AMO’s advocacy focuses on ensuring that provincial policies and programs respect municipal authority.

AMO develops a variety of advocacy positions on all matters that impact Ontario’s municipalities. These positions are in the form of backgrounders, policy updates, reports and submissions and more to inform our membership of current issues affecting the municipal sector.

On the left navigation menu, you will find current policy issues we are working on now. Read our Strategic Objectives, Member Updates and Backgrounders to find out what other initiatives we are working on.


Recent Advocacy

AMO COVID-19 Resource page
AMO will support its members in every aspect of this emergency and the recovery that follows. We are keeping our COVID-19 webpage current and focusing on what’s most relevant. AMO’s dedicated COVID-19 email account will manage your questions, take your ideas, and facilitate your feedback. AMO’s policy and member services teams look forward to hearing from you at covid19@amo.on.ca.

AMO Submission: Supporting Communities: Driving Recovery in the Wake of COVID-19. September 16, 2020

AMO Submission re Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA). August 28, 2020

AMO Submission to Standing Committee, New Long-Term Care Bed Funding Approach and Stage 3 Orders. July 15, 2020
AMO’s President, Jamie McGarvey, Mayor, Town of Parry Sound, presented to the Standing Committee on Wednesday, July 15th at 3 pm.  Brian Rosborough, AMO Executive Director, attended with President McGarvey. 

Appeal for immediate financial assistance, Social Services Relief Funding, Standing Committee to consider municipal COVID-19 impacts and Connecting Links. July 2, 2020
AMO and CUPE Ontario joined forces again today with a joint letter appealing for immediate financial assistance for municipalities to assist with the costs of managing the COVID-19 emergency. 

AMO Response to the Ministry of Health’s Discussion Paper. February 11, 2020
AMO provided comprehensive, written submissions to the Minister of Health in response to the Public Health and Emergency Health Services Modernization consultations. Underlying both submissions is the notion that municipal governments and the Province can work together to collectively preserve what is working well and fix what needs fixing.

AMO 2020 Pre-budget Submission. Partnering for a Stronger Ontario: Investing in municipalities is a good investment in the provincial economy. January 24, 2020
The submission illustrates that investing in municipalities is a good investment in the provincial economy. Municipal governments invest revenues of $50 billion annually in important public services and infrastructure. Municipalities are a major force in the economic well-being of Ontario and the country. Ontario and local governments must work in partnership to build strong and sustainable communities.

Government Announces Consultation on Re-composition of OPP Detachment Boards January 15, 2020
AMO has impressed upon the Ministry of the need for:

  • open and transparent discussions;
  • a recognition that policing is fundamentally local (ie. it is important to maintain the close proximity of a community to its board and the police);
  • locally workable governance arrangements; and
  • the representation of every municipal council.