Advocating for Provincial Support for City Council’s Priorities
This weekend I will be heading to the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Niagara Falls. This annual gathering provides a great opportunity for elected officials from cities and towns across Ontario to hear from the provincial parties and to discuss key issues with provincial government ministers.
For my first trip to the AMO conference as Kingston’s mayor, I’m going to be asking for provincial support and investment to help us achieve City Council’s strategic priorities. Here’s a list of some of the things I’ll be talking about with the provincial government:
- Funding for the Third Crossing
- Investment into Kingston’s airport expansion
- Support for increasing the supply of affordable housing in the city
- Funding for the expansion of transit and active transportation options
- Investment in technology infrastructure and related utilities to advance our smart city vision
In short, I’m looking forward to making the case for provincial investment in Kingston and hearing from my counterparts from across the province on the challenges and opportunities municipalities are facing. Not only am I representing our community, but in my role as the chair of the Eastern Ontario Mayor’s Committee I will be joining leaders from across the region to advocate for initiatives that will serve Eastern Ontario as a whole. By achieving our vision to be a smart and livable city, all of Eastern Ontario will be strengthened. By realizing our potential as a 21st century standard setting city, we will make the entire province look good.
I look forward to updating you when I return.