The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) held its annual general meeting and conference from August 16-19, 2026, in Ottawa, where we were proud to represent our members’ interests in delegation meetings, attend plenary and concurrent sessions, and connect with municipal professionals and elected officials across the province, including at the conference tradeshow.
Delegations
AMCTO President Kyle Pratt advanced our advocacy interests in delegation meetings with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, and Ontario’s opposition parties. While our delegation requests with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) and the Ministry of Education (EDU) were declined, we will follow up with the ministries directly about our advocacy interests.
Ministry of Finance
We met with MPP Michelle Cooper, Parliamentary Assistant for the Ministry of Finance, to discuss opportunities to modernize the legislative framework governing municipal and school board elections. As part of our broader Municipal Election Act (MEA) review, we highlighted changes needed at the intersection of the MEA, the Education Act and Assessment Act, particularly regarding school support designation and voter eligibility.
We advocated to the ministry for greater alignment between the legislation governing municipal and school board elections, including clearer rules for voters and candidates, and reforms that would allow school support information to be managed through Ontario's electoral system.
We also encouraged the ministry to work with the MMAH and EDU to review the framework ahead of the 2030 elections. The ministry noted that broader reforms are already underway, including planned changes that would have municipalities remit Education Property Tax directly to Ontario beginning in 2028. The ministry was receptive to our concerns and agreed that further discussion would be valuable as future election legislation is considered.
Ministry for Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement
We met with Minister Stephen Crawford to discuss implementation of the new Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) requirements under Bill 97 and broader modernization of the Act.
While recognizing the significant progress made through Bill 97, we raised concerns about municipalities' ability to meet the January 1, 2027 implementation deadline for new privacy requirements, including mandatory Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs), privacy breach reporting, and privacy risk assessments. We requested that the compliance timeline be extended to July 1, 2028, to allow more time for municipalities to get organized, as many staff face ongoing capacity challenges, particularly those in smaller and rural communities who are managing competing priorities in a busy municipal election year.
The ministry did not commit to an extension, but acknowledged our concerns. Officials clarified that not every PIA will require the full consultation process; that level of rigour is intended for large, complex projects; smaller programs that don't involve significant personal information warrant a lighter-touch approach. The ministry is developing templates so municipalities can comply without needing outside consultants and confirmed that a guidance document is coming soon to provide clearer definitions of what's actually expected — consistent with the ministry's public commitment to respond to sustained operational pressure on municipalities managing increasing request volumes and complex electronic records.
Despite not receiving a commitment on the timeline extension, the conversation was constructive: the ministry understood our rationale, while signaling that an 18-month extension is a significant ask relative to what they had anticipated.
Opposition Parties
We met with all three opposition parties — the Ontario NDP, Liberal Party, and Green Party — to share our priorities for a review of the MEA and to preview our early thinking on Municipal Act modernization. All three indicated general support and found the asks straightforward.
Discussions also focused on findings from our recent strong mayor powers scan. We shared observations regarding the blurred lines of authority, mayoral decisions and directions, the staffing and financial impacts associated with the use of strong mayor powers, and potential implications for municipal governance and administrative leadership.
Provincial Speeches and the Ministers' Forum
AMO Conference delegates heard from Premier Doug Ford, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, the Minister of Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson, NDP Leader Marit Stiles, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner and Liberal Party Interim Leader John Fraser.
Premier Ford's Speech
Premier Ford’s remarks focused on Ontario’s economic and housing agenda, including the Province’s response to continued U.S. tariff uncertainty, its recently announced Data Centre Playbook, and the $8.8-billion Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build. The Premier also announced that applications are now open for the next round of the $500 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, reiterated programs that reward municipalities for cutting their development charges, and expressed a desire for municipalities to get to a 50% reduction. The Premier thanked municipal leaders and first responders for their work supporting communities affected by wildfires in Northern Ontario.
Minister Flack's Speech
Minister Flack addressed delegates on the ongoing economic uncertainty from U.S. tariffs while reiterating existing Provincial investments meant to attract people and further investments. He also reiterated the announcement made ahead of the conference: the $1-billion Canada-Ontario Non-Development Charge Municipalities Stream, part of the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build, to help municipalities that do not levy development charges build and renew critical infrastructure. The minister also announced the launch of consultations on regulations for model codes of conduct and integrity commissioner processes.
Ministers' Forum
Of particular interest to our members:
- Minister Bethlenfalvy was again asked about the return to a property tax assessment cycle, and reminded the audience that this tool is revenue-neutral. They continue to review the issue on the foundational principles of stability, fairness, competitiveness, as well as the impact on taxpayers.
- Minister Flack was asked about giving 'strong chair' powers to provincially appointed regional chairs and potential conflicts. He responded that regional chairs will be properly vetted, and asked delegates to give it time, mentioning that people may end up liking it.
- Minister McCarthy was asked about doubling the growth of the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) beyond 2026 and reiterated that investments, including the Non-Development Charge Stream of funding, have been made by the Government.
- Minister Flack was also asked about StrategyCorp's CAO survey results that discussed the significant pace and scale of Government legislation and whether it will slow down to allow integration and implementation to occur. He responded that the Government has moved glacially and needs to move faster. He indicated that MMAH does not have legislation on the fall agenda.
- On OMERS governance, Minister Flack was asked when bylaws and regulations under the OMERS Act would be finalized. The minister spoke about consultations with stakeholders and said to expect them sooner rather than later.
- Minister Sakaria was asked about regulations for e-scooters, and he replied that after the consultation in the spring, he expects regulations to be forthcoming, including amendments to the Highway Traffic Act if necessary.
- Minister Sakaria was also asked whether he would look at a full review of the structures for fines related to speeding, which are the lowest in the country and do not cover the cost of administration. The minister said he would take this back for review, along with strengthening enforcement and tougher penalties to ensure safety.
Opposition Speeches
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles told delegates that municipalities are asking for “a partnership that works,” calling on the Province to pay its fair share for services that municipalities deliver on the front lines, such as roads, water and community health. Stiles was critical of the Province for downloading costs onto municipalities without matching funding and pledged that an NDP government would deliver a new deal for Ontario municipalities, including a Social and Economic Prosperity Review to modernize the Province’s fiscal framework.
Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser was also critical of the Province for downloading more responsibility and costs onto municipalities while shrinking their influence at Queen’s Park, arguing that local councils are left absorbing blame for decisions made without their input. Fraser rejected the Government’s framing of municipalities as “creatures of the province,” calling instead for real partnership and respect for local democracy.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner used his remarks to push back on the Province’s Data Centre Playbook. Schreiner said new data centres are being approved across the province without community consultation or safeguards to protect people and the environment, and raised concerns about who benefits from their construction.
Moving Forward
The AMO Conference is an important opportunity for our Association to connect with provincial and municipal leaders and bring the perspective and experience of municipal administrators across Ontario to the forefront. It is an opportunity to find ways to improve provincial legislation, policy, and processes to ensure more efficient and effective service delivery and a stronger municipal-provincial partnership.
For more information or details about how to get involved in our advocacy efforts, please contact us.