AMO Watchfile - January 16, 2025

- Municipal property taxes on The Agenda.
- New resources added to GBV Resources Toolkit.
- Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019 Act consultation.
- Implementation date of excess soil landfill restriction changed.
- Book your AMO 2025 Conference Hotel!
- AMO Education - Workshops addressing and supporting your leadership.
- Enhance your road data in 2025.
- Designing for Digital Inclusion: Creating Welcoming Online Spaces for All.
- Municipal Series: Net Zero Planning and Low Carbon Initiatives.
- IPAC Emerging Leaders Conference.
- Save the date: Scotiabank 2025 Affordable Housing Summit.
- Careers.

AMO Matters
AMO Director of Policy and Government Relations, Lindsay Jones, spoke to TVO’s Steve Paikin about pressures on municipal property taxes and the need for a new provincial-municipal fiscal framework.

Check out the new resources on privacy and information sharing from the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario in AMO’s toolkit of Gender-Based Violence Resources for Municipal Elected Officials.

Provincial Matters
The province is currently consulting on regulations related to the sale and transfer of dogs in Ontario, record-keeping requirements and potential exceptions to puppy mill prohibitions (PAWS Act). Comments due February 1.

Ontario has made amendments to Ontario Regulation 406/19 to change the in-effect date of a provision to restrict landfilling cleaner excess soil, from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2027.

Federal Matters
The Canada Water Agency is accepting applications for initiatives that improve Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health under the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative. Applications can be submitted for eligible projects until February 13, 2025. Municipalities are eligible.

Education Opportunities
You can now book your accommodations for the 2025 AMO Conference in Ottawa August 17-20. Here is where you will want to click for all the information you need and links to conference hotels. Registration will open soon!

AMO has assembled an array of workshops focused on supporting and strengthening your role as a local leader. From asset management planning, land use planning, indigenous-municipal relations, navigating conflict, communications through local crisis, strategic thinking, planning and communication, understanding anti-semitism and islamophobia and so much more. AMO is also offering registration discounts. Check it all out here.

LAS
Make 2025 the year of data! Get a study done through the LAS Road & Sidewalk Assessment Service so you can make repair decisions based on high-quality, objective data. Contact Tanner to learn more.

Join our barrier-free website builder service partner GHD on January 30 for an engaging discussion on designing inclusive municipal websites. Discover solutions for breaking down digital barriers, meeting accessibility standards, and fostering welcoming online spaces for all residents to engage with their community.

Have you made a commitment to net zero and don’t know where to start? Join the IESO’s guest speaker, our very own Christian Tham, in the next Municipal Series webinar on January 31. Christian will lay out practical steps to take and provide real life examples to help you on your low carbon journey. Click here for more information and to register.

Municipal Wire*
The Institute of Public Administration of Canada is hosting a professional development event for early-to-mid career public servants in Toronto on January 24.

Join industry experts in meaningful discussions on February 19th to tackle housing-related challenges at regional and national levels. Please reach out to Scotiabank’s events team for additional information.

Careers
Program Administrator (Workforce Development) - AMO. Closing Date: January 31.

Program Supervisor, Emergency Management - County of Simcoe. Closing Date: January 20.

Chief Administrative Officer - United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Closing Date: February 6, 2025.

Senior Accounting Analyst/Executive Assistant - Town of Wasaga Beach. Closing Date: January 30, 2025.

Executive Director of Pollution Control/ Deputy City Engineer - City of Windsor. Closing Date: January 30, 2025.

Manager, Property Tax Analysis - DMA Inc. Closing Date: February 13, 2025.