City of Owen Sound Officials Advocate for Local Needs at 2025 AMO Conference

Next week, City of Owen Sound representatives are attending the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa to advocate on behalf of residents and taxpayers. 

The conference provides a vital platform for hundreds of municipalities to collaborate on addressing pressing challenges through direct conversations with provincial decision-makers.

For Owen Sound, participation in the AMO Conference offers critical opportunities to highlight local issues to provincial leaders through organized delegations.  A delegation is when municipal officials meet directly with provincial ministers or ministry staff during the AMO Conference to present local issues and request support or action.

It’s an opportunity for the City to speak face-to-face with decision-makers, share real stories from the community, and explain how provincial policies or funding are critical to help address specific challenges in our community. These meetings are an important part of making sure the voices of residents and taxpayers are heard at the provincial level.

Owen Sound has secured delegations with six Provincial ministries to advocate for solutions to challenges identified by residents. These include:

• Improving Health Care Access
  Owen Sound is requesting support to expand primary care access for residents of North Grey and to review eligibility for rural health funding and incentives.  The City will be joined by representatives from Grey County, Township of Chatsworth, Township of Georgian Bluffs, and Municipality of Meaford.
• Reducing Administrative Burden for Family Doctors
  Advocating for strategies to reduce red tape for health care providers, developed in partnership with local health leaders.
• Ensuring Public Safety and Stabilizing Policing Costs
  In collaboration with the Town of Hanover, calling for a fair, province-wide funding mechanism to address rapidly rising municipal policing costs.
• Addressing Homelessness in Small Urban Communities
  Supporting AMO’s recommendations to improve enforcement and public safety while seeking solutions tailored to small urban realities.
• Growing Regional Economic Opportunities
  Promoting the use of Owen Sound’s harbour as part of Ontario’s Marine Transportation Strategy and advancing leadership in medical isotope development in partnership with the Southwestern Ontario Isotope Coalition.
• Investing in Transit and Housing
  Highlighting the success of transit investments and calling for long-term, sustainable rural transit funding, alongside support for affordable housing initiatives.

Mayor Boddy is also participating in additional delegations as a representative of Grey County Council, reinforcing a regional approach to intergovernmental advocacy. While municipalities don’t control the outcomes of these conversations, they do control the advocacy—and being at the table matters.

This conference and these delegations also highlight the importance of understanding how different levels of government serve the community. Owen Sound (lower-tier municipality) continues to collaborate with Grey County (upper-tier municipality) and the Province to ensure local concerns are reflected in broader policy and funding decisions.

For more information, please contact Tim Simmonds, City Manager, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1210 or email tsimmonds@owensound.ca

Quotes:

“Municipalities can’t tackle these challenges alone. We’re at AMO to work alongside our provincial partners, share our local perspectives, and advocate for action. This is about unlocking opportunities for the people of Owen Sound.”

-     Mayor Ian Boddy

Quick Facts:

• Through AMO, Ontario’s 444 municipalities work together to achieve shared goals and meet common challenges.  

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