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Bill 100, Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 aims to make a number of changes to the way regional governments function in some of Ontario’s fastest growing regions. Proposed changes include -
giving the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the power to appoint upper-tier council chairs in eight regions (Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York, plus Simcoe County)
- granting these council chairs “strong chair” powers to help them deliver on provincial priorities.
- Simcoe County Council would be reduced from 32 members to 17 (16 mayors plus the warden).
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Niagara Regional Council would be reduced from 32 members to 13 members (12 mayors plus the regional chair.
"To facilitate the transition to the new council structure and ensure appropriate and effective representation, the government would also work with local municipal leadership to develop a weighted voting framework, which is already in force in Simcoe County and would be applied in Niagara Region." Read the backgrounder for full details. |
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| A bold new identity is on the horizon.
For some time, OMAA has been considering how to better reflect the role our members play across Ontario today—and where we are headed next. This spring, we’ll be introducing a new brand. As part of that, we’re creating a short video for the Spring Workshop—and we’d like it to reflect the real places and communities our members serve.
If you’re able, please share a few short clips (10–20 seconds) from your municipality—streetscapes, civic buildings, public spaces, or moments that capture the work in action. Guidelines: Preferred: 4K (3840 × 2160); minimum: 1080p (1920 × 1080) Horizontal (landscape) Steady shots, a few seconds in length No audio required Upload here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bEfgpf5zv5GuCApXwpS9iaB5jFdpiv-a?usp=sharing Deadline: 17 April 2026 |
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| We proudly honour members who’ve dedicated years of leadership as CAOs through our Long Service Recognition Awards handed out at each Spring Workshop. Milestones are celebrated at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service — and every year counts, no matter where your journey has taken you.
Recognized recipients are celebrated at one of our annual banquets during their anniversary year. Click to submit your short nomination form and join us in celebrating your impact and commitment to municipal excellence!
Deadline: 17 April 2026
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The Applaud Introduction + mini-Mindshift webinar took place last week (access slides). This restorative wellness session is one designed especially for Applaud members, and offered monthly to help you pause, reset, and recharge during your workday. The next phase is enrolment and we've launched a contest as an extra incentive, It's quick and easy to join Applaud, Ensure you complete your registration by 30 April 2026 to be eligible for the prize. Why Join Applaud?
New members will also be able to register for any number of our upcoming programs and events, including monthly Mindshift + Movement sessions starting on May 7. You can find out more about Applaud here: https://applaudpublicservice.ca/
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Upper-Tier Leadership Dynamics: Navigating the CAO–Warden Relationship 5 May 2026 – 1:00 to 2:00 pm AMO and OMAA are teaming up again for a dynamic conversation exploring how County and Regional CAOs work with their Wardens and Regional Chairs to guide complex two-tier systems. This session dives into the unique governance dynamics of upper-tier municipalities—where political insight and administrative expertise intersect.
Through a moderated discussion, two CAO–Warden pairs will share firsthand perspectives on building effective relationships, aligning regional priorities, and strengthening collaboration across tiers. The discussion will also consider how these relationships evolve in the context of potential legislative changes and the approach to an election year, including maintaining strong governance practices, supporting council through transition periods, and ensuring continuity of leadership. Panelists: Warden Marcus Ryan and CAO Ben Addley of Oxford County plus Warden Bonnie Clark and CAO Sheridan Graham of Peterborough County |
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Election years bring a unique set of pressures for municipal leaders. Priorities must continue moving forward while future direction may be uncertain. Teams look for signals about what comes next, and leaders often feel the added responsibility of closing out the year strong while preparing their organizations for potential change.
For municipal leaders, managing stress, both their own and their team’s, while keeping people focused, engaged, and performing is a critical leadership skill.
OMAA and Career Joy are offering a free candid panel conversation during which experienced municipal leaders will share how they maintain resilience, support their teams, and sustain performance both personally and across their organizations through an election year.
Join Jacqueline Long, Head of Operational Effectiveness at the Town of Whitby, and Shellee Fournier, CAO of the Township of Rideau Lakes as they discuss how to Build the Resilience Needed for Today’s Leadership Demands from 1-2 pm on Tuesday 12 May 2026. |
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| The 2026 Spring Workshop takes place from May 20-22 at the stunning JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa. It includes a mix of social events, keynote speakers, educational sessions, quick hits, and sponsored sessions--all aimed at giving CAOs, Deputy CAOs, and Aspiring CAOs the tools they need to be more effective.
Wednesday starts off strong with our pre-workshop social events (golf tournament or the Bog to Bottle Tour at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery) followed by an immersive session on our new strategic plan, Mix & Mingle Hour, and the Awards Dinner featuring the brilliant stand-up comedian, TV and radio host, and published author Steve Patterson.
Full program is available here: Spring Workshop - Ontario Municipal Administrators Association
While the OMAA Room Block at the JW is full, you can book at one of the nearby accommodations:
Muskoka Resorts Ontario | Ontario | Sherwood Inn Or
Muskoka Lakes Hotel | Downtown Port Carling Hotel |
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Strategic Plan Objective #4 |
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The 2026-30 Strategic Plan Rising Together, Leading Forward has six major objectives with several actions related to each. This section will introduce one objective each week in advance of the Spring Workshop roundtable session. |
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| Objective #4: Establish a Credentialing Program
Expectations of executive leaders are rising faster than ever. The role now demands not only administrative expertise, but emotional maturity, adaptive intelligence, ethical clarity, and the ability to lead people through uncertainty. As these pressures grow, so too does the need for a credential that signals true readiness - one that reflects not just technical proficiency, but the depth and character required for modern public-sector leadership. OMAA OMAA is uniquely positioned to build a thoughtful, staged development process that ensures credibility, rigor, and long-term impact.
Explore and evaluate a phased credentialing curriculum grounded in OMAA’s identity and leadership framework Explore and evaluate the merits of a structured credentialing pathway that incorporates executive competencies, ethical foundations, community impact, personal resilience, and the adaptive skills demanded by the public-service environment. Each stage will be intentionally designed to reflect both the science and the soul of leadership. Build a robust outreach strategy to position the credential as the premier standard Partner with recruiters, hiring directors, and sector organizations, OMAA will introduce the credential as the benchmark of leadership excellence in the province. Clear communication will ensure that the credential becomes a trusted indicator of capability and readiness for senior executive roles.
Secure recognition from provincial and educational partners to establish legitimacy Engage with key provincial bodies, academic institutions, and sector leaders to strengthen the credential’s credibility. Endorsements, partnerships, and collaborative development will ensure the credential carries meaningful weight across Ontario. |
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The annual distraction, the Sunshine List, was released last week, and the predictable cycle of commentary followed. The list could be a useful flashlight, but too often it functions as a diversion. What matters more is whether the public can still see into power itself. The list shows the price tag, but not the decisions, emails, text messages, drafts, deletions, and backroom calculations that shape public life.
As James Madison observed, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives”. Moves to restrict freedom of information should thus be met with firm opposition. A government that demands confidence while narrowing examination is asking the public to live by faith when it should be living by proof. George Bernard Shaw noted, “Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it”. If citizens shrug at the shrinking of FOI or the deliberate obfuscation of political fundraisers, they may retain the right to know in theory while losing it in practice.
The Sunshine List tells us who is expensive. FOI tells us whether the people paying the bill can still see how the meal was cooked. A democracy should not be satisfied with a receipt when it is entitled to the recipe. Us dogs may not be that picky, but we know baloney when we see it. |
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If you are looking to get your CAO or senior staff vacant position in front of the right audience you've come to the right place. Your post will be published multiple times for the low price of $300 for members or $425 for non-members. |
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Capping the maximum size of any new passenger vehicles sold at 2020 levels could save global consumers up to 22 percent, reduce liquid fuel consumption as much as 12 percent, and reduce traffic deaths up to 9 percent — and simultaneously slash transportation sector emissions as much as 10 percent, a new report from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy found. Read more in How Capping Vehicle Sizes Could Help Save the World
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Generative artificial intelligence, powered by advanced machine learning algorithms, has the potential to analyze vast amounts of data to predict trends, helping cities improve emergency response, mitigate severe weather events, and target resources for infrastructure enhancements. The technologies might also be harnessed to design creative solutions that could transform government delivery by reducing processing delays, eliminating cumbersome paperwork, and expanding multi-language access to reach many more residents with vital, public services.
To maximize the potential and expand the availability of generative artificial intelligence learning for local governments, City AI Connect might offer local officials a single destination to ideate, develop, and test new utilizations with peers across cities.
City AI Connect is a global learning community and digital platform for cities to trial and advance the usage of generative artificial intelligence to improve public services. |
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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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