Ontario’s Rural Economic

As the level of government closest to the people, municipalities respond to increasing social pressures by delivering programs and services to support their residents at all ages and stages of life, including public health, long-term care, childcare and parks and recreation. [...] While AMO recognizes and commends the government for providing new infrastructure funding in recent months, this funding does not replace the need for the province and municipalities to come together and review the provincial-municipal fiscal framework to support sustainability, affordability, and economic prosperity. [...] The report from the province’s Electrification and Energy Transition Panel included recommendations to help coordinate energy planning, and to enable investment and job creation in Ontario5 The province should work to implement these recommendations to advance a coordinated energy transition that supports economic growth. [...] These investments and delivery improvements are essential to build a more sustainable and responsive healthcare system for rural Ontario, which is key to attracting and retaining the talent that fuels rural industries, businesses and supporting services. [...] There are continued opportunities to grow the rural tourism industry to expand its reach and bring tourists from across Ontario, Canada and the world to rural communities.