County delegation advocates for several local issues at AMO conference

A County of Prince Edward delegation led by Mayor Steve Ferguson discussed several local issues with provincial officials during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) annual general meeting and conference last week in Ottawa.

“The AMO conference is a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with ministers and parliamentary assistants, as well as their staff,” said Ferguson. “In these focused conversations, we strongly advocate for the important concerns impacting our local community.”

Ferguson, accompanied by councillors Kate MacNaughton and Brad Nieman, as well as CAO Adam Goheen, met with Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

In that meeting, County representatives reiterated their appreciation for recent provincial investments in transportation and water-wastewater infrastructure. However, the municipality stressed that additional provincial funding will be required to support the significant expected growth.

Ferguson requested that future provincial funding programs consider the unique challenges smaller municipalities face when preparing their financial plans to meet that growth.

The County delegation also met with Ric Bresee, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation.

The municipality requested that the province pursue clear, harmonized, province-wide ride hailing legislation. Bresee noted the province was considering extending the pilot program currently underway that standardizes ride-hailing rules, along the route of the Northlander passenger train.

Ferguson once again thanked the MTO for helping fund the rehabilitation of County Road 49 and provided an update on the project, stating the Glenora Ferry will be an important option for commuters when major work gets underway in the coming weeks.

Ferguson asked that the province address the issue of inconsistent and reduced ferry service. Bresee, the former mayor of Loyalist Township, said he understood the municipality’s concerns and would ask staff to investigate further.

Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, and staff (left) meet with the County delegation of councillor Kate MacNaughton, Mayor Steve Ferguson, CAO Adam Goheen, and councillor Brad Nieman. They were joined by local Member of Provincial Parliament Tyler Allsopp (near right). Photo courtesy Graham McGregor.

In a meeting with Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, the County requested the provincial government engage directly with insurers and demand an explanation why their underwriting practices related to heritage-designated buildings are punitive to property owners. Minister McGregor committed to meeting with insurers about the issue.

County representatives kicked off the AMO delegation meetings meeting with Solicitor General Michael Kerzner and senior leaders from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Ferguson took the opportunity to share County council’s March 2026 motion calling on the provincial government to expeditiously review and reform its current police grant programs to ensure a more equitable distribution of funding to municipalities.

Mayor Ferguson also joined with other mayors and wardens from across Eastern Ontario for meetings with several Ontario government ministers to champion regional municipal priorities.

The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) kicked off the conference, leading a joint meeting with the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC). A key outcome of the joint meeting was a unified resolution calling on the government of Ontario to let municipalities keep the 1.76 per cent of the non-refundable HST rebate. Ferguson intends to seek County Council’s support for this initiative at a future council meeting.

The AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario’s 444 municipal governments. AMO aims for 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.