Premier Doug Ford announced at the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference that the Ontario government is protecting communities, lowering costs and strengthening Ontario’s economy by investing an additional $1.6 billion to speed up construction on homes and critical infrastructure. This investment nearly doubles the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) to $4 billion, building on the province’s most recent $400 million increase in the 2025 provincial budget and giving municipalities and Indigenous communities the resources to build roads, bridges and water systems that make new housing possible.
You can read the Premier's Full Speech here: Premier Doug Ford's Speech at the 2025 Association of Municipalities of Ontario Annual Conference | Ontario Newsroom
Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, announced that Ontario is increasing funding for land ambulances by an average 8.7 per cent from 2024, with almost $1 billion in funding provincewide. This funding is part of the province’s historic investments to protect and expand Ontario’s health-care system, including continued progress on the $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan which will connect everyone in Ontario to a publicly funded primary care provider by 2029.
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Advocacy @ AMO Conference |
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OMAA Chair Michael Di Lullo and Vice-Chair Denise Corry were pleased to meet with the NDP and Green caucuses at the AMO Conference earlier this week. |
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We had productive conversations on how to enhance good governance at the municipal level by: - strengthening the accountability measures in Bill 9 and their enforceability
- reforming strong mayor powers to prevent conflicts of interest and protect mayors from legal and political risks
- codifying clear role definitions to protect both elected officials and municipal operations
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A powerful explosion rocked downtown Wheatley in August 2021. Hydrogen sulphide gas leaked from an abandoned well beneath a commercial building, injuring several people and destroying nearby properties. CAO Michael Duben, Deputy CAO Dave Taylor, and Director of Public Works Ryan Brown, Chatham-Kent, will discuss lessons learned around emergency management, legal concerns, and operational issues in a session called The Wheatley Explosion: Lessons in Risk, Response, and Resilience on Monday afternoon of the Fall Workshop.
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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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Since 2016, StrategyCorp has conducted a wide-ranging survey of municipal Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) from across Ontario to hear their views on the most pressing issues facing local governments today.
The Ontario Municipal Chief Administrative Officer Survey 2025 reveals how CAOS are adapting to both familiar and unprecedented changes and fostering resilience in their communities and organization |
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) |
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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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CAOs often live in a seasonless state that is measured by deadlines, not daylight. The machine never tells you when to stop.
The thing about summer is, it will not wait for you. The lake will still be warm in September, but the light will have changed. The lilacs will not bloom twice. And the long evening shadows—those lingering reminders that time is not infinite—will soon be gone. Bertrand Russell reminded us, “The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” Slowing down isn’t just indulgence—it’s infrastructure maintenance for the soul. There’s solid psychology behind it. Breaks allow the brain’s default mode network to spark, connecting ideas and solutions that no scheduled meeting could coax out. So please make some time to walk, sit under a tree, or do whatever brings you rest. Remember your Ella Fitzgerald: "Summertime, and the living is easy. One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing. Yes, you'll spread your wings and you'll take to the sky." Because summer, like good leadership, is about presence. And presence requires that we sometimes stop moving long enough to feel the breeze. |
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Wildfires are raging from coast to coast to coast, with more than 700 still burning — a stark reminder that their effects reach far beyond the forest line. This is now Canada’s second-worst wildfire season on record, forcing thousands of people and countless animals from their homes, choking communities with smoke, and prompting fire bans and forest restrictions across provinces. Recent heat warnings have only made conditions more dangerous. In moments like these, we must stand with affected communities, support emergency responders, and stay informed so we can all remain safe.
Here are some resources to help keep you informed:
Wildfire resources, information, impacts, and how you can get involved
ForestsCanada.ca/Wildfire
Webinar - Canada is Burning: What you need to know
https://lnkd.in/gfvcNten
Interactive map showing active wildfires - Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre
https://www.ciffc.ca/ |
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The Ontario Community Environment Fund (OCEF) has over $2.9 million available for local projects that aim to restore the environment. Projects that are eligible for support focus on environmental restoration and remediation activities which repair environmental harm plus resilient communities and local solutions to environmental issues.
The fund is open to: - municipalities
- schools, colleges and universities
- incorporated not-for-profit organizations
- incorporated community-based groups
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Looking for something fun to do this weekend. The Waterloo Busker Carnival showcases a diverse array of talents. From awe-inspiring acrobatics and laugh-out-loud comedy to breathtaking fire breathing acts, we bring the world’s finest street performers right to Uptown Waterloo.
Entrance to the Carnival is free, making it accessible to all. Busking is one of the most honest forms of entertainment—you watch the show first and tip based on how much you enjoyed it. Our performers rely on those tips to earn a living, so if a show made you laugh, cheer, or stare in awe, we encourage you to show your appreciation. |
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