HALDIMAND — Haldimand Council will submit 10 proposed delegations ahead of this year’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference, taking place August 17-20, 2025 in Ottawa.
AMO is a yearly opportunity for Haldimand’s municipal leaders to speak directly to provincial ministers or their delegates on issues of importance locally. The topics are put forward by Haldimand Council.
With just 15 minutes per delegation, County staff advised Council to consider their topics strategically, taking into consideration whether the topic warranted a face-to-face meeting, and whether they felt the topic could be appropriately covered in the short window.
Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley submitted the bulk of the requests, which include:
- Delegation to the Ministry of Transportation Re: Argyle Street Bridge replacement.
- Delegation to the Ministry of Energy and Mines Re: Nuclear energy plant in Haldimand.
- Delegation to the Ministry of the Solicitor General Re: Haldimand County OPP detachment.
- Delegation to the Ministry of Long-Term Care Re: Expansion of Edgewater Gardens long-term care facility.
- Delegation to the Ministry of Children, Community & Social Services Re: Advocating for funding for Victim Services.
- Delegation to the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Re: Duty to consult, Indigenous relationships with Haldimand County and the Province.
Requests from councillors include:
- Delegation to the Ministry of Transportation Re: Highway 6 bypass around Hagersville due to current and future growth projections. Submitted by Councillor Brad Adams.
- Delegation to the Ministry of Health Re: Urgent need for increased funding to support seniors aging safely at home in rural communities. Submitted by Councillor John Metcalfe.
- Delegation to the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation & Trade Re: Employment lands, Nanticoke. Submitted by Councillor Rob Shirton.
- Delegation to the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Re: To celebrate rich history in our area with trails and Indigenous historical markers, displays, and artwork. Submitted by Adams.
After the delegation requests were read aloud, Council had the chance to request revisions.
Shirton noted the report’s wording of his request as read at the meeting included mention of the MZO, even though the request he submitted was meant to focus only on employment lands.
“The MZO, we’ve heard about it enough here today and I think it’s kind of out of our hands anyway, so can we just have that struck to talk about the employment lands in Nanticoke and not the MZO? I didn’t ask for that,” he said.
Bentley noted this change and the discussion moved on.
In reference to the Argyle St. Bridge delegation request, Lawrence noted that previous delegations with the MTO and Ministry of Indigenous Affairs were not fruitful.
“Instead of going to the MTO, the actual owner of the infrastructure is the Province … (so) should we maybe try with the Ministry of Infrastructure?” asked Lawrence.
Bentley replied, “I’m open to any ministers who are going to pass that bridge.”
CAO Cathy Case added, “We can try for both. I think MTO is really the one driving the project and that’s who staff have been meeting with … but we can put the Minister (of Infrastructure) on the radar if we do receive a delegation. We may not.”
Lawrence further asked for the promised traffic lights at the intersection of Haldibrook Rd. and Highway 6 be added to the MTO delegation request.
With no further discussion, the amended list was approved unanimously.
Unlike 2024, no discussion took place this year to bar MPP Bobbi Ann Brady from Haldimand’s accepted delegations. Last year Brady still attended the conference; while she did not participate in Haldimand’s single approved delegation, she was seen having conversations on the open floor with ministers alongside Bentley.
Brady said that, like Council, she is now waiting to see which delegations are accepted for this year’s conference.
“I will be at AMO to advocate for both Haldimand and Norfolk counties as I do every single day at Queen’s Park. I will be there to support whomever in this province wants my assistance in moving their municipality forward,” said Brady. “I will wait and see what they get and what they want me to sit in on.”
