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OMAA is the voice of Ontario CAOs. We advocate for solutions that contribute to municipal good governance and support CAOs in their professional management role. OMAA President Laurie Kennard, Vice President Michael DiLullo, and Past President Peter Neufeld were pleased to meet with Minister Calandra at the recent AMO Conference to offer to assist the government in developing legislation that effectively and fairly tackles elected officials who are harassing municipal staff.
Our briefing note is focused around the following five key recommendations: -
Appropriate Mechanisms: Workplace harassment /discrimination cases should be heard by a court or administrative tribunal. These cases should not be debated and decided at Council. Policies should not become political weapons either.
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Training and Reporting: Members of Council, staff, and local boards should all have to undergo mandatory anti-harassment and discrimination training prior to holding office. Included in this training, there should be a process to include a duty to report and a confidential process for handling complaints set out in the Code of Conduct.
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Enforcement and Penalties: Implement a range of penalties that escalates and reflects the severity of the situation at issue. This range should include the removal from office and restrictions on re-election opportunities.
- A process for removal from office for severe misconduct: ICs and/or municipalities should be able to apply to a judge to remove a sitting member in the most egregious cases if recommended by an Integrity Commissioner.
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Support Systems: Guarantee fair and independent investigation of complaints. Members of Councils should also have access to appropriate support and indemnification.
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OMAA is pleased to partner once again with the Schulich School of Business at York University, to offer the CAO Leadership Program.
This five-day program offers sought-after leadership skills in areas like political acuity, digital transformation, and data analysis to thrive in your role or move up the career ladder. The program is hosted in a convenient choice model of virtual or in-person and features top-rated Scuhlich instructors with guest appearances from seasoned CAOs. This program is ideal for CAOs and Aspiring CAOs in municipalities of all tiers and sizes across Ontario. Professional managers and key decision makers will gain the vital leadership skills, strategies, and methods needed to better support elected officials and effectively implement Council policies, levelling up to more senior roles.
After completing the CAO Leadership Program, you'll receive an authentic digital badge from the #1 business school in Canada that employers will recognize. Upon completion of additional programming through Schulich ExecEd, you will be eligible to receive a Master's Certificate in Municipal Leadership.
The first sold-out class took place in Spring 2024. The next offering will occur in Spring 2025: 24 March Module 1: Transformational Leadership Virtual or In-person at the Nadal Centre
25 March Module 2: Culture Shaping Leadership Virtual or In-person at the Nadal Centre 10 April Module 3: Solving Complex Problems Virtual
24 April Module 4: Digital Futures Virtual 8 May Module 5: Political Acuity Virtual or In-person at the Nadal Centre Note: a discount code for the Novotel Toronto Centre will be provided to all registrants. |
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The Fall Workshop is a great opportunity to learn, network, and to have fun with friends old and new. There are still spaces available for both pre-conference events (Golf and Treetop Trekking) on Wednesday afternoon. Other fun social events include the Chocolate Sculpture Event on Wednesday evening and the Trivia Challenge on Thursday.
The updated Fall Workshop Program-at-a-Glance provides the full range of educational sessions and speakers confirmed to date.
Session Spotlight: The Art of Deputy Leadership: It’s Good to Be Number 2 featuring Rob Maciver, Deputy CAO/Solicitor, Municipality of Clarington Chris Traini, Deputy CAO/County Engineer, County of Middlesex Jayne Holmes, Deputy CAO, City of Guelph More and more municipalities are adding Deputy CAOs to their staff compliment. This session will delve into the diversity of DCAO types and specific roles as well as what makes a good DCAO.
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.
While attending in person is always preferable, we understand that not everyone can travel or attend for all three days. That's why there are Thursday Only and Virtual registration options available. |
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Chief Administrative Officer |
The Municipality of Marmora and Lake is a beautiful lower-tier municipality, part of Hastings County and located in central southern Ontario. It is equidistant from Ottawa and Toronto and the main village is located along Hwy 7, a major transportation route for trucks and vehicles traveling to and through those destinations. Marmora and Lake has approximately 4,000 residents which includes a robust mix of full time and seasonal residents in Lake Township. The Municipality maintains 430 lane kilometres of roads.
The combined operational and capital budget is approximately $10M supported by a committed team of full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees including a volunteer fire department. Working closely with our upper-tier service partner, and our community service partners, a range of Boards and a number of community focused committees, Marmora and Lake is committed to meeting the needs of residents and a thriving business community by delivering efficient and effective services.
As the ideal candidate you are an inspiring, principled, and collaborative leader with a proven track record of results and accomplishments with related experience from either a public sector or private sector organization in a unionized environment. You have exceptional communication skills and the political acumen to interact with an engaged council, diverse stakeholders, foster the development of partnerships, develop our workforce and inspire our employees, while ensuring customer service excellence. Lastly, you will have an exceptional understanding of forward-thinking strategies as it relates managing responsible growth, ensuring effective municipal operations in a fiscally accountable fashion and guiding our organization into the future, while retaining our small-town community charm.
Reporting to the Mayor and Council, the Chief Administrative Officer is responsible for the strategic leadership and efficient delivery of all the municipality’s administrative and operational services. As the key advisor to Council, you have the vision to develop and implement operational plans and ensure the coordination of services which align to and support our strategic priorities. You will recommend policies, plans, and programs that benefit our residents by being innovative, accountable and fiscally sound. You will work to enhance growth and development in the community, as well as ensure the effective utilization of resources through the priorities and guiding principles as identified by Council. Leading a talented team, you will inspire a dedicated workforce and help foster a workplace culture focused on service excellence, innovation and teamwork while positioning the Municipality of Marmora and Lake as an employer of choice.
Closes: 22 September 2024.
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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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My friend Bailey has been staying with me while her family is away. The other day she was chasing a squirrel in a park. The squirrel ran up a tree, but Bailey continued to bark at the base of the tree for a long time. It seemed to me that she invested more time and energy into a situation that was unlikely to yield any reward. This reminded me of the sunken cost fallacy – that cognitive bias where decision-makers continue investing in a project or course of action based on the time, money, or resources already committed, rather than the current or future benefits. The irrationality lies in the belief that abandoning the project would waste the previous investments, even when continuing may lead to even greater losses.
In local government, this fallacy can be particularly problematic. Policymakers might find themselves attached to long-term projects—such as infrastructure developments or community programs—because substantial resources have already been allocated. Even when new information suggests the project is no longer viable or effective, there’s a strong temptation to push forward. We often fall prey to the sunken cost fallacy because we have a personal attachment to a project, inertia can make it difficult to halt a project, or there is fear that abandoning a project will be seen as a failure by others.
Fortunately, us dogs value adaptability over stubbornness and Bailey was soon able to cut her losses and redirect resources. It helped that I let her know that there was a really great stick nearby. |
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Awards -- close September 30 |
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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. Successful candidates will be invited to attend the OMAA Fall Workshop virtually or in person to receive their 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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Our changing climate has meant that addressing extreme heat exposure has become a priority for Ontario municipalities. Many municipalities across North America are considering or adopting maximum temperature bylaws to address extreme heat. These bylaws establish a cap on indoor temperatures in residential buildings to ensure safe and comfortable living conditions during heat waves.
The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) has released a policy briefing with examples of bylaws and design considerations for climate and equity. |
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