County joins municipalities to tackle common challenges at 2025 AMO conference

Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson and councillors Janice Maynard and Sam Grosso will join more than 2,500 participants at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s 2025 Conference in Ottawa from Aug. 17 to 20.

The conference brings municipal and provincial officials together as Ontario’s communities continue to face economic uncertainty fueled by the trade and tariff dispute with the United States.

“The AMO conference is especially critical this year. I am looking forward to collaborating with other municipal leaders and exploring how we can build and strengthen our communities in the face of common challenges,” said Mayor Ferguson.

This year’s event features more than 60 speakers, sessions and workshops, reflecting a broad scope of municipal responsibilities. Premier Doug Ford, members of cabinet, and opposition leaders are all scheduled to speak, as is AMO President Robin Jones.

Key session topics are to include affordable housing and growth, homelessness, infrastructure, property reassessment, artificial intelligence, and more. Experts are expected to share insights on the impacts of the trade war and tariffs on municipalities and future opportunities. The AMO is also expected to launch its first Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan.

In addition to the conference program, municipal staff and officials are invited to take part in hundreds of municipal delegation meetings with provincial ministries. The County delegation is expecting to meet with Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, to discuss the funding framework for local public health and Brian Saunderson, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to advocate for enhanced affordable housing funding support.