal representatives to inform this regulation, and AMO provided a submission outlining our support for expanding the entities that can contribute to Seniors Active Living Centres. For more information about the program please contact the Seniors Policy Unit at seniorspolicyunit@ontario.ca.
Update on AMO’s Advocacy on Provincial Cyber Security Legislation
AMO submitted comments on Bill 194, the proposed Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act, 2024. AMO appreciates that the province is as concerned as the municipal sector about the increased number of cyber security threats, but is concerned that a one-size-fits-all solution across the broader public sector could be challenging for municipalities to implement. We will continue to work with the province to ensure that municipal needs are reflected as cyber security regulations are brought forward.
AMO’s Advocacy to the Province’s Skilled Trades Special Advisor
On June 11, AMO sent a letter to the Minister of Labour, Immigration and Skills Development regarding the recently appointed Skilled Trades Special Advisor who has been given a mandate to advise the province on the needs of Ontario’s workforce with a focus on manufacturing and automotive industries. AMO’s letter emphasizes the urgent need to train, attract and retain workers in the construction trades so municipalities can continue to deliver growth-enabling infrastructure to support housing and economic development.
