Ontario Municipalities Conclude Annual Summit Securing $1B Growth Pact and New Code of Conduct Rules

OTTAWA, ON — More than 3,600 municipal mayors, reeves, and councillors concluded the 2026 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) annual conference Wednesday, locking in key infrastructure funding allocations and initiating landmark provincial consultations on municipal ethics standards.

Canada–Ontario Partnership to Build Funding Stream

A centerpiece of the summit was the formal launch of the $1 billion Canada–Ontario Partnership to Build funding envelope, designed to assist smaller and rural municipalities that do not levy local development charges. The program provides non-repayable capital grants for water filtration plants, wastewater trunk mains, and critical bridge rehabilitations. Applications will officially open on October 29, 2026.

Premier Doug Ford also announced the opening of the second $100 million intake under the $500 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF) to renew municipal arenas and community centers.

Mandatory Ethics Standards and Integrity Overhaul

Provincial municipal affairs officials presented a draft regulatory framework standardizing codes of conduct across all 444 Ontario municipal councils. The proposals establish uniform investigation procedures for municipal Integrity Commissioners and introduce mandatory governance training for all newly elected municipal officials.

AMO leadership emphasized that addressing municipal structural fiscal deficits and homelessness demands permanent federal-provincial operational funding rather than one-time grant competitions.

Legislative Timetable for Municipal Reforms

Provincial consultations on the municipal code of conduct regulations will run through October 15, 2026, with enabling legislation slated for introduction during the fall legislative session.