Advocacy a key focus at AMCTO conference
Sponsored by Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO)
The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) views advocacy as one of the association’s key deliverables and has been ramping up its advocacy and government relations efforts like never before.
With a seeming deluge of new legislation and regulations coming recently from the Ontario government, getting AMCTO in a position to react, but also be proactive, has become an increasingly important key focus of the organization.
“So much legislation these days affects municipalities, and with the issues that are coming fast and furious, we are offering our expertise and advice,” said Alana Del Greco, AMCTO’s manager of policy and government relations. “AMCTO has had great relationships with the government and governments in the past. We are trying to build and maintain new relationships as well.”
Del Greco provided an update on advocacy and government relations at the 2023 AMCTO Conference held in Niagara Falls June 11-14.
David Arbuckle, AMCTO’s executive director, said even though it was the second full in-person conference held since the pandemic, there was still pent up demand that resulted in it drawing about 550 of the association’s more than 2,200 members – the largest attendance in 10 years.
Del Greco’s session was well attended at the conference, reflecting the interest members have in advocacy.
“AMCTO’s advocacy and government relations is our number one value-added service that the association provides, as well as our education and accreditation activities,” said Del Greco.
AMCTO’s advocacy and government relations underwent a reboot since 2020, says Del Greco, who walked conference attendees through the new approach. “There was a sense that there were a lot of issues we had been working on for a long time and others they wanted us to push forward on, so it was a good time to refresh our approach.”
The result was an “issues profile” that is a “jump-off point or a north star” for the association’s new government relations strategy.
“It’s about defining who we are, what we care about, and how we find a way forward on the issues that members care about,” said Del Greco. “It’s building those relationships at a ministerial level and at a staff level. Trying to be a good partner for the Province and providing good advice when they come knocking or when we go knocking. Hopefully they take what we are providing them and make some changes.”
For example, a proposed planning regulation on municipal reporting at one point had the government asking for five years of data members that most municipalities simply did not have.
“Through a coalition effort with other municipal associations we were able to push back on that and the Province removed that requirement from the regulation,” Del Greco said. “That kind advice is being heard in a lot of places. We are able to give them pause to think a bit as they implement things. It’s really critical.”
“Our members continually highlight the value of AMCTO’s role in policy and advocacy,” said AMCTO President Stephen O’Brien, General Manager of the City Clerk’s Office/City Clerk Corporate Services at the City of Guelph. “As a member-based organization made up of current and aspiring municipal leaders, AMCTO is in a unique position to serve them by helping bring their voice to decision-makers.”
“It’s a way of making their jobs a little easier and at the same time allowing them to serve their communities a little better and more efficiently,” said Del Greco. “It’s an interesting time.”
Awards recognize excellence
In addition to sharing important advocacy updates and hearing from 40+ sector speakers and practitioners, the AMCTO conference was also an opportunity to recognize excellence achieved by its members at their annual awards gala.
“AMCTO members place a great value on their own professional development and connecting with each other to share their knowledge and experiences,” said O’Brien. “This year’s AMCTO Conference, with a record number of attendees, was a resounding success in providing a platform for learning and networking.”
“The Awards Gala Dinner is our chance to recognize those who have helped to shape our Association, the sector, and the municipal profession in a positive way,” said Arbuckle. “This year’s award recipients’ dedication to improving their own personal professional development through education, through their zone activities, and by giving back to their communities through the development of innovative projects is inspiring and raises the bar for municipal excellence in Ontario.”
Here is a list of those recognized at the conference gala:
E.A. Danby Awards – Named after AMCTO’s inaugural President, the E.A. Danby Awards recognize and honour municipalities that have demonstrated outstanding achievement through innovation with respect to municipal management activities or practices. The E.A. Danby Awards focus on the three broad categories of municipal finance, municipal administration, and the implementation of legislation, across municipalities of greater than 20,000 residents and less than 20,000 residents. Recipients of this award have demonstrated tangible results related to the efficiency and effectiveness of the municipal corporation.
Municipalities of 20,000 or more:
City of Markham
Category: Municipal Administration
Project: Innovating Democracy – the 2022 Markham Municipal Elections
Municipalities of under 20,000:
Township of Conmee
Category: Implementation of Legislation
Project: Aging and Health Seminar series
Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula
Category: Municipal Administration
Project: Modernization of Digital Records Management System
Certificate of Merit – Municipalities of 20,000 or more:
County of Frontenac
Category: Municipal Administration
Project: Lean Implementation Frontenac Team (LIFT) program
Town of Ajax
Category: Municipal Administration
Project: Council Decision Dashboard
City of Windsor
Category: Municipal Administration
Project: CityROVER Pothole Detection and Manhole Inspection Automation
Prestige Award – AMCTO presents the Prestige Award annually to a current or past AMCTO member who has contributed on an ongoing basis to the activities and objectives of the association and to other endeavours which raise the profile of municipal professionals in the community. Leading by example, the Prestige Award recipient is someone who has given freely of their time and expertise and who, through their efforts, has enriched AMCTO and the municipal profession.
2023 Recipient:
Chris Wray, AMCT
Chief Administrative Officer, Township of Black River-Matheson
Zone Awards – AMCTO Zone Awards recognize, at the discretion of each AMCTO Zone Executive, the efforts of those who have made significant contributions at a local level toward the success of their respective Zones or to the advancement of the municipal profession.
Zone 1
Laura Moy, AMCT, Dipl.M.M.
Town of Tecumseh (Retired)
Zone 3
Angela Morgan, CMO, AOMC
City of Burlington (Retired)
Zone 6
Kim Bulmer, AMCT
Town of Renfrew (Retired)
Zone 9
Krista Power
Clerk, City of Thunder Bay
Academic Awards – AMCTO academic awards recognize the academic achievements of students in AMCTO education programs.
Dr. C Richard Tindal Award for Excellence in Municipal Administration Program (MAP)
Krystin Stitt
Public Administration Diploma (PAD) Student, Seneca College
Award for Excellence in Municipal Accounting & Finance Program (MAFP)
Sponsored by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd.
Laura Scott
Real Estate Law Clerk, Town of Whitby
Award for Excellence in Employment Law & Human Resources (HR)
Sponsored by Cunningham Swan Lawyers
Emily Cartlidge
Deputy Clerk/Records Management Coordinator, Township of Hamilton
Award for Excellence in Municipal Law Program (MLP)
Sponsored by Thomson Rogers
Heather Kearney, AMCTO Zone 4
Award for Excellence in Diploma, Municipal Administration
Carolyn MacCulloch, Dipl.M.A.
Payroll & Benefits Coordinator, United Counties of Stormont Dundas & Glengarry
Award for Excellence in Executive Diploma, Municipal Management
Tanya N. Daniels, Dipl.M.M.
Director of Corporate Services/Clerk, Town of Tillsonburg
Kevin Okimi, Dipl.M.M.
Director of Parks & Open Space, Town of Halton Hills
Sarah White, Dipl.M.M.
Manager of Public Services, Scugog Memorial Public Library
✯ Municipal World Executive and Essentials Plus Members: You might also be interested in Rob Adams’ article: Formula 1: Turning council and staff into a high-performance team.
Greg Crone is Executive Editor of Municipal World.
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