Statement by David Evans, Mayor of the Township of Tiny, on the 2024 AMO Conference

(Tiny, Ontario) The following statement was issued by Mayor David Evans regarding the Township of Tiny’s attendance at the 2024 AMO Conference:

“Recently Council had the opportunity to attend the 2024 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa, held from August 18 – 21, 2024. Council was able to connect with other municipalities to share challenges and ideas on common issues many of us share. We also had two very successful delegations with two Ministers and their staff regarding settlement boundaries and septage management.

Delegation on Development of Settlement Areas with the Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

This delegation focused on the Township of Tiny’s advocacy to expand Township Settlement Area boundaries in controlled and sustainable ways and the provincial policies that constrain this. Following our delegation, the Provincial Government announced the new Provincial Planning Statement that provides more flexibility for municipalities to make these changes, including the ability to consider Settlement Area boundary expansions at any time. We are hopeful to see these changes implemented in the County of Simcoe Official Plan as soon as possible to allow the township to address the demand for more land for housing for current and future residents.

Delegation on Septage Management in the Township of Tiny and Simcoe North with the Honourable Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure

We were able to discuss septage management in Tiny with Minister Surma and her staff. Currently, the township relies on Ministry of Environment-approved field spreading and neighbouring municipalities with wastewater treatment facilities. The Township of Tiny invited the Town of Midland to join our delegation, as septage was previously accepted by our neighbours. However, Midland’s wastewater treatment facility requires upgrades to resume accepting septage from other municipalities. Minister Surma provided positive feedback and informed us of potential funding opportunities that the Township of Tiny will pursue, in collaboration with the Town of Midland, that address both treated and untreated sewage and eliminates the application of untreated sewage in Tiny”.