The city has sent a four-person delegation to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s (AMO) annual conference now underway in Ottawa.
Through AMO, Ontario’s 444 municipalities work together to achieve shared goals and meet common challenges. The organization provides municipal officials with tools to succeed, and programs to help maximize taxpayer dollars.
The representatives include Mayor Joe Preston, councillors Gary Clarke and Jim Herbert and city manager Sandra Datars Bere.
They are armed with an 18-page Provincial Advocacy Plan showcasing the city’s priorities when working with the provincial government.
According to the plan, the city is focusing on eight priorities:
- Increase regional transit connections
- Deliver on affordable/supportive housing
- Continue mitigation funding for public health
- Enhance mental health supports
- Support brownfield remediation
- Repair airport infrastructure
- Address WSIB issues
- Support for improved school board & municipal relations
The city advises it is eager to work with the Ford government “to make positive strides for everyone who calls St. Thomas home.
“To do this, we must collaborate with the Province to realize our strategic plan goals of being a compassionate, vibrant, and thriving community.
“Building on our existing relationships, we will continue to strengthen our municipal-provincial partnership and advance our key priorities to create a community where local industry, residents, and businesses succeed now and into the future.”
You can read the city’s Provincial Advocacy Plan here.
Written by Ian McCallum
