Opposition Leaders Address Municipal Delegates at AMO

OTTAWA, Aug. 21, 2012 /CNW/ - The Association of Municipalities of Ontario's 2012 AMO Conference continued in Ottawa today as Tim Hudak, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, and Andrea Horwath, leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario, spoke to delegates. Premier McGuinty addressed the conference's 1,600 delegates on Monday, August 20.

Video of speeches delivered by all three leaders are available on AMO's website: www.amo.on.ca.

All three leaders addressed the ongoing upload of provincial social service and court security costs from the municipal property tax base. The upload agreement and its timeline stem from the 2008 Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review. AMO has produced a backgrounder to assist understanding of this topic.

"AMO is working to ensure that all representatives at Queen's Park appreciate the need to honour these long-term planning and funding commitments," said AMO President Gary McNamara.

On Tuesday afternoon, more than a dozen Ontario Government Ministers faced direct questions from municipal mayors and councillors in an open forum. Key topics of concern included the rising cost of policing, planning authority under the Green Energy Act, funding for source water protection, the future of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), and infrastructure needs.

AMO President Gary McNamara presented the PJ Marshall Innovation Awards on the conference's main stage. The Region of Waterloo received a plaque award for its transit inventory management services. The City of Hamilton and the City of Brampton received certificates of merit.

Conference highlights for Wednesday, August 22 include:

• 8:30 a.m. - Remarks from incoming AMO President, Russ Powers
• 8:45 a.m. - Remarks from Minister Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure
• 9:30 a.m. - Closing keynote from Rex Murphy, host CBC Radio's Cross Country Checkup and weekly columnist, the National Post

This year's program features close to 50 plenary sessions and workshops and more than 75 speakers.  The broad scope of the conference reflects the wide range of programs and services delivered by Ontario's municipalities.

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 444 municipal governments. AMO supports 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.

SOURCE: Association of Municipalities of Ontario

For further information:

Brian Lambie, AMO Media Contact:
Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]