AMO 2021 Virtual Conference: Halton Region Delegation Meets with Ministers

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A major part of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) annual conference is getting the chance to meet with the Province’s ministers and speak to them about the issues particular to your municipality and seek assistance from the provincial government wherever possible.Even though this year the conference went virtual for a second time, with the host city being the City of London, things were no different as we still had the opportunity to meet with ministers via Zoom.In addition to meeting several ministers as part of the City of Burlington delegation, I was also part of the Halton Region delegation that included Halton’s chair and mayors. Below is a brief synopsis of the meetings and those who attended. Click this link for a news release from the Region of Halton: Regional Council Advocating for Regional PrioritiesThe following materials were also presented at each meeting:

Monday, Aug. 16, 2021Ministry of Health (MOH)Attendees:

  • Province: the Hon. Christine Elliot, Minister of Health and Deputy Ontario Premier
  • Halton: Burlington Mayor Meed Ward, Oakville Mayor Burton, Halton Hills Mayor Bonnette, Milton Regional Councillor Best, and Regional staff Jane MacCaskill, and Mabel Watt

Halton Requests:

  • Public Health Resources to Support Recovery
    • Increased base funding for Halton Public Health to allow strengthened infectious disease control and vaccine management, and the provision of all services required under the Ontario Public Health Standards.
    • Continuous engagement with Public Health Units, to support COVID recovery efforts that meet the needs of local realities, including long-term immunization needs.
    • Access to COVax data for local Public Health Units, for the purposes of local surveillance.
    • A long-term strategy to ensure that Primary Care is able and motivated to continue vaccinating the population in the future and can operate independently, as is the case for many other vaccines.
  • Public Health & Emergency Health Services Modernization
    • Re-focus the Public Health & EMS Modernization on determining the investments required in public health and paramedic services post-pandemic to improve the health of Ontarians.

Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing (MMAH)Attendees:

  • Province: the Hon. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing
  • Halton: Burlington Mayor Meed Ward, Oakville Mayor Burton, Halton Hills Mayor Bonnette, Milton Regional Councillor Best, and Regional staff Jane MacCaskill, and Mabel Watt

Halton Requests:

  • Investments in Housing Services & Homelessness
    • Provide adequate capital and operational funding and flexibility to allow Halton to increase the supply of assisted housing for families.
    • Review Halton’s base CHPI allocation and provide increased funding to allow us to meet operational requirements beyond the pandemic for at-risk and homeless populations and to fund increased homelessness prevention capacity.
    • Communicate clear and timely information on funding and program changes.
  • Protecting the Health & Safety of Residents
    • The Provincial Government support Halton’s position on the CN Truck Rail Hub in Milton, at Federal-Provincial tables and in ongoing Ontario court proceedings.
  • AMO 2021 - Response Letter from Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing - Oct 19_2021

Ministry of Long-Term Care (LTC)Attendees:

  • Province: the Hon. Rod Phillips, Minister of Long-Term Care
  • Halton: Burlington Mayor Meed Ward, Oakville Mayor Burton, Halton Hills Mayor Bonnette, Milton Regional Councillor Best, and Regional staff Jane MacCaskill, and Mabel Watt

Halton Requests:

  • Investments in Long-Term Care
    • Additional long-term care beds in Halton to meet the growing needs of our aging residents and underserviced communities.
    • Immediate delivery and implementation of the recommendations from the Long-Term Care Commission, in partnership with long-term care operators.
    • Increased assistance and support with ongoing long-term care resourcing including human resources and staffing, personal protective equipment and financial supports, in addition to those announced in Budget 2021.
    • Funding to support the implementation of the increase in hours of direct care for long-term care residents as announced on November 2, 2020.

Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI)Attendees:

  • Province: the Hon. Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure
  • Halton: Burlington Mayor Meed Ward, Oakville Mayor Burton, Halton Hills Mayor Bonnette, Milton Regional Councillor Best, and Regional staff Jane MacCaskill, and Mabel Watt

Halton Requests:

  • Growth-Related Infrastructure
    • A co-ordinated Provincial infrastructure investment plan, connected to the Growth Plan, to support high-growth communities in advancing critical Provincial infrastructure:
      • New schools to support families in high growth areas like North Oakville and the Boyne Survey in Milton;
      • The expansion of Hospital services in Georgetown;
      • Investments in Provincial Transit infrastructure, including enhanced GO service (as an example: all way, two way service to Milton) and new 407 Transitway Stations in Halton, including a Neyagawa Road Station.
    • Appropriate tools and mechanisms for delivering timely funding to pay for municipal infrastructure required to support growth.
  • Immediate Access to Reliable Rural Broadband Internet
    • That the Provincial Government work with Halton Region on the recently announced Infrastructure Ontario – Ontario Connects program to identify, incent and implement all remaining broadband gaps in Halton as soon as possible.
    • Develop new strategies, funding programs and tools to ensure that the availability of next generation technologies is equitable and affordable across Halton.
  • AMO 2021 - Response Letter from Minister of Infrastructure - Oct 25_2021

Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural AffairsAttendees:

  • Province: Parliamentary Assistant Randy Pettapiece to the Hon. Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs
  • Halton: Burlington Mayor Meed Ward, Oakville Mayor Burton, Halton Hills Mayor Bonnette, Milton Regional Councillor Best, and Regional staff Jane MacCaskill, and Mabel Watt

Halton Requests:

  • Immediate Access to Reliable Rural Broadband Internet
    • That the Provincial Government work with Halton Region on the recently announced Infrastructure Ontario – Ontario Connects program to identify, incent and implement all remaining broadband gaps in Halton as soon as possible.
    • Develop new strategies, funding programs and tools to ensure that the availability of next generation technologies is equitable and affordable across Halton.

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