Perth County officials are urging provincial leaders to tackle the financial challenges facing rural Ontario.
During the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa, Perth County leaders are advocating for financial assistance and fair administration from provincial officials.
The county is calling for action regarding rising municipal costs and dwindling funding sources.
Delegations from the county met directly with important provincial representatives at the conference to discuss urgent local concerns, particularly concerning decreased transfers from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. Municipal leaders expressed that less provincial support, combined with increasing operational costs, is unfairly shifting the tax burden onto local property owners.
County representatives also urged for immediate changes to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claims, pushing for better cost fairness 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 emphasized that sustainable, long-term funding is crucial for housing infrastructure, fully funded health and social services, and a joint strategy between provincial and federal levels to address the ongoing homelessness crisis in the region.
These targeted delegation meetings gave Perth County staff and council members a direct opportunity to present rural priorities alongside more than three thousand municipal delegates from all over 444 Ontario communities.
The AMO conference wraps up Wednesday.
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