Hundreds of municipal representatives are in Ottawa for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s conference.
Homelessness, infrastructure spending and housing are among topics up for discussion.
AMO’s Executive Director Brian Rosborough says delegates are looking to collaborate with the province in funding and delivering public services more effectively.
“Municipalities deliver almost every public service that businesses and residents rely on, with the exception of primary healthcare and education. We need to work together to ensure that we’re using the best approaches for both orders of government and for taxpayers,” says Rosborough.
Homelessness is expected to dominate discussions.
Municipalities are looking for more support from the province to tackle the issue.
Rosborough says it having a impact on efforts to improve infrastructure and fund other programs.
“These investments will not be made so long as municipalities bear the costs of a homelessness crisis driven in part by decades of provincial underinvestment in health and mental health services, addiction treatment and the basic financial supports that can allow people to remain in their homes,” says Rosborough.”
“Systemic problems require systemic solutions. We are overdue for a comprehensive look at how our public services are funded and delivered in Ontario.”
AMO identifies 1,400 homeless encampments situated in towns and cities across the province.
