About 1,600 Municipal Leaders heading to Ottawa for the 2013 AMO Conference

TORONTO, Aug. 13, 2013 /CNW/ - About 1,600 participants from hundreds of municipalities across Ontario will participate in the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's 2013 Conference, August 18 to 21 at the Ottawa Convention Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa.

The Annual AMO Conference is Ontario's foremost educational forum for municipal governments. The agenda includes key note presentations by:

Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario

• Kevin Flynn, Chief Government Whip and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Infrastructure
• Tim Hudak, MPP, Leader of the Official Opposition and the Ontario PC Party
• Andrea Horwath, MPP, Leader of the Ontario NDP
• Colonel (Retd) Chris Hadfield, Astronaut and former Commander of the International Space Station
• Kevin G. Lynch, Vice-Chair, BMO Financial Group, and former Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Government of Canada
• Ilona Dougherty, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Apathy is Boring
• Marnie McBean, Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist, Athlete Mentor for the Canadian Olympic Team
• Terry O'Reilly, Host, CBC's Under the Influence

This year's program features close to 50 plenary and workshop sessions, and more than 60 speakers, reflecting the broad scope of municipal responsibilities. In addition, Ontario Government Ministers will answer questions from municipal delegates in an open session at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20.

"Communities: Inspiring & Aspiring" is this year's theme for the conference. Economic development and financial concerns will be top priorities, with sessions related to the rising costs for policing, joint and several liability, and MPAC property value assessment. The Ontario Government is preparing to introduce a new Waste Reduction Act, raising questions about who should pay for waste management costs. Other sessions will relate to infrastructure investment, aggregate recycling, water use, land use planning, seniors, energy management and conservation. Best practices will be explored with respect to locally grown food, community development, and accessibility. Program details are available online at www.amo.on.ca.

All media are required to register in Room 201 of the Ottawa Convention Centre. Attending media are encouraged to book accommodation as soon as possible, if needed. Reporters can build a personalized conference itinerary and access key conference information through AMOmobile - the Association's free mobile app.

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 444 municipal governments. AMO supports and enhances strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system.

SOURCE: Association of Municipalities of Ontario

Brian Lambie, AMO Media Contact, 416-729-5425, [email protected]
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