| Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Graydon Smith addressed the audience at the Fall Workshop on Tuesday.
Minister Smith spoke about how the Province is doubling down on its efforts to build housing to counter prevailing market forces. He emphasized the government’s commitment to working with municipalities to remove barriers, streamline approvals, and create the conditions needed to accelerate housing construction across Ontario.
Minister Smith also acknowledged the critical role of municipal CAOs and senior administrators in implementing provincial housing priorities at the local level. He encouraged continued collaboration and open dialogue between the Province and municipalities as Ontario works toward its ambitious goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2031. |
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Undergraduate Winner: Darren Chan, enrolled in the Master of Public Administration program at York University, with volunteer and employment experience at the City of Markham and the Region of York. Graduate Winner: Ivan Laskavyi, currently completing the Public Administration Certificate Program at York University and working with North York Community House. Both recipients were celebrated at OMAA’s Fall Workshop, where their stories and perspectives on municipal service were shared through short video features.
OMAA and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) serve as equal partners in delivering the Maureen McCauley Bursary which now offers two $5,000 awards annually to recognize and assist those pursuing education that could lead to a career in municipal government. |
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Ontario's Full Transition to EPR: What Municipal Leaders Need to Know |
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On January 1, 2026, the province will complete its transition to full Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), changing how recycling programs operate and shifting financial and operational responsibility from municipalities to producers. Understanding the EPR Transition
Under the new system, producers of packaging and paper products are financially responsible and accountable for those materials, over their full life cycle. The transition to EPR has been underway since 2023. By 2026, municipalities will no longer pay for residential recycling programs, freeing up resources for other critical services. Recycling programs founded on the principles of extended producer responsibility improve recycling rates and encourage the more efficient use of materials.
Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit producer responsibility organization (PRO) that supports producers in meeting their EPR obligations across Canada, serves as the administrator of Ontario's common collection system on behalf of all PROs operating in the province. The organization is committed to a seamless transition for both municipalities and residents.
Unified and Expanded Recycling Options for Residents
One of the most visible benefits of the EPR transition is the launch of a unified materials list and expansion of recyclable materials. Starting January 1, 2026, Ontarians will be able to recycle more materials than ever before, including -
Coffee cups and beverage cups (both hot and cold paper-based and plastic-lined)
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste tubes
- Ice cream tubs
- Black plastic containers
- Frozen juice containers
This standardization eliminates the confusion that has long plagued recycling efforts, particularly for residents moving between municipalities. "The unified material list and new materials included are a great example of how extended producer responsibility advances innovation and improves environmental outcomes," notes Langdon.
Public Education and Engagement is Critical
Our goal is to support a seamless transition to the new systems for residents. Recognizing the importance of resident awareness, Circular Materials is conducting extensive promotion and education efforts, including a province-wide campaign ahead of January 1, 2026. This robust communications campaign aims to ensure residents understand the new system and expanded recycling options from day one. In addition, each community across Ontario now has a dedicated page on the Circular Materials website providing residents with location-specific recycling information. These pages are a one stop shop where residents can find material guidelines, customer service information and local program details. For municipalities we also have the P&E portal where they can find the municipal toolkit which contains valuable resources to share with residents.
For more information, please visit our website or reach out directly to our Communications team at Communications@circularmaterials.ca or our Operations team at Operations@circularmaterials.ca
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| Many thanks to the 220 registrants that made the Fall Workshop a success.
In the words of Board Member and new Yeti Cooler owner Sonya Skinner:
Once again, the Ontario CAOs workshop (OMAA) delivered value for attendees! On top of deepening relationships with CAO‘s across the province, we had a two way conversation with Associate Minister of MMAH Grayson Smith, learned about finding funds for tree cover, making equipment sharing easier, dealing with complex emergencies like the Wheatly explosion, statistics on CAO careers and the coming retirement boom, and workplace assessment as a precursor to restoration or investigation.
Presentations are now available in the Member Library. Videos to follow soon. OMAA will be making a $1000 donation to Feed Ontario.
The 2026 Spring Workshop will take place from 20-22 May at the JW Marriott in Muskoka Lakes. You can book rooms here. |
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Thomas Thayer's major MPA Research Project, To Know Where You’re Going, You Must Know Where You Are:
A Study of CAO Education and Career Trajectories in Ontario is now available.
This study explores the CAO function with the primary question being: “what education credentials and career traits are
currently held by those individuals currently comprising the CAO function in municipalities in Ontario.” It makes an excellent contribution to the existing knowledge base and helps fill a a literature gap that exists in the area of study of municipal CAOs in Canada in general but specifically those that cover key demographic, education, and career progression aspects and establishes a detailed picture of the current Ontario municipal CAO. This study seeks to address this gap while also exploring deeper personal traits, including career opportunities and challenges faced by incumbents in the role.
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) |
Middlesex Centre (Ilderton, ON) |
The Municipality of Middlesex Centre is a thriving, progressive, and welcoming community. Located just west of the City of London, Middlesex Centre’s rural charm and vibrant small towns make it a great place to live, work, and play.
What makes us special? Our team! We are supportive, inclusive, and collaborative workplace. We take pride in delivering the highest standard of municipal services to our community. We embrace our values of respect, cooperation, innovation, and integrity. If you are a team player who is passionate about your work and are always looking for ways to improve and grow, then we want to hear from you. We can offer you: Competitive compensation. Participation in OMERS, one of the best defined-benefit pension plans in Canada. Comprehensive health and dental benefits with a health care spending account. An employee and family assistance program. A culture that supports ongoing training and professional development.
Position Summary
Reporting to Council, the Chief Administrative Officer is responsible for providing vision and leadership to the Municipality through planning, organizing, and directing the operation of all municipal services in accordance with legislation, by-laws and policies established by Council; the CAO serves as the organization’s representative to the community and community organizations, media, other levels of government, and professional associations. The CAO advises Council and recommends actions to address current emerging issues and trends to ensure that Council policies and programs result in the attainment of Council’s vision mission and embody its values.
Salary range: $194,044.50 to $230,997.00 per year. Closes: 14 November 2025 |
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General Manager of Corporate Services/ Legal |
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 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.
Salary range $145,254 - $169,927. Closes: 7 November 2025 |
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Manager, Procurement Services |
Newmarket, Ontario is a vibrant and forward-thinking community that leads with care. As one of the most densely populated municipalities in the province, we’re proud to embrace bold, community-centered initiatives—like transforming the historic Mulock Property into our very own Central Park and revitalizing urban corridors to enhance livability and connection.
Our culture is unique and intentionally crafted through collaboration, inclusion, and a shared leadership commitment to creating an environment for extraordinary public service. Our award-winning Leadership Essentials program was designed to provide our leaders with the tools and expectations that are key to an employee experience that is well beyond the ordinary. This “made in Newmarket” initiative earned Newmarket the 2025 CAMA Inspiring Workplace Award.
Under the direction of the Director, Legal & Procurement Services, the Manager, Procurement Services is responsible for the management and implementation of the work and the achievement of the objectives within Procurement Services Department. This position oversees the procurement of all goods, services and construction for all Town departments and facilities, the Newmarket Public Library, Elman Campbell Museum, Newmarket Hydro, and Central York Fire Services.
Salary Range: $116,312 - $145,390
Closes: 10 November 2025 |
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) |
The Township of Manitouwadge is located in Northern Ontario in the heart of the Boreal forest with the Canadian Shield as our backdrop. Manitouwadge is 54 km north of the Trans-Canada Highway, and roughly 400 km east of Thunder Bay and 425 km west of Sault Ste. Marie.
The community is an ideal location for year-round outdoor adventure and is encompassed by the magnificent Boreal forest, surrounding lakes, and offers a wide range of summer and winter outdoor adventure opportunities. Hike the well-maintained Perry Lake Trail, paddle through one of the many canoe routes, visit the waterfront at Lion’s Beach or Prospector’s Park or take a swim in one of the many lakes and rivers surrounding the community. The 9-hole Municipal Golf Course offers a picturesque setting on a fun and varied course. From excellent summer and winter fishing, skiing on their 10-run ski hill, snowmobiling or ATVing, canoeing or kayaking there’s something for everyone in Manitouwadge.
Manitouwadge, a full-service community of 2,000 residents, has a long history in both the forestry and mining sectors with the availability of both well-paying jobs and affordable housing, offering some of the lowest housing and commercial property prices in Ontario. With a combined operational and capital budget of over $20M and over 30 full and part-time employees, the Township of Manitouwadge 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 to ensuring effective municipal operations in a fiscally accountable fashion, guiding our organization into the future, while retaining our northern community roots and charm.
The salary range for this position is very competitive and includes fully-paid group benefits and participation in the OMERS pension program. Closes: 23 October 2025 |
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) |
Township of Hamilton (Cobourg, Ontario) |
The Township of Hamilton is a vibrant rural municipality in southern Ontario, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, agricultural roots, and entrepreneurial spirit. Established in 1850, it is nestled between Lake Ontario to the south and the tranquil waters of Rice Lake to the north, with the rolling hills of Northumberland providing a scenic backdrop. Home to approximately 11,000 residents, the Township features eight charming hamlets (Baltimore, Bewdley, Camborne, Cold Springs, Gore’s Landing, Harwood, Plainville, and Precious Corners), each with its own distinct character. The community’s strong agricultural base, diverse small businesses, and service providers contribute to a supportive local economy, while the abundance of outdoor recreation and the Oak Ridges Moraine showcase the area’s rich natural environment.
Conveniently located halfway between Toronto and Kingston, with access from Hwy. 401, the Township of Hamilton offers excellent work-life balance, combining the professional challenge of municipal leadership with the benefits of a small, close-knit community. Residents and staff alike value collaboration, mutual support, and the rural quality of life, while enjoying convenient access to larger urban centres. Whether drawn by the countryside, the lakes, or the welcoming community spirit, the Township is a picturesque place to live, work, and visit.
Reporting to the Mayor and Council, the CAO serves as the chief policy advisor to Council, leader and supervisor of the Township’s employees, and manages the municipality's resources in accordance with legislation and Council policy, in cooperation with Department Heads. A key focus of this role is strengthening customer service and responsiveness to residents, ensuring that the Township remains a trusted, service-oriented partner for its community. The CAO will also foster teamwork across departments, promote innovation, and guide succession planning to build a sustainable organization for the future.
Salary Range: $146,110 - $170,934 + OMERS pension + benefits. |
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There was a time when optimism felt like sunlight: naturally abundant and taken for granted. In an age where cynicism passes for sophistication and despair feels like realism, to believe things might turn out better isn’t naivety. It’s rebellion. Radical optimism, in our fractured world, is not a denial of suffering but a defiant choice to see beyond it.
Albert Camus wrestled with this paradox: “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” That “invincible summer” is what drives mayors, planners, and community builders to imagine better streets, stronger economies, and spaces of belonging even when budgets shrink and tempers flare.
Radical optimism becomes the scaffolding of resilience. As the philosopher Marcus Aurelius reminded us, “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” When animated by radical optimism municipal leaders move beyond simply managing crises to model the audacity to envision renewal after the storm.
Hope-based leadership, as thinkers like Marc Correa have written, begins with crafting shared visions and nurturing a sense of possibility within the community. In leadership terms, this optimism is far from idealistic abstraction. It’s a strategic act. Resilient local systems draw power from hope itself, creating peer-to-peer engagement, and a capacity to thrive together even in adversity.
Radical optimism is the conviction that things can be made better, and that we have a role in making them so. It’s political because it demands participation. It’s moral because it refuses to surrender to despair. And it’s philosophical because it begins with wonder. The quiet astonishment that despite everything, the world still offers beauty, renewal, and the stubborn persistence of hope. |
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What sets the world's best leaders apart?
Most leaders set out to be the best—but few make that Mount Everest–like ascent successfully. What do the world’s most iconic CEOs do differently? Four McKinsey Senior Partners break it down in their new book A CEO for All Seasons based on research and interviews with executives ranking among the top 200 CEOs across the globe. Listen to this episode (9 minutes) of The McKinsey Podcast for some of the more surprising lessons they learned—and what they’ve changed about their own leadership as a result.
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York's Collegium for Public Ethics is holding a panel discussion on Ontario's municipal integrity system, much of which will focus on the Municipal Accountability Act. Ontario’s Municipal Integrity System: Efficacy and Limitations
A Panel Discussion via Zoom on Thursday Nov 6, 2025 from 12:00 --1:30 pm features Suzanne Craig, John Mascarin, and Paul Muldoon. Join via the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6226820306?omn=81728351930
Meeting ID: 622 682 0306 |
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Bike-sharing drives €305m boost to cities
Bike-sharing is boosting Europe’s local economies through job creation and reduced congestion, generating €305 million in annual benefits, according to new analysis. The findings come from a study conducted by EY for EIT Urban Mobility and Cycling Industries Europe (CIE), which for the first time quantifies the economic and social return on investment of bike-sharing schemes. The report highlights how shared bikes are supporting healthier citizens, cleaner air, and more efficient transport systems across the continent.
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This Data Scientist Sees Progress in the Climate Change Fight Countries are falling short on reducing emissions, but British data scientist Hannah Ritchie looks at the numbers and sees the world making real gains on climate change. In an interview, she talks about the unheralded progress she sees in the global shift to clean energy. |
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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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