Town of Tillsonburg participating in AMO conference
Mayor Deb Gilvesy, and Councillors Kelly Spencer and Pete Luciani will be among the 2000 government officials attending the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) 2023 Conference in London (August 20 to 23). Kyle Pratt, Chief Administrative Officer, will also attend as part of Tillsonburg’s delegation.
The 2023 Conference will bring municipal leaders together with the Ontario government following a year of important legislative changes, many intended to tackle the province’s housing crisis. Housing continues to be a top priority for all municipal governments. This year’s event features more than 60 speakers, sessions and workshops, reflecting the broad scope of municipal responsibilities.
Keynote presenters include Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his Government’s ministers, Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP and Official Opposition, John Fraser, Interim Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, and Colin Best, AMO President.
The annual conference is a chance for municipal officials to discuss shared challenges, learn about emerging issues and advocate for opportunities that benefit their communities. In addition to the conference program, municipal staff and officials will take part in hundreds of municipal delegation meetings with provincial ministries.
“We’re looking forward to productive discussions on a number of challenges facing our growing community including housing, health care, transportation and infrastructure,” says Mayor Deb Gilvesy.
In particular, the Town will be discussing the urgent need for more detox centres and mental health beds to address homelessness in the community. Increasing primary healthcare capacity is also a pressing concern.
Conversations about next generation 911 services, sustainable transit funding and the need for transportation improvements along the Highway 3 corridor are also on the Town’s agenda.
“We have meetings scheduled with the Solicitor General, the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Finance,” says Gilvesy.
Sessions and speakers will cover a wide range of topics, including housing, women’s leadership, AMO’s partnership with Ontario’s public colleges, cyber security, electronic permitting, municipal risk and liability, infrastructure investment, energy innovation, healthcare transformation, broadband and much more. On August 21, AMO and the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding, signifying a first of its kind relationship between AMO and an Indigenous women’s organization. August 23 plenary programming will focus on homelessness.
“This conference is an important opportunity for us to forge strong, positive working relationships with upper levels of government and learn from our peers in other municipalities,” says Pratt.
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.
(Pictured above L-R) Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney, Mayor Deb Gilvesy, Councillor Pete Luciani, Councillor Kelly Spencer, CAO Kyle Pratt
(Pictured Above L-R) Deputy Mayor Dave Beres, Councillor Kelly Spencer, Councillor Pete Luciani, CAO Kyle Pratt, Mayor Deb Gilvesy, Minister of Health and Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones, Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman
(Pictured Above L-R) Councillor Pete Luciani, Councillor Kelly Spencer, Mayor Deb Gilvesy, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy, Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman, CAO Kyle Pratt