The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has sent a delegation of both Council and staff to attend the 2025 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Annual Conference in Ottawa to advance community priorities with the Province.
In attendance will be Mayor Darrin Canniff, Councillors Lauren Anderson, Melissa Harrigan, Morena McDonald, Brock McGregor, and Carmen McGregor, along with senior Municipal staff.
They will join more than 2,000 other municipal leaders from across Ontario.
The AMO Conference serves as a platform for municipalities to engage directly with provincial ministers, members of opposition parties, and ministry officials to address key local issues and influence provincial policy.
This year, Chatham-Kent is attending with a focus on advocating for Chatham-Kent in these key areas:
Bill 5 and the Proposed Dresden Landfill – urging the province to recognize and address environmental, health, and community concerns tied to the proposed new landfill. Chatham-Kent is advocating for stronger local authority in land use decisions about landfills, improved environmental assessment processes, and greater protections for groundwater, families, homes, businesses, and agricultural lands.
Homelessness and Housing – seeking sustainable, predictable funding for Chatham-Kent to expand supportive housing, shelter capacity, and wraparound mental health and addiction services. Chatham-Kent Council and staff are calling for a coordinated provincial strategy to help communities address homelessness in both urban and rural contexts.
Provincial Infrastructure Funding for Agribusiness – requesting targeted investment in utilities and services to support and strengthen the agricultural sector, which is a cornerstone of Chatham-Kent’s economy and Ontario’s food supply chain.
Brownfield Redevelopment Funding – advocating for enhanced provincial programs to assist in remediating and redeveloping underused or contaminated industrial and commercial properties. Support in this area would help unlock new residential, commercial, and mixed-use development opportunities, revitalizing neighbourhoods and boosting the local tax base.
Chatham-Kent Community Hub – requesting provincial investment in the advancement of Chatham-Kent’s cultural landscape through funding for enhanced library and museum services that will be offered by the Community Hub project.
“AMO is an important opportunity for us to have direct conversations with provincial decision-makers about the challenges and opportunities in Chatham-Kent,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff, in a media release.
“By advocating on issues like homelessness, infrastructure, and responsible land use, we’re working to ensure that both the provincial and federal governments understand what’s needed to build a stronger future for our community.”
The conference also provides valuable opportunities for the Chatham-Kent delegation to connect with other municipalities, share best practices, and strengthen partnerships that will help address local challenges and advance community priorities.
