Program

AMO 2025 Keynote

AMO is pleased to welcome back, political journalist Andrew Coyne who will discuss the remarkable changes in the provincial, national and international political landscape over the past 12 months and what that could mean for your communities.

In last year’s top-rated keynote address, Coyne spoke to AMO delegates about emerging and potential threats to democracy and declining civil and political discourse. A year later, hear about Coyne’s assessment of our rapidly changing political environment.

Photo of Andrew Coyne — Andrew Coyne, Political Journalist

Bio

Insightful, provocative commentary on political and economic issues is what Andrew Coyne delivers to Canadians across the country. With topical and timely presentations, the former national editor of Maclean’s magazine and currently a columnist with the Globe and Mail, Coyne is sure to ignite debate and discussion with every audience.

In addition to writing for Maclean’s and the Globe and Mail, Coyne has been an editorial writer and columnist for the Financial Post, and a nationally syndicated columnist with Postmedia and the Southam newspaper chain. He also writes regularly for a number of foreign publications and is a frequent commentator on radio and television — most famously, as a panelist on CBC’s The National in the popular “At Issue” segment.

Coyne is the winner of two National Newspaper Awards and a four-time finalist in the National Magazine Awards. A past recipient of the Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism, he is also a Fellow of the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto.

Coyne received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from the University of Toronto, and a Master’s in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Program Outline

The Conference program is under development. See below for an outline to assist your planning.

Sunday, August 17

9:00am - 7:00pm	Registration Open
2:00pm - 7:00pm	Trade Show Open
3:00pm - 4:30pm	Pre-Conference Sessions
4:00pm - 5:00pm	Conference Orientation
5:00pm - 7:00pm	Opening Reception
7:00pm - 9:00pm	Ottawa Tourism Welcome Reception

Monday, August 18

7:00am - 5:00pm	Registration Open
7:15am - 8:00am	Women's Networking Breakfast
	Youth Networking Breakfast
7:30am - 6:00pm	Trade Show Open
8:15am - 9:30am	Plenary Program Welcome Keynote Speaker: Andrew Coyne, Political Journalist Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict Robin Jones, AMO President AGM
9:30am - 10:00am	Coffee Break
10:00am - 11:45am	Plenary Program The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (invited) Women's Leadership Forum AMO is pleased to host the sixth annual Women's Leadership Forum. Since 2020, the Women’s Leadership Forum has featured extraordinary leaders in public service at the national, provincial, and local levels. This year’s three panelists will share their insights and experiences of leadership in their lives and career pathways. The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario (invited)
12:00pm - 1:45pm	Caucus Lunches and Dessert with Exhibitors
1:45pm - 3:20pm	Plenary Program Marit Stile, Leader of the Official Opposition and NDP Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario
3:30pm - 4:45pm	Concurrent Sessions 1. Have Your Say: Health and Human Services Help shape AMO’s advocacy approach on health and human services. This interactive session will give AMO members an opportunity to share local challenges in areas like primary care access and homelessness, highlight innovative municipal solutions, and help AMO best represent municipal interests. 2. Arts & Culture in Local Economic Development This concurrent will share how arts and culture can contribute to the economic development of communities and will share success stories from across Ontario. 3. Local Approaches to Unlocking New Housing Municipalities remain at the forefront of enabling new housing units to meet demand. Hear case studies from municipalities who have advanced strategies to streamline local approvals for housing or taken innovative approaches to unlock new housing units.
4:45pm - 6:00pm	Trade Show Power Down Reception

Tuesday, August 19

7:00am - 5:00pm	Registration Open
7:30am - 8:15am	Insight Breakfasts
8:30am - 9:45am	Concurrent Sessions 1. Have Your Say: Housing and Land-Use Planning Help shape AMO’s advocacy approach on housing and land-use planning. This interactive session will give AMO members an opportunity to share local challenges, highlight innovative municipal solutions, and help AMO best represent municipal interests. 2. Working with Indigenous Partners to Address Gender-Based Violence This session will share success stories and lessons learned about how municipalities can work with Indigenous partners to respond to gender-based violence in their communities. 3. Challenges and Opportunities of the Sharing Economy Explore the multifaceted impacts of the sharing economy on municipalities. This session will cover rideshare and short-term rentals’ effects on housing, tourism, public safety, and economic development. Panel experts will share their approaches and experiences on how they are managing the sharing economy in their local communities.
10:00am - 11:30am	Plenary Program Innovative Approaches to Supporting Mental Health, Addictions and Supportive Housing Municipalities across Ontario have been grappling with mental health and addictions challenges in their communities and workforces. This session will share innovative approaches to tackling this growing crisis. Council of Ontario Universities
11:45am - 12:45pm	Learning Lunches
1:00pm - 2:15pm	Concurrent Sessions 1. Have Your Say: Municipal Finance & Economic Development Help shape AMO’s advocacy approach on municipal finance and economic development This interactive session will give AMO members an opportunity to share local challenges in balancing municipal budgets and attracting new investment, highlight innovative municipal solutions, and help AMO best represent municipal interests. 2. Investments in Architecture to Improve Public Spaces and Accessibility This session will explore how architecture and public spaces can create beautiful and prosperous communities in Ontario. It will offer considerations for how new projects can invest in the well-being of communities through these strategies.
2:30pm - 4:30pm	Plenary Program PJ Marshall Awards Indigenous Institutes Consortium The Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministers' Forum
6:30pm - 8:00pm	Ticketed Social Event (sold out)

Wednesday, August 20

7:00am - 10:001m

Registration Open

7:30am - 8:15am

Insight Breakfasts

8:30am - 11:00am

Plenary Program

New Approaches to Housing

Increasing Ontario’s housing supply requires new ways of thinking about perennial funding and financing challenges, and different ways of working with partners. This panel brings together representatives from the municipal, development and financing sectors to discuss recent successful collaborations and unpack potential future innovations that support a broad range of housing in Ontario communities.

Trade and Tariffs: Short-term Risks and Long-term Opportunities

International trade and tariff uncertainty presents real economic threats for Ontario’s municipalities, businesses, and residents. However, it may also be catalyst for new long-term partnerships to diversify and strengthen our economy. This session will discuss how municipalities can help lead and build Ontario into a new and more resilient economic future.