Ontario Taking Next Steps to Build Yonge North Subway Extension. Province awards major contract for tunnel design and construction of Line 1 subway extension into York Region. The Yonge North Subway Extension will cut the distance travelled by personal vehicles by 7,700 kilometres during rush hour and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4,800 tonnes each year.
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New Federal Housing Approach | |
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Build Canada Homes will be Canada’s new federal entity responsible for building affordable homes, providing financing to affordable home builders, and catalyzing a more productive homebuilding industry. It will bring together key partners from across the housing ecosystem to get homes built by addressing barriers, reducing risk and helping to navigate the process of building non-market housing.
This market sounding guide sets out an initial vision for Build Canada Homes, including its objectives, functions, instruments, investment approach, and implementation. The intent is to solicit feedback on the proposed approach outlined here to inform Build Canada Homes’ final design. All content, including proposed design elements, is subject to change based on ongoing input and evolving discussions.
Submit your written feedback to bchengagement-mobilisationmc@infc.gc.ca by 29 August 2025. |
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Fall Workshop Keynote Confirmed |
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Globally recognized authority on leadership skill development and purpose-driven growth Zahra Al-Harazi has been confirmed as the keynote for the 2025 Fall Workshop. With a career forged through resilience, innovation, and a deep understanding of human potential, Al-Harazi dives into the core pillars of modern leadership — self-mastery, cognitive clarity, relational intelligence, and cultural agility — helping audiences build those skills with intention and turn them into their signature leadership presence.
A survivor of two civil wars, Al-Harazi immigrated to Canada in 1996 with no higher education, no network, and three children to raise. Within a few years, she founded Foundry Communications, building it into one of Canada’s top creative firms. Today, Al-Harazi is the co-founder of Skillit — a next-generation learning platform designed to bridge the global skills gap through peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
A dynamic speaker and facilitator, Al-Harazi has inspired audiences in over 20 countries with her no-nonsense approach to unlocking human potential. Her sessions blend strategic insight with real-world experience — equipping leaders at every level with the skills, mindset, and motivation to lead with intention, clarity, and courage in uncertain times. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, scaling startups, and professional associations. Al-Harazi has been recognized as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women (WXN), one of Chatelaine’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, and one of RBC’s Top 25 Immigrants to Canada. |
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Delegation Best Practises | |
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| Are you preparing a delegation for the upcoming AMO Conference? Remember you have a short amount of time to make an impact so you must be on point.
Check out ADM Sean Fraser's incredibly instructive presentation from the Spring Workshop in the Member Library.
AMO's Guide to Delegation Meetings can also help you get the most out of your delegation meetings |
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Preparing for the Big Interview |
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Interviewing well is a skill that requires practice. Here are some expert tips on how to prepare for the big interview:
1. Be Prepared: Prepare meticulously. Know who will be doing the interviewing and whether it is in person or virtual. Have a recruiter or mentor offer a mock interview. If you are doing a webcam interview, be careful about what is behind you, hanging on the wall, or sitting on your desk. Remove personal effects or anything that could distract interviewers.
2. Refine Your Application: Carefully follow instructions, address the specific skills requested, and proofread for grammar and spelling. Have a recruiter or mentor review your resume, cover letter. Attention to detail is often part of the selection criteria.
3. Manage Your Online Presence: Search teams look for reasons to eliminate candidates, so check what is available about you online. If there is anything concerning, address it briefly in your cover letter.
4. Explain Short Tenures if Needed: Address any short-lived positions thoughtfully in your cover letter or as a separate explanation. They know you have a gap in your employment. You know you have a gap. Just get it out there and move on. Be positive about lessons learned. The goal is to have them forget the gap.
5. Stay Positive and Relaxed: Avoid appearing intense or desperate, especially if you have been out of work. Maintain a genuine and enthusiastic attitude toward the role and community.
Check out the Bridge the Gap Guidebook in the Members in Transition section of the Member Library for the other 5 suggestions, 24 possible interviewer questions, 8 questions you should ask, plus more. Non-members can order a hard copy in our online store.
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OMAA is accepting applications for the 2025 Maureen McCauley Bursary until 30 September.
Thanks to our partner AMO, we can now offer two $5,000 bursaries 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: - Is a student residing in Ontario.
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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.
- Has submitted a completed Application Form.
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) |
West Nipissing is a vibrant single-tier community of 14,364 people. The Municipality spans an impressive 1,989.57 square kilometers and has many lakes, waterways, trails, forests and farmland. West Nipissing is an amalgamated community that has a range of urban communities including Sturgeon Falls, Cache Bay and Verner. Our rural communities include Crystal Falls, Desaulniers, Field, Kipling, Lavigne, North Monetville, River Valley, and multiple other townships. West Nipissing is served by the Trans-Canada Highway 17 as well as Highway 64, and is within one hour drive to the large northern communities of North Bay and Sudbury.
Industrial strengths include forestry, agriculture, education, retail services, government services and tourism. Our community is a desirable place to live and visit. Families are attracted to the area by our unique community characteristics including access to education, healthcare, proximity to large cities and affordability in a beautiful northern setting.
With a combined operating and capital budget of approximately $50M and over 200 permanent and part-time staff, the Municipality of West Nipissing is committed to meeting the needs of our residents and 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 in an efficient and fiscally accountable fashion with related experience from either a public sector or private sector organization. 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 northern community charm. An appreciation of the Franco-Ontarian culture is essential for success in this role.
Closes: 14 August or sooner |
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) |
Township of South Stormont |
Nestled along the picturesque shores of the St. Lawrence River between the major metropolitan centres of Ottawa and Montreal, South Stormont is a thriving and forward-looking community that is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after regions in Eastern Ontario. With a strong balance of rural charm and small urban convenience, South Stormont offers modern services, expanding infrastructure and a high quality of life. The area boasts a rich history, from the earliest Loyalist settlers to the enduring legacy of the Lost Villages of the St. Lawrence Seaway, all while embracing growth, innovation and new opportunities. As one of the fastest growing municipalities in the region, South Stormont is attracting new residents, businesses and leaders who are helping to shape its exciting future.
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) serves as the strategic leader of the Township, guiding the implementation of Council’s direction and priorities. As Council’s sole employee and senior advisor, the CAO leads the senior management team to ensure the effective delivery of municipal services and fosters a collaborative organizational culture grounded in public service values, fiscal responsibility, innovation, and continuous improvement.
The CAO represents the Township externally with government agencies, neighbouring municipalities, businesses, developers, community groups, and the media, promoting South Stormont’s interests at the local, regional, provincial, and federal levels. This role is responsible for cultivating intergovernmental relationships, advancing economic development initiatives, and ensuring the Township remains responsive and adaptable to emerging opportunities and challenges. The CAO also plays a key role in promoting South Stormont’s image, marketing the community, and building strong networks that support long-term growth and prosperity.
Closes: 25 August 2025 |
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General Manager of Corporate Services / Legal |
The General Manager of Corporate Services / Legal is a key senior leadership role within the Township of Ramara, reporting directly to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). This position provides strategic oversight and expert direction for four critical municipal functions: Legal Services, Clerk’s Services, Financial Services, and Human Resources. As the Township’s primary legal advisor, the General Manager ensures compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, municipal by-laws, and corporate policies. The role involves attending Council and Committee meetings, offering legal counsel on corporate matters, and supporting the development and implementation of effective corporate-wide policies.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the General Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping the Township’s long-term vision, championing the corporate mission and values, and advancing strategic initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and public service delivery. The position promotes an organizational culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement by mentoring and empowering staff, supporting succession planning, and fostering professional development across departments. With direct responsibility for the Directors of Finance, Human Resources, and Legislative Services, the General Manager leads corporate planning efforts, manages risk, guides collective bargaining and labour relations strategies, and ensures transparent, fiscally responsible budgeting and reporting processes. This multifaceted leadership role is critical in ensuring that the Township of Ramara operates in a forward-thinking, compliant, and service-oriented manner.
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) |
The Township of Springwater is a progressive, mixed urban-rural municipality located in the heart of Simcoe County, approximately 100 kilometres north of Toronto and neighbouring the City of Barrie. Home to a population of 22,700 and growing. Springwater features a blend of thriving urban settlements and a prosperous agricultural sector. The Township includes eight settlement areas: Midhurst, Elmvale, Snow Valley, Centre Vespra, Minesing, Anten Mills, Phelpston, and Hillsdale. Amalgamated in 1994, it is one of sixteen lower-tier municipalities within the greater County of Simcoe. Known for its scenic hiking trails, rich agricultural amenities, vibrant urban centres and the purest groundwater in Canada, Springwater offers residents a healthy lifestyle, a strong sense of community and one of Ontario's largest municipally owned forest networks, with a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities. The Township is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, authentic workplace where employee wellness, learning, and collaboration are prioritized. With flexible work options and a supportive environment, Springwater is a place where you can find balance and grow your career.
Reporting to the Mayor, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is responsible for the strategic leadership and administration of the affairs of the Township in accordance with the objectives approved by the Mayor. Acts as the key advisor and liaison to the Mayor and Council. As the most senior appointed official, the CAO delivers on the Strategic Plan and is responsible for all human, physical and financial resources of the Township, attending Council/Committee meetings, and formulating and implementing policy, service level. The CAO leads and directs the Township’s Executive Team, to ensure effective and efficient service delivery that is aligned with Springwater Council’s strategic priorities and assumes full responsibility for implementing Township policies, decisions, and programs.
The ideal candidate is a motivational, values-driven, and team-oriented leader with a strong history of success in municipal government or a comparable business setting. Bringing outstanding communication skills, political insight, and a talent for building partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders – all while motivating staff and upholding the highest standards of customer service. The ideal candidate will lead a skilled team, within a unionized and non-unionized environment, inspiring a committed workforce and cultivating a workplace culture centered on service excellence, innovation, collaboration, inclusion and diversity.
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An afternoon snooze the other day was rudely interrupted by a dream that I was being chased by a 30 metre tall cat. Scary, but obviously impossibly untrue. It reminded me of how you people now have to deal with hallucinations in your work, and not just the human kind, but the AI kind too.
Plato described people "like prisoners in a cave, chained so that they can only see the shadows thrown on the wall by a fire behind them, taking these shadows for reality itself." One's grasp on the facts comes filtered through shadows like a misread community survey or a political outcry based on an anecdote. Our perceptions leap ahead of what’s real, often guided by hope or fear as much as by fact.
An AI hallucination is when an AI system fabricates plausible-sounding but false information. An AI might, with the utmost confidence, declare the population of your city increased by 12% last year when no such change occurred. These errors are born from the same mind at work in humans: a pattern-detecting machine operating on incomplete information, making confident leaps. Gary Marcus warns, “Artificial intelligence is as dumb as a rock in many ways. It doesn't have understanding. It cannot tell the difference between a true statement and one that's plausible-sounding but false.”
You CAOs not only have to decipher the music beneath the static but to know when the instrument itself is out of tune. Now its more important than ever to ask what evidence underpins any conclusion, cite sources, and remember that hallucinations, human or AI, are reminders of reality’s complexity. Great leaders must know the difference between human vision and machine output and have the courage to question both.
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AI is making its presence felt everywhere in local government tools, but how do you know if it will have a real impact or if it's just a shiny object? As AI hits the public sector, dozens of vendors are racing to market with different products.
The Local Government AI Buyer's Guide from Polimorphic helps with: - How to evaluate AI chatbots for accuracy, speed, and usefulness
- What makes an AI voice line better than a phone tree
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What to look for in an AI-enhanced CRM that actually supports your staff
- How AI workflows can review applications, flag issues, and reduce bottlenecks
- The integration, compliance, and support questions every vendor should answer
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OMAA: Connecting CAOs, Strengthening Municipalities You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the OMAA newsletter.
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