August 16 to 19, 2026, Ottawa – Members of Council and staff from the Municipality of Middlesex Centre will be attending the 2026 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa this month. This annual event brings together municipal leaders from across Ontario to share ideas, learn from one another and advocate for solutions to the challenges facing local governments.
Middlesex Centre's delegation, including Mayor Aina DeViet and Councillors Sue Cates and Jean Coles, is joining thousands of participants representing municipalities from across Ontario. Together, they will help ensure the perspectives of rural and urban communities of all sizes are reflected in provincial and federal decision-making.
This year's conference is focusing on Ontario-wide municipal priorities, including long-term infrastructure funding to support housing and economic growth, ensuring full funding for health and social services that are provincial responsibilities and addressing the homelessness crisis through coordinated action at all levels of government.
In addition to participating in conference sessions, Middlesex Centre's delegation is meeting with provincial representatives to discuss local priorities, including:
- Ministry of Rural Affairs to discuss support for rural economic development, including opportunities to strengthen rural settlement areas, support business growth and implement Community Improvement Plan initiatives, as well as enhanced funding for rural transportation networks.
- Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to discuss alternative approaches to financing development charges that could help improve housing affordability by reducing upfront costs for homebuyers.
AMO is a non-profit, non-partisan association that represents Ontario's 444 municipalities. The annual conference is the province's largest gathering of municipal leaders, providing opportunities to learn, collaborate and advocate on behalf of local communities.