Press release.
Guelph was called “the brightest kid in the class” by Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy Bob Delaney during a meeting to discuss Guelph’s Community Energy Plan at the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference. Mr. Delaney encouraged Guelph to share its community energy expertise with municipal colleagues across Ontario at an AMO session to be held next year.
The meeting was one of four that a delegation headed by Councillor June Hofland secured with Provincial cabinet ministers and officials at the conference, held August 17-20 in London.
The delegation also met with:
· Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Minister Brad Duguid to discuss the Guelph Innovation District located on former Guelph Correctional Facility lands on York Road.
· Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ted McMeekin to discuss Guelph’s experience in establishing its holding company, Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc.
· Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (with responsibility for Long-Term Care and Wellness) Dipika Damerla, to share information about Guelph Wellbeing.
“At each meeting, we emphasized that Guelph’s priorities – job creation, economic growth, innovation, and wellbeing – are closely aligned with the Province’s. This message was well received,” said Councillor Hofland. “I’m confident that Guelph is on the radar at Queen’s Park. From these meetings we gained Ministry contacts and commitments to follow-up on issues of concern to Guelph.”
Also at the conference, the Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) met with Minister Duguid, Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn, and Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca to discuss key issues. LUMCO also participated in a joint meeting with the Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO) group. As a member of LUMCO, Guelph participated in those meetings.
In addition, Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. was featured in a session called “Why Create a Local Services Company,” in which Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. General Manager Rob Kerr participated as a panellist.