County lobbies for protection of agricultural lands and new hospital during 2024 AMO Conference

Ward 2 Paris Councillor Lukas Oakley breaks down all the details from the county’s recent experience at the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) 2024 Conference. It’s an annual opportunity for Councillors and County representatives to speak with Government Ministers to lobby on behalf of initiatives and projects in Brant County.

The Paris Independent will share Councillor Oakley’s narrative on the conference over two editions. This week’s recap focuses on the county’s delegations to Ministers and overall SCOR delegation highlights.

This past week, my colleagues Councillors Bell, Kyle, and MacAlpine, along with staff members Phil Mete and Alysha Dyjach, and myself attended the 125th AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) Conference in Ottawa. Delegates from all 444 municipalities attended to advocate on local and shared issues to Ministers of the Ford Government, attend informational sessions, network and collaborate with municipal peers across the province, and elect a new AMO Board of Directors.

Your County of Brant Council delegates had delegations on behalf of the County with Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Agri-Business, Rob Flack, and the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health, MPP Anthony Leardi.

Pictured left to right: Mayor Sharron McMillan (Thames Centre), Mayor Amy Martin (Norfolk County, Chair of SCOR), Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Agri-Business Rob Flack, Councillor Jennifer Kyle, Councillor Bernia Martin (City of Woodstock), Councillor Chris Van Paassen (Norfolk County)

Additionally, Brant’s delegates attended a number of delegations with the South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation (SCOR EDC). The County of Brant is a member of SCOR EDC along with the counties of Elgin, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Oxford. With SCOR, County reps attended the delegations with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, the Official Opposition Ontario NDP, and the Ontario Green Party SCOR also applied for time with the Ontario Liberal Party. While we were not granted a delegation with the Liberals, representatives did attend the reception hosted by the party.

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