AMCTO Policy Blog


Legislative and policy updates from Ontario's largest municipal professional association.
Bill 254: Protecting Ontario's Elections Act
2021-03-01 2:15:30 PM

On February 25th, Minister Doug Downey introduced Bill 254: Protecting Ontario Elections Act. While the bill proposes a number of changes to processes and rules for Provincial elections, it would also make amendments to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA)  . As y...





AMCTO 2021 Pre-Budget Submission
2021-02-19 12:40:31 PM

2021 is shaping up to be another atypical year. Therefore, AMCTO's ideas and recommendations that formed our 2021 Pre-Budget Submission are also somewhat atypical from our usual approach. Our recommendations are divided into two parts: Small but impactful actions that c...





Consultations on Growing the Greenbelt
2021-02-17 10:40:58 AM

On February 17th, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark announced the launch of a 60 Day consultations on Growing the Greenbelt.  Act: Greenbelt Act, 2005 Ministry:   Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Comment Period:  February 17, 2021 - April 19,...





Update on Marriage Licence Services
2021-02-10 1:20:06 PM

On February 8 2021, the Ontario Registrar General (ORG) sent a communication to Ontario Marriage Licence Issuers. Validity Period As you may be aware, amendments to the Marriage Act came into force in August 2020  which allowed for the extension of the marriage licence va...





Update on Stay at Home Order and Gradual Return to Response Framework
2021-02-08 3:39:40 PM

The Province announced on Monday, February 8 th ,  that it would gradually transition out of shutdown measures based on a regional approach, as outlined in a revised COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open. Additionally, the shutdown measures and Stay-at-H...





AMCTO Participates in 2021 ROMA Conference
2021-01-27 12:46:14 PM

Another year, another ROMA conference, this time virtually. AMCTO staff were in attendance at the virtual conference with the theme Connecting Rural Ontario.   Below are a few highlights that may be of interest to our members. We even got a shout out from Lisa Thompson, Mi...





2021 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund
2021-01-25 3:45:59 PM

During the 2021 ROMA conference today, the Premier announced a $200 million investment for the 2021 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF). Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott also announced the funding separately.  OCIF provides funding to municipalities with pop...





Provincial Pre-Budget Consultation Launches
2021-01-18 3:33:42 PM

The Province officially launched it's 2021 Pre-Budget Submission process late Friday, January 15th. This will be the first Budget of Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board, Peter Bethlenfalvy, who replaced MPP Rod Phillips who resigned from Cabinet in December...





Province Flows Gas Tax Funding
2021-01-14 2:10:22 PM

Blog edited for clarity that this is the Provincial Gas Tax Program. It's a busy news day! Ontario Minister of Transportation, Caroline Mulroney, announced today that the Province is providing $375 million through the Gas Tax program to 109 municipalities for transit...





Province Introduces Order to Temporarily Pause Evictions
2021-01-14 10:30:58 AM

On Thursday, January 14, with the Provincial Stay-at-Home Order now in-effect , an order to temporarily pause enforcement of residential evictions was announced. The Landlord and Tenant Board will continue to hear eviction applications and issue orders, but the enforcement...





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