Redekop, Lewis meet with provincial ministers at AMO conference
August 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Local officials met with representatives from eight provincial ministries at the recent Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa.
Held annually in a different location, the conference is a chance for local governments to bend the ears of provincial politicians and their staff on issues and projects affecting their respective communities.
On behalf of Fort Erie, Mayor Wayne Redekop and Ward 5 Councillor Tom Lewis attended the four-day event from August 17 to 20.
In a news release from the Town of Fort Erie, Redekop described the the AMO conference as “a critical platform to advocate directly to provincial decision-makers,” adding that these conversations “allow us to bring forward local priorities.”
The release also broke down what was discussed.
Mayor Wayne Redekop, left, with Ontario Minister of Health Sylvia Jones and Councillor Tom Lewis at the AMO conference in Ottawa last week. Credit: Town of Fort ErieWith the minister of health, conversations around Fort Erie’s ongoing healthcare initiatives and community growth were had, as well as “re-imagining the Douglas Memorial site,” which is set to close in 2028 when a new hospital is operational in south Niagara Falls.
Lewis and Redekop met with the minister of citizenship and multiculturalism to address the archaeological assessment process.
They also spoke with the minister of infrastructure to highlight Fort Erie’s innovative projects and rapid growth.
The minister of tourism, culture and gaming, who recently visited Fort Erie and expressed enthusiasm about positioning the town as a premier tourist destination, was also one of the provincial heavyweights they talked to, says the town’s news release.
The parliamentary assistant to the minister of municipal affairs and housing discussed access to the Building Faster Fund and support for Fort Erie’s housing-related funding applications.
Opportunities for joint shoreline protection along Lake Erie and climate change impacts affecting municipalities was a conversation had with the parliamentary assistant to the minister of natural resources.
A Border Mayors Alliance meeting to talk about trade and tariff challenges affecting border communities also took place, which was participated in by the parliamentary assistant to the minister of economic development, job creation and trade.
The AMO is a non-profit organization representing most of Ontario’s 444 municipalities, and its annual conference is the largest gathering of municipal officials in the province.
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About The Author
Kris Dubé
Kris is a veteran journalist who has worked in Niagara for close to 20 years. He is also a lifelong resident of Fort Erie, a place he plans to call home and raise his family for many more years.
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