Fiscal health of municipalities and infrastructure funding dominate discussion at 2016 AMO Conference

WINDSOR, ON, Aug. 15, 2016 /CNW/ - The Association of Municipalities of Ontario's Annual Conference kicked off in Windsor today with an infrastructure announcement from Premier Kathleen Wynne and the launch of AMO's What's Next Ontario – a public dialogue on the future of municipal fiscal sustainability.

The Conference is Ontario's top educational forum for municipal governments, attracting almost 1,900 participants and injecting more than $5 million into the local Windsor and Essex County economy. This year's program features about 60 plenary sessions, reflecting the broad scope of municipal responsibilities.

Premier Wynne said that the Ontario Government will begin receiving municipal funding applications in September 2016 under the federal government's Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and the federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. Municipal governments will be able to use Ontario Community Infrastructure Funding (OCIF) toward the municipal share of project costs. She also noted that the Government was working to ensure that Move Ontario Forward funding would be expanded to help municipalities make use of funding where required.

"Predictable, formula-based funding for infrastructure is always our goal," said Gary McNamara. "The expansion of Move Forward Ontario funding is a positive step forward for many of Ontario's municipal governments."

AMO staff delivered a special presentation and launched What's Next Ontario.

"Municipal governments deliver most of the services most people rely on, day-to-day," said Gary McNamara, AMO President. "Municipal costs are growing to the tune of about $1 billion every year just to deliver the same programs and services. We need to come together and determine what can be done to address shared challenges and make sure our communities can thrive over the long term."

Complete remarks from the Premier, OPC Party Leader Patrick Brown, ONDP Leader Andrea Horwath and AMO President Gary McNamara are available on at www.amo.on.ca.

Conference highlights for Tuesday, August 16 will include:

• 12:00 p.m. – Announcement from Hon. Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development & Growth
• 1:35 p.m. – Wendy Williams, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary
• 2:15 p.m. – Ashley Rea Kilroy, Executive Director, Marijuana Policy, City and County of Denver
• 3:10 p.m. – Hon. Bill Mauro, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• 3:30 p.m. – Ontario Government Ministers and Parliamentary Assistants answer questions from municipal delegates in an open session

Reporters and delegates can build a personalized conference itinerary and access key conference information through AMOmobile – the Association's free mobile app. Visit http://amo.on.ca/AMO-Content/Footer/Newsroom for news releases, backgrounders and more.

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 444 municipal governments. AMO supports and enhances strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system.

Follow AMO on Twitter: @AMOPolicy, #AMOCONF16

SOURCE Association of Municipalities of Ontario

For further information: Brian Lambie, AMO Media Contact, 416-729-5425, [e-mail]