Overview
Ontario is in a housing crisis and municipalities are doing everything within their power to make housing more accessible to residents. The scope and pace of land use planning changes have been unprecedented. Municipalities are striving to implement major changes, which is all the more challenging due to remaining uncertainty about key financing and governance questions.
Municipalities recognize that electricity distribution infrastructure will have an important role as our communities continue to grow. Historically, Ontario municipalities have had more energy than they need, but this is quickly changing because there are increased energy needs to support current rates of growth. We must ensure that this infrastructure is available when needed to power new homes and economic development opportunities. This infrastructure will also play a central role in the electrification of Ontario’s power grid, helping ensure that our residents have access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
Combatting climate change has been a long-standing advocacy issue for AMO because municipal governments across Ontario are at the forefront of climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. Over the years, municipal councils have declared climate change emergencies and developed climate change action plans to complement the municipal energy plans they are required to complete.
AMO Positions
- AMO recognizes that municipalities have a role to play in solving the housing affordability and supply crisis facing Ontario today. That is why AMO continues to work with municipal elected officials and staff officials who have expertise in planning to ensure any changes to provincial planning are successfully implemented at the local level.
- AMO believes the best approach to managing energy is long-term system planning that considers social and environmental policy, as well as financial and economic impacts. Energy systems must be resilient to the changing climate and other system risks. This approach to managing energy is key to supporting Ontario’s economic prosperity, and ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply for the future.
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