Busy AMO 2023 Conference Achieves Momentum Across Priorities
The AMO 2023 Annual Conference in London Ontario yielded significant momentum in priority areas such as: funding growth, sustaining public health, improving the provincial-municipal relationship and serving Indigenous peoples. AMO 2023 again provided the opportunity for municipal and provincial leaders to partner and discuss serving Ontarians.
Positioning Municipalities to Manage Growth
AMO 2023 brought the announcement of the new Ontario Building Faster Fund, a three-year, $1.2 billion initiative to support housing related needs for municipalities. The Fund provides $400 million annually to municipalities that meet 80 per cent of their housing targets and municipalities are eligible for funding based on their share of overall Ontario housing targets. Ten per cent of funding is reserved for smaller municipalities without assigned housing targets. More details are expected this Fall. AMO will update members when these are released.
In addition to the Funding, the Premier extended Strong Mayor powers to additional municipalities with housing pledge commitments and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said his Ministry would appoint Facilitators for the Regions of Durham, Halton, Niagara, Waterloo and York, as well as the County of Simcoe on September 11th. The Facilitators are tasked with reviewing local governance structures in these fast-growing areas to ensure they can deliver “efficient, effective and accountable” local government.
Improvements to Public Health Funding
The Minister of Health, the Honourable Sylvia Jones, announced changes to public health units will be funded, supported and directed. This included reverting back to a 75% provincial and 25% municipal cost sharing ratio. She also announced that there will be an increase in base funding for public health units by 1% annually and that the province will work on a longer-term approach with a guarantee that future changes will not create more financial burden on municipalities.
The Ministry of Health will also work with the public health sector to clarify rules and responsibilities to reduce overlap and ensure that public health is aligned with provincial priorities. The province will provide resources, support, and incentives to facilitate voluntary mergers to better support communities. Ontario municipalities co-fund, and in some cases directly administer, public health units to provide services. AMO has provided advice and recommendations to the provincial government on how to strengthen the public health system.
AMO-ONWA MOU Supports Municipalities and Indigenous Peoples
AMO and the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) signed a memorandum of understanding at the AMO Conference, committing the two organizations to a formal relationship that increases dialogue, involvement in AMO policy development, events and initiatives.
AMO has increasingly supported members to improve their understanding and relationships through training and advice. The ONWA MOU will improve AMO’s engagement with Indigenous services organizations which is currently supported through a MOU with the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centers (OFIFC).
Minister’s Forum Discussion at AMO 2023
The Minister’s forum at AMO 2023 provided another direct opportunity for elected municipal officials to engage with provincial cabinet members on important issues. Some highlights include:
The Provincial-Municipal Fiscal Framework and Funding for Infrastructure
With the recent decision to continue to defer updated property tax assessments and a review of the property tax assessment system, the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Peter Bethenfalvy, signaled his openness to a conversation about ensuring municipalities were properly resourced. This acknowledges calls for an examination of “who does what” to ensure municipal revenues meet responsibilities in a changing environment.
In addition, the Minister of Infrastructure, the Honourable Kinga Surma, noted her appreciation for AMO and OBCM support for renewed federal infrastructure funding, reiterating her hope that a federal announcement would be forthcoming this Fall. The Minister also stated that Ontario would be prepared to “go it alone” if federal funding for infrastructure was not provided soon.
Codes of Conduct for Municipal Officials
A question from the floor of the Minister’s Forum recognized the significant support of municipalities for changes to improve municipal Codes of Conduct to protect staff and elected officials, acknowledging the work of municipalities, MPPs, advocates and AMO. The question garnered substantial support in the audience, demonstrating a desire for further action in this area.
Circular Economy and Blue Box Transition
The Honourable David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Parks and Conservation, was asked about small businesses being excluded from the blue box regulation and concerns about them losing recycling services. The Minister responded that he is aware of the issue and is holding consultations this fall on the blue box program and knows municipalities will be active partners in the consultations and looks forward to our input.
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