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Bill 100, Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 was referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy on 23 April. Those interested in making an oral presentation had to register by 4:00 p.m. on 24 April. The Committee held public hearings in Toronto on 28 April. |
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OMAA continues to encourage the Province to pass code of conduct reform legislation before the municipal election. In a letter to Minister Flack on 23 March, OMAA Chair DiLullo requested the government make a few meaningful amendments to enhance its effectiveness: - Establish a standard list of penalties, modelled on those in the Education Act, 2023, including censure, suspension from meetings or committees, ineligibility to chair committees, and removal from office.
- Adjust the removal-from-office threshold from a unanimous vote to a supermajority (two-thirds), ensuring fairness, functionality, and the ability to act in serious cases.
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Introduce defined timelines for discipline and hearing processes, similar to those outlined in Regulation 404/23 under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019.
- Mandate annual training in anti-harassment and discrimination for all members of council, their staff, and local boards.
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The Ontario government is investing nearly $380 million through the 2025-26 Gas Tax program to help support public transit in 107 municipalities. The funding will be used for local public transit initiatives such as expanding service hours and transit routes, purchasing new vehicles and improving accessibility to increase transit ridership. See Gas Tax Funding by Municipality |
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The Province is proposing a regulation Environmental Assessment Act amendments to improve the comprehensive environmental assessment process under the Environmental Assessment Act, RSO 1990, which includes three key changes to the comprehensive EA process: - remove the requirement to publish and consult on a Ministry Review
- remove the opportunity for the public to request a hearing before the Ontario Land Tribunal while maintaining the Minister’s authority to refer an application or matter related to an application to the Tribunal.
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remove the requirement for Cabinet approval of the Minister’s decision on the application for approval to proceed, while providing the Minister discretion to refer an application to Cabinet for a decision.
Other minor updates to improve clarity and flexibility in the EAA are also included.
Comments due by 20 May 2026 |
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Federal Spring Economic Update |
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The federal government’s 2026 Spring Economic Update largely stays the course set in Budget 2025, emphasizing growth-focused spending. Its strategy continues to rely on leveraging the public balance sheet to attract private investment, with the expectation that stronger economic performance will improve federal finances over time, though affordability pressures remain a near-term concern and execution will be critical.
Fiscal projections are mostly unchanged, with slight improvements in 2025–26 offset by new measures, keeping the plan within its anchors of a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio and a balanced operating budget by 2027–28. While the debt-to-GDP ratio trajectory remains similar—declining only in the early 2030s—stronger GDP assumptions have modestly improved the outlook. New elements include limited details on the Canada Strong Fund, aimed at major projects with potential taxpayer equity upside, and expanded wage subsidies and training grants to support 80,000–100,000 skilled trades workers, reinforcing the government’s broader growth agenda. Read RBC's Analysis Here
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| Our Annual General Meeting takes place on the morning of Thursday 21 May at the Spring Workshop.
We encourage all members to review the meeting materials in advance. The package includes the AGM agenda, last year’s minutes, the slate of nominated board candidates plus the audited financial statements.
Your participation is important to our governance and future direction, and we look forward to your engagement.
And remember we also have a special Strategic Plan Roundtable session on Wednesday evening at the Spring Workshop. Together, we’ll reflect on where we’ve been and define where we’re headed as an organization and community of municipal leaders.
Check out the Strategic Plan Two-Page Summary. |
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Upper-Tier Leadership Dynamics: Navigating the CAO–Warden Relationship 5 May 2026 – 1:00 to 2:00 pm
The next installment of the AMO–OMAA Mayor–CAO Series turns to the complexities of two-tier governance, spotlighting how County and Regional CAOs partner with Wardens and Regional Chairs to lead effectively at the upper tier.
This session explores the unique intersection of political leadership and administrative expertise, offering practical insight into navigating regional priorities, fostering alignment, and managing evolving relationships—particularly in an election year.
Hear directly from two CAO–Warden pairs as they share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for building strong, collaborative leadership at the regional level. 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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| OMAA, in partnership with Career Joy, invites you to a free, candid panel discussion focused on building resilience in today’s demanding municipal leadership environment—especially during an election year.
Hear from experienced municipal leaders as they share how they sustain personal performance, support their teams, and lead with stability through periods of change and uncertainty.
Join Jacqueline Long, Head of Operational Effectiveness at the Town of Whitby; Shellee Fournier, CAO of the Township of Rideau Lakes; and Sonya Pritchard, CAO of the County of Dufferin for this practical and insightful conversation: Building the Resilience Needed for Today’s Leadership Demands, from 1:00–2:00 pm on 12 May 2026.
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| Dear OMAA Colleagues,
It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of OMAA, and I would like to sincerely thank you for the trust placed in me during my term. Together, we have accomplished many of the goals set out at the outset of my tenure, and I am proud of the progress we have made, including the development of a new Strategic Plan, advances in communication and advocacy, and enhanced member engagement and value. While much has been accomplished, the important work of OMAA continues. I am confident that the association will be very well served by the dedication and commitment of the Board members who continue to execute on our strategic priorities, as well as the many members who contribute and serve when called upon.
I look forward to connecting with you at the Spring Conference in Muskoka and continuing our important conversations there. Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve. Best, Michael |
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| Have you ever conducted a thought experiment?
I was visiting one of my dog friends who moved to a new subdivision the other day. The street was so wide you could land a modest aircraft on it, or at least comfortably host a parade of distracted drivers. The houses stood shoulder to shoulder, each one announcing itself primarily by the size of the garage attached to its face, as though the home itself were a modest afterthought to the vehicles it was built to shelter. And I wondered: what would aliens make of this?
Their attention would not doubt focus on the houses. Not to the shy recessed front doors tucked away like a secret, but to the garages that present themselves boldly and without apology. The aliens might reasonably assume that the garage is the primary dwelling unit, and that the humans themselves are some sort of auxiliary creatures, permitted to occupy the smaller structure attached at the side or rear. They might even develop a working theory that the vehicles are the dominant life form, given the size and prominence of their accommodations.
“Observe,” one alien might say to another, gesturing with whatever passes for a finger. “The large door opens. The metal beast emerges. The human follows behind, carrying offerings.” And it would be hard to argue with that assessment. |
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Five simple zoning changes that any city can make to increase housing affordability
You need to know the nuts and bolts of how zoning works to identify the specific changes that need to be made. This article explores five practical changes that could dramatically increase housing supply. Greater supply by itself may not bring prices down, but there is no long-term solution to housing affordability that does not involve significantly increased housing supply. |
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Parking Reform Is Reshaping Housing Policy
The expense of providing parking has become a real problem in the many cities that require each new apartment to come with one or more parking spots. Because apartment construction costs are ultimately passed on to renters, tenants have to pay hundreds of dollars in rent for car storage each month, whether they need it or not. |
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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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