Ontario's 2024–25 First Quarter Finances |
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On Tuesday, the Ontario government released the 2024–25 First Quarter Finances, the first update on the province’s economic and fiscal outlook since the release of the 2024 Ontario Budget: Building a Better Ontario.
Ontario’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.7% in the first calendar quarter of 2024, after remaining unchanged in the fourth quarter of 2023. Inflation has continued to moderate and is now closer to the Bank of Canada’s 2% target, allowing the Bank to begin lowering policy interest rates. However, despite the recent easing, interest rates remain at high levels and are likely to continue weighing on economic growth for the rest of this year and into 2025. Elevated interest rates and continued economic and geopolitical uncertainty remain key downside risks for the economic outlook.
Interest on debt expense is projected to be $13.9 billion, unchanged from the forecast in the 2024 Ontario Budget. Ontario’s cost of borrowing remains at 4%, as forecast in the 2024 Ontario Budget.
The government will provide a comprehensive multi-year fiscal outlook as part of the 2024 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review later this year. |
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Do you have an existing practice or policy in regards to dealing with unclaimed deposits, in particular unclaimed site plan deposits?
Perth East CAO Mike Givens is dealing with some deposits that are 10+ years old, related to work that has been completed but for whatever reason the balance of deposit went unclaimed or was not reimbursed. In many instances there has been multiple ownership changes or other activities that make finding the original owner untenable.
Please email Mike directly by clicking on the button below. |
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The keynote speaker for the Fall Workshop is renowned evolutionary biologist, award-winning television presenter, and bestselling author, Dan Riskin. Whether he’s inspiring viewers as the co-host of Discovery Canada's flagship science program, Daily Planet; terrifying them as the host of Animal Planet's docu-horror show, Monsters Inside Me; or covering the latest news as CTV's Science and Technology Specialist, Riskin's passion and curiosity have made him an unparalleled source of science inspiration for all. Dan will address How to Thrive in the Brave New World of Artificial Intelligence.
The updated Fall Workshop Program-at-a-Glance is now available.
And we've added an incredibly fun networking event for Wednesday afternoon: Treetop Trekking. Spend the afternoon zipping and trekking through the forest with your colleagues and friends. With pro tips from encouraging instructors, this rewarding, customizable experience will help boost confidence for both beginner and expert explorers.
Note: You do not need to be an athlete in training for this activity and it is very safe. TTT Huntsville is located at 11180 Highway 60 -- just across the road from Deerhurst. Special OMAA rate = $50. Add this event to your registration on the OMAA registration system or email Scott directly.
Anyone looking to book a room should call Deerhurst Resort at 800-461-4393 and identify as part of the OMAA group. Note that the Bayshore and Pavilion rooms are sold out, but space remains at the summit lodge. |
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Open-House Webinar #2: Mastering the Art of Managing Difficult Direct Reports
23 August 12:15--1:15 Overview:
In the dynamic and often complex environment of municipal governance, CAOs face unique challenges in managing direct reports. This open-house webinar is designed to provide a forum for CAOs to have a frank discussion on strategies and insights for optimizing team performance, enhancing communication, and fostering a collaborative work culture. What to Expect:
Join us for an engaging and interactive session where you will have the opportunity to share experiences with peers and explore practical solutions to common challenges faced when managing direct reports. This session will not be recorded and is only available to OMAA members.
Format:
1. Welcome and Topic Overview
2. A case study or question will be posed
3, Breakout groups will be utilized (depending on numbers) so that people can share their experiences more readily.
4. Report back
5. Repeat steps 2-4 if time allows
Possible Topics: Building Trust and Accountability: Techniques to establish and maintain trust with your direct reports.
Strategies for setting clear expectations and holding team members accountable. Effective Communication:
Best practices for transparent and constructive communication. Tips for navigating difficult conversations and providing feedback.
Motivation and Engagement: Approaches to inspire and motivate your team.
Conflict Resolution: Methods for addressing and resolving conflicts efficiently. Tools to create a harmonious and productive work environment. If anyone has a case study or helpful information that can be (anonymously) shared with the group in advance please email it to scott@omaa.on.ca before 16 August |
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Are you planning to attend the AMO Conference? Drop by and see us at Booth 414. |
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Managing Director, Black Entrepreneurs Fund |
The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a different kind of bank. As a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada, BDC is devoted to Canadian entrepreneurs. With over 60,000 clients and $52.1 billion committed to small and medium-sized businesses, BDC helps create and develop strong Canadian enterprises through financing, growth and transition capital, venture capital, and advisory services. The bank’s team of 2,900 employees supports entrepreneurs in all industries and at all stages of development, operating from more than 123 business centres across Canada and online at bdc.ca. Headquartered in Montreal, BDC has been committed to the long-term success of Canadian entrepreneurs since its founding in 1944, understanding that a business is more than just dollars and cents. Complementing the role played by private-sector financial institutions, BDC’s debt obligations are secured by the Government of Canada and issued to public and private-sector institutions.
BDC aims to empower a nation of dreamers and doers to build a better tomorrow for all. Their strategic objectives aim to support Canadian entrepreneurs in building strong and resilient businesses and, in doing so, contribute to creating a more prosperous, competitive, and inclusive Canada. It is within this context that BDC invites nominations and applications for the role of Managing Director, Black Entrepreneurs Fund, a position that oversees a $100-million-dollar investment fund specifically focused on growing and supporting the number of Black-entrepreneur-led companies in Canada.
The Managing Director is responsible for the overall leadership of the Black Entrepreneurs Fund. This individual has a passion for supporting the growth of entrepreneurs, is a true model and champion of innovation, and is a compelling and dynamic leader. With a strong understanding of, or direct expertise in, investments, finance, or capital markets, the Managing Director will oversee the design of investment vehicles that generate returns while bringing much-needed equity capital to this ethnocultural segment of the market. They will represent BDC in the ecosystem as part of the Impact Platform and be responsible for the execution of the mandate, working with key partners in the marketplace and specifically with the Black community across Canada.
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The Township of Scugog is within the Durham Region and part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It is a growing community of approximately 21,580 people on the shores of Lake Scugog with a vibrant rural agricultural sector and tourism focused small-town charm. The Township of Scugog provides opportunities for businesses and employers to flourish professionally, while establishing a quality of life through a four-seasons lifestyle. Access to Lake Scugog, historic downtown Port Perry, and a world-class local health-care system are all reasons to call Scugog home.
Reporting to Mayor and Council, the Chief Administrative Officer has overall accountability to ensure and oversee the effective administration of the Corporation. The CAO will be responsible for providing corporate vision and leadership for administering, planning, organizing, directing and controlling all municipal operations and services in accordance with municipality policies and relevant legislation. Delivering on the strategic vision, the CAO is responsible for the management and stewardship of assets, administration, human resources, communications, business and the financial health of the corporation. Operating in a public profile environment, the CAO provides high level representation to provincial government, media, community and public organizations. A strategic leader, the CAO will provide direction to the long-term strategic planning process to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of corporate services for the betterment of the community.
Closes: 12 September 2024
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The Township of Ramara is a rural gem nestled in Central Ontario just 90 minutes from the GTA. Positioned on the breathtaking northeastern shores of Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching, Ramara is the gateway to natural beauty with access to two provincial parks, pristine beaches, and scenic trails. Ramara is home to just over 10,000 full-time residents, a number that swells in the summer months with seasonal residents and visitors. Whether it is the rural, small-town lifestyle, the friendly people, the beautiful scenery or infinite outdoor adventures, there are many reasons people from near and far choose Ramara as their home.
The CAO plays a pivotal role in steering the municipality’s administration, with a focus on service excellence! We are looking for a dynamic and forward-thinking leader, who wants to make an impact on our organization and our community! The team in Ramara is comprised of a staff who thrives on being creative and coming up with new and innovative ways to meet the ever changing needs of our community! Reporting to and advising a Council consisting of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and five Councillors, the CAO oversees the administration and operations of the Township and its $37M+ budget by providing strategic leadership and direction to a talented municipal leadership team to develop and deliver excellence in programs and services that align with Council’s direction and the Township’s Strategic Plan.
The ideal candidate should have strong leadership skills and be able to effectively manage the unique challenges faced by the Township. The candidate will need to establish and nurture positive relationships with staff, elected officials, neighboring municipalities, upper-tier government, and the community to achieve the organization's strategic objectives. As a visionary leader, the CAO will be responsible for inspiring teams, fostering innovation, and creating an environment that supports success while keeping up with public administration trends. The ideal candidate should excel in change management, effectively communicate with stakeholders, and possess exceptional decision-making skills. It is important for the candidate to align tasks and initiatives with the organization's long-term vision and goals to drive sustainable growth and success.
The Township offers a comprehensive benefits package, enrollment in the OMERS pension plan and a salary ranging from $174,124 - $203,700.
Closes: 25 August 2024
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Director of Development and Infrastructure Planning |
The Corporation of the City of Orillia has an opening for a full-time position of Director of Development and Infrastructure Planning in the Development Services and Engineering Department reporting to the General Manager.
Oversee a team of Planners, Engineers, and other staff to direct, manage, track progress, evaluate priorities and execute the operations of the division, including budgeting and designing capital projects, in consultation with the General Manager of Development Services and Engineering.. Prepare, review and make recommendations for annual division operating and capital budgets; monitor/administer approved budgets.
Compensation is $134,465 to $157,305 with a comprehensive benefits package Closes: 19 August 2024. |
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Director of Corporate Services |
The Corporate Services Department is responsible for providing administrative support services, as needed, to Council and to all City departments. The Department carries out the statutory duties of the City’s Clerk’s Office, and is responsible for telecommunications, information technology and strategic initiatives of the City. The department is also responsible for providing support and advice to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Council on all statutory, operations and custodial matters affecting the Corporate Services of the City.
This position participates on the Senior Management Team (SMT) and is a key advisor to the CAO and Council, recommending policies, plans and programs that will benefit Quinte West by being strategic, innovative, practical and fiscally sound. Leading a talented team of staff, this position guides and inspires a dedicated workforce in their efficient delivery of these municipal services and helps shape a workplace culture founded on trust and transparency. Reporting to the CAO, the Director of Corporate Services will assist in the development of corporate and departmental policies. The position is responsible to the CAO and Council on all statutory, operational and custodial matters affecting the corporate services of the municipality. Matters of a confidential nature shall be treated with due regard for the best interests of the municipality and its staff.
Closes: 23 August 2024 |
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Municipality of Lakeshore |
The Municipality of Lakeshore is in Southwestern Ontario along Lake St. Clair. With a population of over 40,000 residents, it is one of the fastest-growing communities in the region. Lakeshore enjoys a temperate climate year-round. Lakeshore’s affordable lakefront community enjoys over 35 kilometres of waterfront, low taxes, high quality of life and abundant recreational opportunities with many family-friendly parks, recreation programs, and multi-use recreation centres.
The CAO is responsible and accountable to the Council of the Municipality for the day-to-day management of the municipality and leadership to the Administration. As the leader of the Municipality’s Corporate Leadership Team, the CAO is responsible for ensuring that Council’s directives are carried out in an effective and efficient manner, establishing administrative practices and procedures, overseeing capital projects and budget administration, and other duties as prescribed under the Municipal Act. Under Council’s direction, the CAO will be responsible for managing the human, financial and physical resources of the municipality.
Closes: 19 August 2024 |
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Municipality of Whitestone (Dunchurch, ON) |
Located on the Canadian Shield within the District of Parry Sound, the Municipality of Whitestone is a sparsely populated community with a number of settlement areas, numerous lakes with rocky/rugged shorelines and a significant amount of Crown lands. Whitestone is anchored by the communities of Dunchurch, Maple Island, Whitestone and Ardbeg, and is the permanent home to approximately 1,100 residents. This number grows to over 5,000 seasonally between May and October.
Formed in 2000, Whitestone features a strong rural / agricultural community, as well as outstanding volunteer support for community programs and activities. Due to an impending retirement, the Municipality of Whitestone offers an attractive employment opportunity for a CAO/Clerk. The CAO/Clerk role will report directly to the five-member Council. The CAO/Clerk will provide effective advice and support to Council, implementing their decisions efficiently, and effectively in conjunction with the Senior Management Team. The CAO will provide energetic and creative leadership to ensure alignment of operations with the Municipality’s strategic priorities within the $6.7 Million municipal budget.
Closes: 23 August 2024 |
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In the soft, dusky light of a fading day, where the earth and sky blend into a single, seamless twilight, there exists a quiet but persistent call to venture into the unknown. It’s a whisper that touches the soul, stirring the imagination and kindling the flickering flame of curiosity that resides within each of us. This whisper is the very essence of life’s adventure—the call to try new things.
There is a natural hesitation to step beyond the familiar. Yet, as Aristotle said, “The more you know, the more you realize you don't know.” It is in that realization of our ignorance, that we begin to see the boundless possibilities that lie just beyond our well-worn paths. For it is not in the safety of what we already understand that we grow, but in the brave and sometimes clumsy attempts to grasp at what we do not.
In trying something new, we expand the borders of our world. We learn, as Socrates believed, that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” To examine life is to challenge it, to turn it over in our hands, to feel its rough edges and smooth curves. It is to understand that life is not a series of fixed points, but a flowing river, ever-changing, ever-surprising, ever-new.
Epictetus reminds us to approach this endeavor with a calm spirit. “It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters,” he said. The act of trying new things is not about the outcome, but about the journey itself. It is about how we open ourselves to the world, how we allow ourselves to be shaped by experiences that are outside the confines of our usual existence.
It is not the successes or failures that define us, but the courage to step forward into the unknown. It is in the very act of trying that we find our true selves. |
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The Maureen McCauley Bursary offers $5,000 annually to support the education of future municipal government leaders.
The Bursary is available to any student in a post secondary program meeting the following criteria:
(1) Is a student residing in Ontario
(2) Is a student that has completed at least one year of an Ontario university or an Ontario community college program that has the potential to lead to a municipal government career.
(3) Has submitted the completed Application Form, accompanied by the noted requirements
The OMAA Awards Committee will assess all submissions under approved evaluation criteria. The successful candidate will be advised of their award in October. Bursary funds will be made available to the successful applicant shortly thereafter. Although not mandatory successful candidates will be invited to attend the OMAA Fall Workshop virtually or in person to receive their Bursary award.
Applicants must complete the application form and also develop a 2-3 minute video which would outline the significance of municipal government service delivery and the value of professional management thereof. Examples are included on our website. Applications close on 30 September 2024. |
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The Robert Baldwin Award is Ontario's highest award for municipal public service. Winners must demonstrate significant and lasting contributions to municipal and local government plus service to the community, the province, and the country.
The award was inspired by the achievements of Robert Baldwin: a principled political figure active in the mid-1800s. Baldwin wrote the first Municipal Act, supported religious tolerance and women's rights, was one of the first proponents of a bi-cultural nation and popularized the idea of "responsible government".
The Robert Baldwin Award is presented at the Fall Workshop when suitable candidates are identified. Nominations are accepted by the Awards Committee, with the name of the selected candidate tabled for Board approval. Nominations will be accepted until 30 September 2024 |
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OMAA Picks -- Housing Video and Back to School with Perkopolis |
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Interested in the housing crisis?
Canada has solved a similar crisis before. This 3-minute video from Nerds on Politics with TVO's Jim McGrath shows how all three orders of government tackled the post-WWII housing crisis and how we might do so again. |
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Summer is flying by and back to school is right around the corner. While this time of year can be stressful, we are here to help. You can get the latest tech, fashion, and gear with your Perkopolis membership. If you’re looking to make the transition even more seamless, you can find offers on grocery and meal delivery for your busiest days. Please take a look at the attached documents to see how to login or register and take advantage of these offers. If you have any questions you can contact Perkopolis customer service through live chat, phone, or email. |
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