Jason Rasevych

The Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, addressed the 2024 AMO Annual Conference with several critical updates: 1) New Provincial Planning Statement (PPS 2024): Effective October 20, 2024, the PPS 2024 will replace the PPS 2020, introducing a streamlined framework for land use planning in Ontario aimed at increasing housing supply. 2) Revocation of A Place to Grow: The "A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2019" will be revoked on October 20, 2024. 3) Consultation Process: A 30-day consultation, starting August 20, 2024, will invite feedback on issues related to the transition to PPS 2024. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate. 4) Greenbelt Plan Amendment: An administrative amendment will ensure that policies from A Place to Grow and PPS 2020 remain in effect where referenced, starting October 20, 2024. 5) Planning Act Changes: Changes to the definition of "area of employment" in the Planning Act will also take effect on October 20, 2024, aligning with the new PPS 2024. These updates mark a significant shift in Ontario's planning policies, focusing on facilitating housing development and streamlining land use regulations. For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/g7XRcQNc.

52

Municipal councils have the responsibility of providing oversight on behalf of their residents. One way they can meet their oversight responsibilities is through the work of their auditor. In many municipalities, council establishes an audit committee, which provides a forum for the review of audit reports. In some cases, however, especially in smaller municipalities, it may not make sense for council to form an audit committee, and council may carry out most, if not all, this work. In this new edition of Oversight Tips, we offer four things municipal councils should consider when reviewing audit reports without having an audit committee in place. Exclusive to CAAF members: https://bit.ly/3A7Pfa4

11

1 Comment

ICYMI: Access to grant funding can make or break important municipal projects. However, the variety of grants and different application processes can be complex and time-consuming. Watch this on-demand webinar to learn our experts' tips and best practices for giving your community the best opportunity to secure grant funding. https://ow.ly/AfOs50RjTCA

1

As Indigenous businesses continue to rise, the opportunity for meaningful partnerships, sustainable growth, and economic reconciliation has never been greater. Indigenomics on BAY STREET provides corporate leadership opportunities to forge meaningful partnerships, gain strategic insights, and actively contribute to the growth of the Indigenous economy. -Drive Inclusive Growth: Collaborating with Indigenous businesses enhances diversity, strengthens supply chains, and creates shared prosperity. -Champion Economic Reconciliation: Supporting the Indigenous economy is not just a responsibility—it's a strategic advantage in building a more equitable and resilient future. -Invest in Sustainability: Indigenous-led projects are at the forefront of sustainable practices, offering innovative solutions that benefit both the environment and the economy. Bring your leadership to Indigenomics on BAY STREET to connect with Indigenous leaders, explore investment opportunities, and be part of shaping the future of Canada's economy. Register before September 18 to secure your spot and take the first step toward contributing to the transformative growth of the Indigenous economy. https://lnkd.in/geMXdZPA #Indigenomics #EconomicReconciliation #Leadership #Sustainability #IndigenousEconomy #IndigenomicsOnBayStreet

14

We're excited to share the Climate Ready Infrastructure Service with you! This is a newly established capacity building project for local governments across Canada. The service connects local governments and communities with top climate experts to support the integration of low-carbon resilience into infrastructure projects. By providing expert guidance and technical advice, local governments gain the tools needed to better serve their communities and meet the challenges of climate change head-on. The Roster of Climate and Infrastructure Experts is facilitated by the Canadian Urban Institute and funded by the Government of Canada as part of the Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure (CTHI). Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gEnEaHiR

16

Great tips to improve the effectiveness of municipal councils.

3

At the municipal governance level, budget season represents the most critical and challenging time of the year. It is a period when municipal staff and elected council members face the daunting task of striking a balance between financial realities and community expectations. With a limited pool of resources and increasing demands for services, finding the right equilibrium becomes a complex and often contentious process. Municipal budgets must account for essential services such as public safety, transit, water supply, waste & wastewater management, infrastructure development & maintenance, recreational services, social services, and economic development while addressing new and evolving needs within the community. At the same time, the budget must reflect fiscal responsibility, ensuring that any increase in expenditures does not disproportionately burden taxpayers. This balancing act becomes even more challenging in the context of economic uncertainty, inflation, and external pressures like changes in provincial or federal funding. The struggle is compounded by the need for transparency and public engagement. Residents expect to have a voice in the budgeting process, which requires municipal leaders to navigate diverse opinions and sometimes competing priorities. Balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability adds another layer of complexity, as the municipality must make strategic decisions that support both current service levels and future growth. Ultimately, budget time is a test of leadership, requiring collaboration, negotiation, and innovation to meet the community’s needs while safeguarding the municipality’s financial health. It is a challenge that demands not only careful planning but also adaptability and a willingness to make tough decisions. My sincere appreciation and commendation go out to the City of Peterborough’s Senior Leadership Team and Finance Division staff, who are working tirelessly and with the utmost dedication to prepare the City’s 2025 budget. Your hard work and commitment are instrumental as we aim to deliver a balanced and sustainable budget. Looking forward to presenting it to the council this November. Thank you for your continued efforts! #TeamPTBO #MunicipalGovernment #MunicipalBudget #Budget2025 #PublicService #Teamwork #ServiceDelivery #BalancedBudget #FinancialSustainability #CommunityExpectations #ImaginePeterborough2080

73

2 Comments

Join us for an in-person seminar on The Politics of Local Budgeting in Canada: Three Case Studies on June 12. The annual budget process is a key function for local governments around the world. In Canada, the process by which municipalities prepare operating and capital budgets differs somewhat across the almost 4,000 municipalities operating within 13 different provincial/territorial contexts. The budget is the result of a process that involves many actors with different motivations and interrelationships, operating under different decision-making frameworks. On June 12th, Richard M. Bird Post-Doctoral Fellow, Stephanie Ortynsky, will compare the process of local government budgeting to federal and provincial budgeting processes before diving into three case studies of municipalities that have embarked on budgetary reform: a change in the fiscal year in Halifax; the introduction of strong mayor powers in Toronto; and the implementation of multi-year budgeting in Vancouver. She will identify key budgetary actors and their motivations in each case study and discuss changes local governments could make to improve the budgetary process. Speaker Stephanie Ortynsky, PhD is the 2023-24 Richard M. Bird postdoctoral fellow at the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG). She received a Doctorate (PhD) in Public Policy from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) at the Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina in 2023. Stephanie has contributed to research, evaluation, and knowledge mobilization projects in Saskatchewan, Switzerland, South Africa, and Tajikistan. Stephanie has taught graduate-level courses in policy analysis, public sector financial management, statistics for public managers, and most recently municipal finance at the University of Toronto. #budgetting #municipalities #localgov #localgovernment #toronto #vancouver #halifax https://lnkd.in/gZzNyaip

13

Meeting Minister George Pirie to plan continued collaborative efforts between the province and municipalities like Town of Cochrane, Ontario to attract workforces required for local mining opportunities. Great discussion on the importance of a sustainable forest industry while diversifying the northern economy through mining and agriculture. A healthy forest economy, coupled with an emerging mining and agriculture industry, is how northern Ontario become a bigger part of a better Ontario! Onward and upward!

20

Submission to Federal Ministers supporting the Implementation of a Green and Transition Taxonomy for Canada On July 10th, PIAC provided comment to Ministers Freeland, Guilbeault and Wilkinson supporting the implementation of a Green and Transition Taxonomy for Canada, building upon the work of the Sustainable Finance Action Council (SFAC) and echoing the sentiments of Canada's Clean50’s open letter to government. Establishing a Canadian Green and Transition Taxonomy will help provide the confidence and transparency that investors need to make decisions that are consistent with Canada’s climate objectives and transition pathways, as well as organization-specific climate action plans or net-zero commitments. Read the full submission here: https://lnkd.in/eATRyGb

6

Elevate your municipal council discussions on asset management with our new tools. Develop a presentation on how asset management sustains the services your community cares about. Use the Starting the conversation about asset management toolkit to make it happen 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dnv_Veg 

1

IPSASB's Tangible Natural Resources Exposure Draft (ED) is out, and we want to hear from you. Do the new proposals address the needs of Canadian public sector entities? Read the new ED and join us at our roundtables to share your feedback. https://ow.ly/TiGX50U1oRg 🌿💼 #PublicSector #SustainableFinance #AccountingStandards #Canada

12

How many of you as municipal water utilities have looked into grants and funding opportunities? Not sure where to get started to address your funding infrastructure needs? Here are a few to look into to get started. 1. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Grants https://lnkd.in/g8qN2tdz 2. Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Grants https://www.epa.gov/grants 3. Reducing Lead in Water https://lnkd.in/gdW5Zqr2 4.Training and Technical Assistance for Small Systems https://www.epa.gov/ 5. Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program https://www.epa.gov/wifia 6. Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf These programs support both large-scale infrastructure upgrades and localized efforts to enhance water safety and accessibility. Each has specific eligibility requirements. Have more questions or have others you would like to discuss in further detail to address your specific needs. Contact me or an R/M expert today! #ruekertmielke #funding #grant #waterutilities #engineering #municipalities

2

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Conference Board of Canada Release Report Highlighting $635 Billion Economic Impact of Closing Infrastructure Gap by 2030. https://lnkd.in/eyiCf9nk

48

By harnessing the power of the sun, tribes can reduce their reliance on external energy sources, lower electricity costs, and create jobs within their communities. Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AZGK3 #NativeAmericanSolar #IndigenousEnergy #IndigenousInnovation #EnergyIndependence #SolarEnergy #TribalEnergy #SolarTechnology

1

The growing gap between municipal budgets and costs will be one of the topics explored at the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities annual convention. https://lnkd.in/gifBHn8R #finance #UBCM #LocalGov

1

#Indigenous communities sometimes need outside resources. Sourcing external resources such as expertise, tools, equipment, or labour is called "procurement." Procurement is important, as it can span multiple community objectives, such as 💥 Alignment with Comprehensive Community Plans 💥 Building local capacity 💥 Expandability You can also manage risks such as project scheduling, financing, and quality through a procurement process. Learn more about managing risks through procurement by watching the #FNII webinar: https://fnii.ca/webinars/

3