Municipal Leaders Head to Ottawa for 2024 AMO Conference

Press Release – Association of Municipalities of Ontario

More than 2,500 participants from hundreds of municipalities and organizations across Ontario will take part in the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference, August 18 to 21, at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa.

The 2024 AMO Conference brings municipal and provincial officials together at a time when Ontario communities face complex challenges that outstrip municipal resources and responsibilities. AMO is seeking a joint Social and Economic Prosperity Review with the Ontario Government to take a prudent look at how public services and infrastructure investments are funded.

“Current funding relationships are undermining the prosperity of our communities.  Housing, public safety, infrastructure and healthcare are at risk, if we don’t take action,” said AMO President Colin Best. “The goal is to make life more affordable for everyone – municipalities, the Government of Ontario, and the taxpayers we all serve.”

This call to work together is in keeping with the conference celebration of AMO’s 125th anniversary – a milestone that signifies more than a century of collaboration and advocacy for Ontario’s municipal governments.

The Conference provides participants the opportunity to learn, network and share ideas that can benefit communities. It also facilitates hundreds of delegation meetings between municipal governments and provincial ministries. In addition, delegates will have an opportunity to pose questions to provincial cabinet ministers.

This year’s event features more than 60 speakers, sessions and workshops, reflecting the broad scope of municipal responsibilities. The conference will kick-off with keynote speaker Andrew Coyne, political journalist and former national editor of Maclean’s magazine. Coyne will speak about emerging and potential threats to democracy, and how municipal leaders can navigate declining public trust and anger.

Other speakers include:

Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario  

Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Hon. Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure

Hon. Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health

Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict (invited)

Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP and Official Opposition

Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party

Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario

Colin Best, AMO President

Key session topics will include housing and homelessness, how to fund infrastructure, the opioid epidemic, public safety, climate change, Indigenous engagement, access to health care services, use of artificial intelligence, and much more.

Program details, which are subject to change, are available at www.amo.on.ca. The most current information is available on the AMO Conference app (available for iPhone  and Android).

AMO works to make municipal governments stronger and more effective. Through AMO, Ontario’s 444 municipalities work together to achieve shared goals and meet common challenges.