AMCTO Policy Blog


Legislative and policy updates from Ontario's largest municipal professional association.
AMCTO Appears Before Provincial Committee on Municipal Elections Modernizatio...
2016-05-13 12:27:45 PM

Yesterday, Stephen O'Brien, Chair of AMCTO's Municipal Elections Act Advisory Team, delivered the association's presentation on Bill 181 before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. You can find the presentation here: AMCTO Bill 181 Committee Presentation...





Accessible Parking Bill Passes Second Reading
2016-05-09 9:52:02 PM

Bill 187, a private members bill, passed second reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. The bill would require the premier to appoint a commission of inquiry into accessible parking, and encourage municipalities to adopt standard accessible parkin...





Government Proposing Changes to Northern Industrial Electricity Rate Program
2016-05-02 4:04:41 PM

The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) is proposing changes to the Northern Industrial Electricity Rate (NIER) program. The government's 2015 budget committed to $120 million in annual funding to support northern industrial facilities, with the goal of providing...





Government Launches Police Oversight Review
2016-04-29 7:22:01 PM

The government of Ontario is conducting an independent review of the three agencies that oversee police conduct in the province: The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) The Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) The Ontario Civilian Police Commiss...





Federal Government Commits to Update Rail Crossings
2016-04-27 7:19:43 PM

The federal government has pledged $10.9 million to update and fix more than 400 railway crossings across Canada. The new funding will complement $143 million in funding that was announced as part of the 2016 federal budget. The new funding will go towards flashing lights and ...





Changes to Wine and Cider Sales at Farmers' Markets
2016-04-26 6:47:36 PM

The government recently passed Ontario Regulation 720 (under the Liquor Licence Act), which carries implications for the sale of wine and cider at farmers markets. For more information on this change: Changes Regarding Wine and Cider Sales at Farmers' Markets





How Should Cities Pay for Stormwater Infrastructure?
2016-04-26 6:40:02 PM

A new paper, released today by the Institute of Municipal Finance and Governance, discusses the different ways that municipalities can pay for stormwater infrastructure, drawing on the City of Mississauga's new Stormwater Management Financing Program as a case study. According...





Federal Infrastructure Funding Details Released
2016-04-26 6:18:10 PM

The federal government has released more details about infrastructure funding previously announced in its budget. Outlined in letters to provincial cabinet ministers, the highlights include: The Federal Public Transit Fund : $1.49 billion will be distributed, based on rid...





Using Tax Increment Financing to Pay for Transit
2016-04-25 1:30:02 PM

A new paper, published recently by the Institute for Municipal Finance and Governance, explores whether tax increment financing (TIF) should be used to help fund large infrastructure projects. Drawing on the Sheppard East subway extension in Toronto, the paper finds that TIF w...





Province Announces Cycling Infrastructure Grant Recipients
2016-04-20 8:31:10 PM

The government has announced the 37 municipalities who received grants under the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program. The program, which allocated a total of $10 million in funding, is being used by municipalities to install or improve on-road cycling lanes, off-r...





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