A delegation led by Norfolk Mayor Kristal Chopp will be raising several important local issues with provincial government representatives this week.
Chopp, Deputy Mayor Chris Van Paassen and CAO Al Meneses will be attending the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa starting Monday.
It is the first time in almost three years that municipal leaders from across Ontario will have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with provincial ministers.
The Norfolk delegation has been granted meetings with Kinga Surma, the Minister of Infrastructure, and Graydon Smith, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
The meetings with the ministers will be led by Chopp, who will be advocating for regional solutions to both urban water supply concentrations and leaking gas wells in Norfolk County, said a media release.
Specifically, the county will be requesting the Ontario government share in funding the design and construction of the Norfolk-Haldimand-Six Nations inter-urban water supply system. The project will supply all urban centers in Norfolk County with a sustainable supply of safe drinking water from the Nanticoke water treatment plant along with Haldimand and Six Nations.
The Norfolk delegation has also been invited to a discussion with Greg Rickford, Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Haldimand Tract delegations, and Chief Mark B. Hill elected Chief of Six Nations of the Grand River.
Meanwhile, there are also delegation sessions scheduled in partnership with the South-Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation (SCOR), including meetings with the ministries of education, energy, and transportation, agriculture, food, and rural affairs, and the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
Meetings in partnership with the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus will be attended as well, including sessions with the Ministry of Health, Mental Health, and Addictions, as well as the Liberal, NDP, and Green party caucuses.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario’s 444 municipal governments. The conference includes more than 60 speakers, sessions and workshops covering climate change, strengthening Indigenous relations, creating diverse and equitable and inclusive communities, among other issues.
The conference takes place Aug. 14 to 17.
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