Mayor Hammell, Deputy Mayor Shaw, CAO Dance, and over 2,500 participants from municipalities and organizations across Ontario were in attendance this week at the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa.
The 2024 AMO Conference brings municipal and provincial officials together at a time when Ontario communities face complex challenges that outstrip municipal resources and responsibilities.
On Monday August 19th, Mayor Hammell, Deputy Mayor Shaw, MPP Rick Byers and CAO Dance met with Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General, to request stable financial funding to support the mobile crisis response team (MCRT) in responding to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This partnership will provide services including the deescalation and short-term crisis intervention, safety planning and stabilization, referrals to appropriate services for long term support and recovery-oriented interventions.
Arran-Elderslie representatives also spoke with Ministry of Health Parliamentary Assistant Anthony Leardi in efforts to keep the challenges at Chesley hospital at the forefront and to request financial support for rural health care services and finding innovative solution to the staffing challenges that with strengthen and stabilize our health system.
Mayor Steve Hammell expressed his satisfaction with the meetings, saying that, “These discussions with the ministries represent our commitment to continue to advocate for our community and for support for our health care services to address the needs of our community.”
