Mandate

The mandate of the organization is to support and enhance strong and effective municipal government in Ontario. It promotes the value of the municipal level of government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system.

The Mandate is delivered in a variety of ways.  Of particular importance is the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AMO and the Province.  The MOU provides the opportunity for municipal input and reaction to provincial policy ideas (pre-consultation) so that they are fully informed as part of any provincial policy making process.   The MOU also includes a Protocol that obligates the Province to consult with AMO and municipalities on matters that are of a federal-provincial nature that could affect municipal services and finances.  The Protocol also sets out the Province’s commitment to pursue a federal-provincial-municipal framework where municipalities have a ‘seat at the federal-provincial table’.

AMO’s Vision Statement  

“In Ontario’s municipalities, people and families can live, thrive and prosper in the communities they call home, and children will have the choice and opportunity to live and work in the communities where they were raised.”

Activities

The activities of AMO support both its Mandate and Vision Statement.  AMO develops policy positions and reports on issues of general interest to municipal governments; conducts ongoing liaison with provincial government elected and non-elected representatives; informs and educates governments, the media and the public on municipal issues; markets innovative and beneficial services to the municipal sector; and maintains a resource centre on issues of municipal interest. The Association's Annual Meeting is held in August and is combined with a comprehensive conference program.

Organizational Structure
The governing body of the Association is the Board of Directors, elected at the Association's Annual Meeting. The Board comprises 43 elected and non-elected municipal representatives. The Board meets five times per year. An Executive Committee of the Board, responsible for the business of the Association between Board of Director meetings, meets monthly.

AMO hosts many foreign delegates who wish to learn about starting a similar local government organization and our business and information services.

For more information, contact: Pat Vanini, Executive Director, PVanini@amo.on.ca, 416 971 9856  ext. 316

Policy and Government Relations

A team of policy advisors conducts policy research and analysis for the Association on a wide range of issues – from governance, financial structure, environment, labour, emergency services and human services. Policy staff works with Task Forces to develop and recommend policy positions to the Board of Directors and to review and monitor issues of municipal interest. Task Forces are established on an as-required basis to work on specific short-term tasks. For example, in the past the Association has struck special task forces to deal with land use planning, public health, affordable housing, water regulations and water taking, Brownfields, and the Municipal Act among many others.AMO also represents the sector on a variety of provincial and federal committees, such as policing standards, source water protection, immigration, municipal rural infrastructure fund program, and emergency management, among many others.

For more information, contact:  Monika Turner, Director of Policy, 416 971 9856  ext. 318 

Corporate Services

Administrative Structure
The Association currently has a total complement of 28 staff headed up by an Executive Director who reports to the Board and the Executive Committee. 

AMO is involved in policy research and development; education and training of municipal elected officials; communications; information collection and management; corporate administration and finance; the Municom Network and business activities that save members money.

For more information, contact:  Nancy Plumridge, Director of Administration and Business Development, email: NPlumridge@amo.on.ca; ext. 324

Information Services
The activities of the Association are supported by a collection of electronic and traditional information resources. AMO's flagship electronic information product is web-based Municom. Municom hosts a variety of municipal information including a commercial news clippings service, AMO policy reports, an extensive by-law library.

Municom’s popular Clippings newspaper source list has been increased from 15 Ontario papers to now provide a spectacular coverage of Ontario with some 100 papers!   Since December 2008, Municom subscribers are able to access an electronic elected officials and staff municipal directory.

Information Services actively support the Association's function of collecting and disseminating vital information to its membership through several AMO administered websites: AMO.on.ca;  LAS.on.ca;  OMKN.ca;  OSUM.ca;  ROMA.on.ca and  YourLocalGovernment.com.

For more information, contact: Snežana Vukelic, Manager, Information Services, 416-971-9856 ext. 322 or email: SVukelic@amo.on.ca

Municipal Information & Data Analysis System (MIDAS)

AMO, in conjunction with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, with funding provided by the Ministry of Finance, has developed a web based tool to allow municipalities to generate reports on their Municipal Performance Measurement program (MPMP) data and all other Financial Information Return (FIR) data.

For more information, contact:  Deborah Hannah, Business Systems Analyst, 416 971 9856 ext. 310, email: DHannah@amo.on.ca

Local Authority Services Ltd. (LAS)
LAS was created in 1992 by AMO to deliver programs and services that help municipalities reduce the cost of common expenditures and increase revenues.

LAS has launched an Energy Services division as well as a bulk electricity procurement program for all interested municipalities.  This program is currently realizing savings of up to 30% for municipalities for required electricity purchases, depending on the type of usage.

The Natural Gas Program currently purchases more than 10,000GJ of natural gas for over 2,200 physical locations each day on behalf of 170 municipalities and other public sector organizations.  In 2006 the program provided members up to 14% savings compared to utility gas rates.

The ONE Investment Program, jointly operated with the CHUMS Financing Corp. offers a diversified way for municipalities to invest short and long-term surplus and reserve funds.  Recently an Equity Fund and Corporate Bond Fund were launched as ways for municipalities to leverage new investment powers provided by the Province.

Most recently, LAS has developed a Municipal Investigator Program for any complaints about “Closed Meeting” decisions that municipalities must address as a result of new changes to the Municipal Act.
 
For information on LAS contact:
Nancy Plumridge, President and Secretary-Treasurer, email: NPlumridge@amo.on.ca; 416-971-9856 ext. 324
Jason Hagan, LAS Program Coordinator,  ext. 320, email: JHagan@amo.on.ca
Scott Vokey, Energy Services Coordinator, email: SVokey@amo.on.ca, ext. 357

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
200 University Avenue, Suite 801 Toronto ON M5H 3C6 CANADA
Tel: (416) 971-9856 Fax: (416) 971-6191
Toll-free in Ontario: 1-877-4-AMO-LAS (1-877-426-6527) email: amo@amo.on.ca
www.amo.on.ca www.las.on.ca www.municom.com www.yourlocalgovernment.com