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Glover now a Director of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario does several important things. First, it offers training and development courses for elected officials. Second, it organizes workshops and conferences at which themes are explored and common problems and concerns can be discussed. Third, it acts as a lobby group for senior levels of government, preparing position papers and offering comment on proposed legislation. I have been co-opted to the board of directors to fill a vacancy; I am also a member of the large urban caucus. I shall use this opportunity to advance the issue of reform to the “heads and beds” payment in lieu of taxes made by the provincial government.

I attended my first caucus and board meeting on Friday, March 25 in Toronto. The meeting began with a staff review of municipal fiscal health in Ontario. Municipal per capita spending remains higher than in other provinces, both in real dollars and as a per cent of GDP. There is a significant difference in spending on human services, (health, social services, housing); in Ontario the municipal per capita spending is $667 versus $71 in the other provinces. Property taxes remain higher in Ontario. From this one can conclude that we are still seeing significant effects of provincial downloading.

A staff paper on long-term care in Ontario received considerable discussion and review. I found this discussion particularly interesting. As one colleague observed to me, councils seldom have the opportunity to discuss policy at such a high level. Long-term care, as a part of health care, is a provincial responsibility which has in a large measure been downloaded to municipalities.

Firs safety in retirement homes, group homes and other supportive housing facilities is also under review. Again, concern was expressed about the financial impact on municipalities if retrofit upgrades are mandated without financial assistance.

I would welcome any comments and ideas you have about this issue. Please email me directly.



613.549.1900
www.billglover.org
bglover@cityofkingston.ca


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