West Lincoln champions strategic priorities at 2024 AMO Conference

A Township of West Lincoln delegation engaged with members of Provincial Cabinet at this year’s AMO Conference, hosted by the City of Ottawa from August 18 to 21, to champion strategic priorities and discuss critical issues impacting the community.

Mayor Cheryl Ganann, Councillors Shelley Bradaric, Joann Chechalk, William Reilly, Regional Councillor Albert Witteveen and CAO Truper McBride participated in three meetings. Discussions included proposed solutions to barriers small rural communities face in meeting asset management needs, achieving growth and housing targets and realizing library service requirements.

Asset management

West Lincoln has an estimated asset replacement cost of $386 million. Continued development of the Township’s Asset Management System, to meet Provincial requirements for 2025 and 2026, reveals that the Asset Replacement Plan is underfunded by approximately $1,800 per household. The Township is working hard to address this funding deficit, but requires assistance from the Province to reach this goal.

Township representatives met with Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure, requesting consideration for additional funding to enable small municipalities to meet asset management needs without burdening taxpayers beyond their capacity.

Growth and housing

West Lincoln has Provincially and Regionally allocated growth targets. Appropriate planning for infill, intensification and growth are in place, including the urban boundary expansion of Smithville. There are currently close to 1,000 approved home-building lots within Smithville’s existing urban boundary, however, no building is underway due to servicing capacity and infrastructure costs for smaller developers and home builders.

Township representatives met with Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, requesting direct funding to small, rural municipalities to enable the construction of essential infrastructure, accelerating designated and approved housing starts.

Library services

The West Lincoln Public Library provides enormous value to the West Lincoln community, providing unfettered access and services to individuals from all walks of life. Costs for materials, resources, equipment, facility maintenance, utilities and staffing has increased substantially, however, the Public Library Operating Grant has not changed in many years. The discrepancy between the PLOG and the library budget that is now necessary to maintain the standards of the Ontario Public Libraries Act is becoming untenable for smaller, more rural municipalities.

Township representatives met with the Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, to request a review of requirements of the Ontario Public Libraries Act and an increase the PLOG.

Continued discussions in the key areas of asset management, growth and housing and library services, among many others, are an essential part of the Township’s ongoing actions to champion strategic and responsible growth in West Lincoln.

For notifications and important updates, remember to follow the Township of West Lincoln on Facebook, X and Instagram @TWPWestLincoln.

Quotes:

“I am proud of our West Lincoln delegation for taking full advantage of this conference, to continue championing the needs of our community so West Lincoln is kept in mind at the Provincial level, and to build relationships with our counterparts in other municipalities. On behalf of my fellow delegates, I would like to thank Association of Municipalities of Ontario for providing this opportunity.”

Mayor Cheryl Ganann

“The priorities of West Lincoln were well voiced at the AMO Conference. It was clear that the members of Provincial Cabinet who met with us heard our concerns and took them to heart. We are grateful to Minister Cho and Parliamentary Assistants Rae and Sandhu for granting us their time and attention. We look forward to continuing these discussions and working with the Province towards a prosperous future for our community.”

Truper McBride, Chief Administrative Officer

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