Township of Springwater Representatives at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference
Aug. 24, 2023 – From August 21 – 23, more than 2,500 municipal leaders, government officials, public servants, sponsors, exhibitors, and media gathered in the beautiful City of London to take part in the 2023 AMO Conference. This was the largest number of conference participants ever! This outstanding event included the Ministers’ Forum and a direct dialogue with 26 provincial Cabinet Ministers on many of the critical issues municipalities are confronting. Municipal officials also participated in over 600 delegation meetings, discussing local concerns.
AMO is privileged to host one of the most important and influential public policy conferences in Canada. It is your participation that makes the conference a success. Thank you for supporting the work we do on your behalf. We look forward to seeing you again next year.
source: https://www.amo.on.ca/2023-amo-conference
Standing Ovation for Female Councilor Koch of Kenora on Human Rights Question at Recent AMO Conference
Aug. 23, 2023 London, ON – 186 municipalities in support, and growing weekly, along with Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Rural Ontario Municipal Association, and the Ontario Big City Mayors are calling on government to legislation to address the rampant and underreported instances of harassment perpetrated by municipally elected officials. The call is for legislation that would not only provide a process for removal of councillors who egregiously harass someone but would restrict subsequent re-election for those found guilty.
Councillor Lindsay Koch from Kenora stood up in the “Bear Pit” at the AMO conference in London last Tuesday, and asked the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing when this government will make this legislation a priority. She received the longest and loudest cheers accompanied by a standing ovation.
The push stems from ‘The Women of Ontario Say NO’- a grassroots consortium of individuals, organizations and community groups that want to see the current reality addressed. As it stands, municipal councillors can perpetrate the most egregious acts of harassment with a maximum penalty of only 90 days suspension without pay. The call for legislative change includes amendments to the Municipal Act and City of Toronto Act that would legislate adherence to violence and harassment policies, provide a process for removal for investigated and substantiated acts (that includes a judicial review) and a restriction on subsequent re-election for those found guilty.
“The reality is that we have people in communities with the most power, who are effectively immune from the standards of treatment we have come to expect in every other workplace”, states Emily McIntosh, lead advocate. “This is making communities sick and is a blatant gap in human rights legislation. Women, who are the primary victims, either suffer in silence, as removal isn’t an option unless they go to the police and the person is convicted or are forced to leave their jobs. This is unacceptable in today’s world.”
By Emily McIntosh
Visitors Explore History and Heritage
Aug. 27, 2023 – The Township of Springwater Cultural and Heritiage Advistory Committee hosted Doors Open Ontario August 26 – 27. Visitors go to explore the history and heritage of the Anten Mills Community Centre at Doors Open. In attendance were Deputy Clerk Marshall, Committee Members: Hale Mahon, Donna Kenwell, Councilor Thompson and Councilor Garwood.
Submitted by Matt Garwood
Our Trusted Leaders Out in the Community
Local Barrie, Springwater, Oro Medonte MPP, Attorney General Doug Downey visited the Elmvale community on Friday August 25.
The visit included the Springwater Farmers Market and Elmvale, the Springwater Public Library.
Submitted by Matt Garwood
Elmvale Groundwater Observatory
Mid August, Mayor Coughlin and Councillor Garwood toured the Elmvale Groundwater Observatory with MP Doug Shipley. Dr. Shotyk’s studies have shown that the pristine groundwaters of the Elmvale area are comparable in many respects to the cleanest layers of ancient arctic ice. Submitted by Matt Garwood