Arran-Elderslie Mayor Steve Hammell is confident after this year’s meeting of representatives from municipalities across the province.
Hammel was one of a group of elected officials to go to the Association of the Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa.
He says that some highlights of the conference include discussions surrounding housing.
“There’s lots of activity in the province for housing supports that are coming,” says Hammell. “We in Arran-Elderslie are also very concerned about health care, and that was one of our main points to not only express to our local MPP Rick Byers, but he was there in a supporting role for us as well.”
A goal heading into the conference was to be able to meet with Provincial representatives regarding health care.
“We met with the Parliamentary Assistant Anthony Leardi in regards to maintaining rural health care and in particular, we’re fighting for Chesley Hospital and still advocating for the Chelsey hospital,” said Hammell. “We’re also looking to hear from the South Bruce Grey Health Centre information sessions.”
The sessions are planned for August 26th & 27th at 6 pm at Chesley Community Centre.
Hammel and his team met with the Solicitor General, Micael Kerzner, for more support towards mental health and supporting OPP officers.
Ahead of AMO, the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus, in collaboration with the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus and the Eastern Ontario Mayors Caucus approached representatives of the Ontario government to remind the province that although issues surrounding health care, mental health, housing, and infrastructure may exist in big cities, they do exist in smaller communities as well.
“I definitely think the message got across,” he says. “We have several strong voices in both tiers of Bruce and Grey counties that we’re there, and we’re letting the MPPs know that it is different in smaller centres than large. It was a rewarding experience knowing that they were listening intently and we’re getting representation from the smaller areas and we’re hoping to see proof of that.”
