In This Issue:
- New resources: AMO’s Public Affairs and Advertising Campaign.
- Sustainable Municipal Buildings funding.
- Ontario Land Tribunal Announces AI Practice Update.
- Rural Ontario Development Fund.
- Geologic Carbon Storage Framework.
- Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative.
- Guidance for Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence.
- Supporting your Run for Municipal Office in 2026.
- Supporting your classroom visits.
- Resources for anyone running or seeking re-election.
- OSUM Conference: Register Today!
- AMO Regional and Single-Tier Caucus Virtual Meet-Up: 2026.
- New year, new skills: Navigating Conflict Relationships.
- Lead Where You Live - A Guide to Running for Municipal Council.
- Identify energy savings in your facilities.
- Book your Road & Sidewalk Surveys Today.
- Municipalities can build faster, get funded, and serve residents better.
- Apply now: AMCTO-Mitacs Municipal Innovation Internship Program.
- Municipal Student Survey.
- Careers.
AMO Matters
AMO invites you to join in on our Make Your Municipal Move Advertising campaign! with ready-to-use visuals, captions and guidance to help amplify the importance of local government and municipal career opportunities with minimal effort. To help you make the most of the toolkit and answer any questions you might have, join us on March 3rd for a free information session. Register .
Federal Matters
Applications are open for the Sustainable Municipal Buildings fund which supports energy upgrades to municipally owned community buildings. Learn more here.
Provincial Matters
Effective March 30, 2026, the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) is implementing a new Practice Direction on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in OLT proceedings.
The Ministry of Rural Affairs is accepting applications for the Rural Ontario Development Fund until February 26. This funding can help create strong businesses, boost economic growth, protect jobs and improve infrastructure in small communities.
Regulations under the Geologic Carbon Storage Act came into effect of February 1 and The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has published a Fact Sheet for Municipalities about this new framework.
The governments of Canada and Ontario are accepting applications from February 17 to March 17 for new funding to help local businesses grow international and domestic sales.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner in partnership with the Ontario Human Rights Commission have released recommendations for responsible public sector use of artificial intelligence.
Education Opportunities
AMO is offering programs designed to support aspiring candidates and returning elected officials. Whether you are considering your first run for office, seeking re-election, represent an underrepresented community, or a youth, we have a program tailored for you. For more information click here.
Building understanding of the importance of municipal government and your leadership roles in your communities has never been more important. AMO has developed resources to support your community engagement with students and educators. AMO’s civic education resources includes conversation guides for elected officials as well as lesson plans and activities for teachers. These resources were developed in partnership with CIVIX, Canada’s leaders in civic education programming, though AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project.
In lead up to the 2026 municipal election, AMO has developed supports for candidates running for municipal office. Resources range from helping you make the decision to run or run again, to building your team, crafting your message, and getting out the vote. Visit the candidate resource catalogue in AMO’s Local Democracy Solutions Bank developed though the Healthy Democracy Solutions Bank.
Join your Ontario Small Urban colleagues for at the OSUM 2026, April 29 – May 1 in Parry Sound. Click here for registration and hotel details.
Register for the AMO Regional and Single Tier Caucus Virtual Meet-Up, Monday, February 23 from 10am-12noon. This interactive session provides an opportunity for questions and answers on AMO’s strategic policy and government relations priorities and approach. If you have top of mind questions, you can submit them in advance to events@amo.on.ca. Register here.
Gain skills in building collaborative relationships and negotiating difficult ones. This 2 part, interactive workshop will explore the constructs, traps and pitfalls of conflict relationships, and how to approach, plan and execute relationships successfully. Register here to save your spot.
The Lead Where You Live Resource provides key information for anyone running in the 2026 municipal election. This guide will introduce you to some of the key steps in that process. It will also give you a sense of what life is like as an elected member of a municipal council.
LAS
Looking for an easy way to reduce costs in your facilities? Uncover hidden energy savings with an Energy Workshop & Treasure Hunt led by LAS and Stephen Dixon. Contact Christian Tham to book your spring session now.
Is a Road or Sidewalk survey part of your 2026 plan? The LAS Road & Sidewalk Assessment program offers high-quality data to help you make smart decisions for your assets. Contact Tanner for a free quote.
Build faster and streamline the permitting and approval processes to ensure your municipality is on track for this year’s targets. Learn about the other perks in the LAS Electronic Permitting program.
Municipal Wire*
Applications are now open for the next intake of the AMCTO-Mitacs Municipal Innovation Internship Program. This program offers municipalities a cost-effective way to identify, advance, and address innovation or research challenges by partnering with a post-secondary student interested in a career in local government. To learn more or to submit an application, .
AMO is partnering with the University of Waterloo’s Work-Learn Institute to better understand how municipalities can more effectively attract and retain the next generation. If you’ve supervised a student in a municipal setting – or know someone who has – please forward them this short, to share their experiences. If you have any questions, please contact .
Careers
IT Systems Administrator - Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). Closing Date: February 25, 2026.
Program Manager - Association of Municipalities of Ontario. Closing Date: February 20, 2026.
Executive Director (ED) - Regional Tourism Organization 7. Closing Date: March 8, 2026.
Administrative Coordinator, Development Services - Town of Georgina. Closing Date: February 23, 2026.
Manager, Little River Pollution Control - City of Windsor. Closing Date: March 4, 2026.
Finance Coordinator - City of Kawartha Lakes. Closing Date: February 20, 2026.
Asset Management Supervisor - City of Belleville. Closing Date: March 10, 2026.
Director of Finance and Administration - The Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board. Closing Date: March 6, 2026
