Perth County officials are urging provincial leaders to tackle the financial challenges facing rural Ontario.
At the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa, Perth County leaders are calling on provincial representatives for financial support and fairness in administration.
The county is advocating for action to address rising municipal expenses and diminishing funding sources.
Delegations from the county met directly with important provincial figures during the conference to discuss urgent local concerns, beginning with reduced transfers from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. Local leaders expressed that decreasing provincial assistance, paired with increasing operational costs, is unfairly shifting the tax burden onto property owners in their communities.
County representatives also emphasized the need for immediate policy reforms regarding Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claims, seeking improved cost equity and administrative efficiency for Schedule 2 employers like municipal governments.
“The core focus of the conference centers on local democracy, economic uncertainty, sustainable infrastructure, and municipal finances ahead of local elections,” noted a statement from the county.
The county highlighted that consistent, long-term funding is essential for housing infrastructure, fully funded health and social services, as well as a joint strategy between provincial and federal levels to address ongoing homelessness issues in the region.
These focused delegation meetings offered Perth County staff and council members an opportunity to raise rural priorities alongside over three thousand municipal delegates from across 444 Ontario communities.
The AMO conference concludes on Wednesday.
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