Chatham-Kent officials will be bending the ear of provincial Ministers this week at the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.
The four-day event in Ottawa attracts more than 3000 delegates expected from Ontario’s 444 municipalities.
The Chatham-Kent contingent includes Mayor Darrin Canniff, Councillors Lauren Anderson, Melissa Harrigan, Morena McDonald, Brock McGregor, and Carmen McGregor, along with six members of Chatham-Kent administration taking part in this week’s meetings.
“We actually have five delegations set up with Ministers on issues in Chatham-Kent, and that’s probably where we get our biggest bang for our buck,” Wallaceburg Councillor Carmen McGregor explained. “If you don’t get the one-on-one and have that discussion, put your paperwork right in front of them and stress to them the needs that go on in your community, you get bypassed for somebody else who does.”
McGregor says having different councillors attend meetings with various provincial officials allows the delegation to make the most of their individual strengths.
“Sometimes it’s just got to be the heartstrings, it’s got to be the one-on-one. It also allows us to not only make those connections, but then you run into them for days, right? Then you get the hallway conversations and everything else that goes in between program sessions and different things. I can’t stress enough the benefit that comes out and the relationships that you need.”
Among Chatham-Kent’s priorities this week will be discussing major issues such as housing and homelessness, brownfield rehabilitation, and the Dresden dump. Some secondary issues include infrastructure and agri-food programs, and support for the arts and culture sector.
