The Hansard transcript from the Standing Committee On Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy meeting held on Tuesday 26 August 2025 to review Bill 9, Municipal Accountability Act, 2025 shows the Committee made three minor changes to the bill primarily around enabling a commissioner to refuse to conduct an inquiry that is thought to be frivolous or vexatious.
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We are pleased to confirm that Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack has been confirmed for the Fall Workshop.
We've also added a session on StrategyCorp's CAO Survey to be delivered by VP Stacy Hushion.
The trade show has sold out and there is limited space left in the pre-workshop events: Golf Tournament and Guided Hike and Butterfly Conservatory Trip. Book today to avoid missing out.
Updated Fall Workshop Program at a Glance |
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Member Request: Community Benefit Agreements | |
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| Have you recently negotiated a Community Benefit Agreement with energy developers for solar, wind, or battery storage projects? Loyalist Township CAO Rebecca Murphy is looking for good examples and OMAA is interested in building a repository in the library. How was the compensation calculated? Did you use a formula or was it based on their offer? Would you be willing to share the price you received/KWH? Please email OMAA any documents you can share or Rebecca to set up a conversation. |
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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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2026 CAO Leadership Course |
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| Are you an Aspiring CAO interested in taking the next step in your career? Or a new CAO looking to sharpen your skills?
The CAO Leadership Program is your next step. This immersive, made-in-Ontario program—designed by CAOs, for CAOs—delivers the practical tools and insights needed to thrive at the top. - Interactive sessions
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Peer learning with experienced mentors
- Tailored for real-world municipal challenges
- Empower your leadership journey with OMAA.
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) |
The Municipality of Thames Centre has a population of approximately 13,759 and is situated at the east end of the County of Middlesex. Thames Centre borders London directly to the east, features easy access to the London International Airport and is located near the centre of Southwestern Ontario along highway 401 between highways 402 and 403. This strategic access to the 401 allows residents and businesses easy access to London, Woodstock, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Toronto and the central and eastern United States.
With a combined operating and capital budget of approximately $33M and over 100 permanent and part-time staff, the Municipality of Thames Centre is committed to meeting the needs of our residents and business community by delivering efficient and effective services.
In 2024, The Municipality has adopted a strategic plan for the current term of Council and beyond. The vision is a vibrant and safe community combining innovation and tradition for all stages of our life. The mission is to work together to sustain and grow the community through quality services and responsible leadership. The new strategic plan is based on a foundation of sustainability, the pillars of which include the Framework of Smart Planning, Community Communication & Engagement, Active Living and Economic Development. These pillars strengthen the Strategic Priorities of the Municipality.
Inspire our Future as our Chief Administrative Officer
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 small-town community charm.
Closes: September 21st or sooner |
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) |
Due to the retirement of the incumbent, the Township of Perth South, containing a blend of highly productive agricultural operations and desirable residential properties, is seeking an experienced individual to become its Chief Administrative Officer.
The Township of Perth South was incorporated in 1998 following the amalgamation of the Township of Downie and Township of Blanshard. The municipality offers the best of rural and small town environments. With over 3800 residents and 80 businesses, there are welcoming people and ample opportunities for everyone. |
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Director of Long Term Care Services |
Home to 433 residents, Pioneer Manor is one of Northern Ontario’s largest long-term care facilities. We provide 24-hour compassionate, individualized care to adults who can no longer live independently. Referred through Home and Community Care Support Services, our residents benefit from a holistic approach that supports their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
The City of Greater Sudbury is currently seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Long-Term Care Services to lead Pioneer Manor. Reporting directly to the General Manager of Community Well-Being, this key leadership role is responsible for the overall operational management and excellence of our long-term care services, ensuring the highest standard of care for residents and support for our dedicated staff.
What You’ll Do Lead with strategy: Develop and implement the division’s business and strategic plans to meet evolving community needs. Oversee operations: Administer all aspects of our Long-Term Care Facility in compliance with legislative standards and best practices. Drive quality outcomes: Ensure exceptional resident care, continuous quality improvement and full regulatory compliance. Influence and advocate: Liaise with provincial ministries, government agencies and community stakeholders to optimize services and secure funding. Manage resources: Oversee budgets, staff, programs and facility upgrades in alignment with corporate priorities. Build partnerships: Engage with advisory panels, families, volunteers and professionals to support collaborative and compassionate care.
The range of pay for this position is $159,442.29 to $187,724.25 per annum.
Closes: 12 September 2025 |
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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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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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In an age where bad actors spread misinformation not out of ignorance but with intent to divide and destabilize, the challenge before local leaders is both urgent and unavoidable.
Misinformation is not a careless slip—it is often a calculated act of harm. As Hannah Arendt observed, "If everybody always lies to you, the consequence is not that you believe the lies, but rather that nobody believes anything any longer. And a people that no longer can believe anything cannot make up its mind. It is deprived not only of its capacity to act but also of its capacity to think and to judge."
This collapse of trust leaves every council meeting, policy, and press release gasping for legitimacy, and in such a vacuum, authority itself begins to erode.
Falsehood thrives on division. It sharpens old grievances and manufactures new ones, reducing mutual trust and increasing polarization in our communities.
The task for local leaders is no longer just service delivery, but the harder work of repairing civic trust. This role is as much cultural as technical because leaders must become connectors of honesty, able to catch rumors before they take root and counter them with evidence and empathy.
Socrates offers us some direction in this fog: “there is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance,” a reminder that defending truth is a moral obligation. Seems to me that the only effective response is relentless transparency. We should invest in civic education, communicate openly, and build coalitions that can challenge false narratives before they harden into accepted “truths.” CAOs that do this can stand as beacons of resilience in the fog of misinformation.
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The growing climate crisis continues to pose threats to communities across Canada and around the world from forest fires, flooding, and more. Although national and provincial governments have reduced their efforts to address climate change, municipalities are playing an increasingly important role through the use of eco-fiscal tools. These tools, which include taxes, fees, and charges, influence behaviour in ways that impact the environment. In Eco-Fiscal Tools and Municipal Finance: Current Practices and Opportunities, Jean-Philippe Meloche and Fanny Tremblay-Racicot explain the advantages of eco-fiscal tools and explore the range of such mechanisms implemented by various Canadian municipalities. They argue that fiscal tools, such as water charges, waste collection fees, and congestion pricing, are not only a source of revenue for municipalities, but also a means to incentivize climate-efficient behaviour. The authors conclude by proposing innovative eco-fiscal tools that could be implemented by municipalities in the future.
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Tokyo promotes disaster readiness with AI simulation Tokyo has released an AI-generated video showing what could happen in the city if Mount Fuji were to erupt, encouraging residents to make disaster preparedness plans. The video shows ash reaching Tokyo within hours, disrupting transportation and causing health issues, although the city emphasizes there are no signs of an imminent eruption.
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