Officials from the County of Renfrew met with the Honourable Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa earlier this week. Joining the meeting were Chief Administrative Officer Craig Kelley; Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming; Councillor Glenn Doncaster, Operations Committee Chair; Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon; and Lee Perkins, Director of Public Works and Engineering.
RELEASE DATE:
August 21, 2025
Representatives from the County of Renfrew engaged with several Members of Provincial Parliament during the 2025 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference, pushing for funding aimed at improving the lives of residents in Renfrew County.
The annual conference took place in Ottawa from August 17-20, 2025. It is one of the largest gatherings for municipal leaders and staff in the province and brought together nearly 3,000 participants from hundreds of municipalities and organizations across Ontario.
Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon emphasized that having County Councillors attend the AMO Conference is essential to promote local and rural priorities so that community needs are recognized at the provincial level.
“We were able to have some concentrated conversations with Ministers or their designates on a variety of issues,” he said. “It is important to provide context and on-the-ground facts to the Province as it develops, implements, recalibrates policy or replenishes funds serving our community.
In addition to dozens of speakers, sessions and workshops available, elected officials and senior staff from Renfrew County participated in ten delegation meetings before provincial ministries to address issues affecting service delivery and quality of life in Renfrew County:
Ministry of Education – Advocated for continued Early ON funding to support families through early childhood programs Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security – Requested expansion of Learn and Stay Grant eligibility for Primary Care and Advanced Care Paramedics in rural Eastern Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness – Discussed funding to protect farmland through a coordinated regional plan Ministry of Energy and Mines – Raised concerns about outdated electrical grid infrastructure and its impact on rural development Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming – Requested funding for the Algonquin Trail bridge near Highway 17 at Bissett Creek; proposed updates to Municipal Accommodation Tax regulations for rural communities; advocated for increased base funding for the Ontario Highlands Tourism Organization Ministry of Health – Called for continued funding for Mesa’s Mental Health, Addictions, and Homelessness Outreach Teams Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade – Requested increased core funding for Business Enterprise Centres including Enterprise Renfrew County Ministry of Transportation – Proposed innovative safety and traffic solutions for ongoing expansion plans related to Highway 17 Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response – Advocated for Automatic Aid Agreements between paramedic services across Ontario to improve emergency response Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services – Urged updates to Ontario Works rates so they reflect inflation better supporting vulnerable residents
Warden Emon noted that discussions at the 2025 AMO conference aimed at finding practical solutions with key decision-makers that would benefit the community. He also acknowledged Chief Administrative Officer Craig Kelley along with Senior Leadership Team members for creating detailed documents outlining past successes while requesting additional investments.
“This led to meaningful discussions during meetings as well as informal talks throughout the conference,” he added. “County Councillors worked hard both inside delegation sessions as well as out in hallways to highlight our community’s needs alongside our achievements.”
The Warden expressed gratitude towards Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault for his ongoing support regarding crucial matters within Renfrew County.
AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all municipal governments across Ontario’s 444 municipalities. AMO aims to strengthen effective municipal government while promoting its values as an essential part within both Ontario’s political system as well as Canada’s overall governance framework.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Kelley CAO/Deputy Clerk 613-735-7288
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
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