Mayor Jan Liggett and the City of Cambridge advance local priorities at AMO 2026

The City of Cambridge took part in the AMO Annual Conference in Ottawa this week, advancing our community’s priorities with the Province: addictions and mental health care, flood protection at the Riverside Dam, and new privacy rules under Bill 97. The annual conference provides municipalities with an opportunity to meet directly with provincial ministers and senior officials to discuss local priorities and advocate for provincial action.

Mayor Liggett represented the Ontario Big City Mayor’s caucus (OBCM), the City of Cambridge, and the Region of Waterloo in 15 delegations with numerous provincial ministries, including Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, Health, Finance, Infrastructure, Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Seniors and Accessibility, and Long-Term Care to advance the priorities of Cambridge residents.

Mayor Liggett and City Manager Rob Axiak led the City’s delegations, joined by senior City staff responsible for each issue and Members of City Council. The delegation met with provincial ministers and parliamentary assistants responsible for infrastructure, municipal affairs, public safety, health and other key portfolios to discuss Cambridge's priorities.

During the conference, the City advanced three key priorities aimed at strengthening community well-being and ensuring municipalities have the tools they need to serve residents effectively.

Cambridge urged the Province to invest in sustained addictions and mental health treatment. Mayor Liggett shared powerful stories she has heard directly from residents about the devastating impacts of the crisis, bringing the voices and experiences of Cambridge families to provincial decision-makers. Without access to long-term care, people in crisis continue to cycle through emergency services, placing increasing pressure on police, fire, paramedics, and hospitals while driving up costs for local taxpayers. The City advocated for investments that prioritize prevention and ongoing treatment, rather than crisis response alone.

Cambridge also requested provincial cost-sharing for the Riverside Dam, recognizing its role as critical flood-protection infrastructure that benefits communities beyond the City’s boundaries. Recent flooding has underscored the potential risk to nearby infrastructure, including the CP rail line, and the broader consequences a disruption could have for major local employers and future economic development. Provincial support would help protect homes, businesses and essential transportation infrastructure, while ensuring made-in-Ontario goods can continue moving reliably to markets across the province and beyond.

The City expressed support for the objectives of Bill 97’s new privacy impact assessment requirements and offered practical solutions to support successful implementation across Ontario. Cambridge proposed serving as a pilot municipality to demonstrate how standardized templates, training and shared tools can help local governments meet the new requirements efficiently and consistently. By testing this approach in Cambridge, the City can provide a practical model for province-wide implementation that reduces duplication, improves compliance and minimizes additional administrative costs for municipalities.

The City of Cambridge continues to prioritize public safety, including the impacts of encampments and the resale of stolen scrap metal on our community and Ontario's municipalities, and will continue raising these concerns with the Province in the months ahead.

The City will continue working with provincial partners in the coming months to advance these priorities and advocate for solutions that support Cambridge residents, businesses, and the broader Waterloo Region.

In previous years, Mayor Liggett and members of Cambridge City Council have attended AMO to advance local priorities and build provincial partnerships, which helped secure major investments including $19.5 million for the Beneva Recreation Complex, $1 million for the expansion of the Preston Memorial Auditorium, and increased electrical capacity and electrification to support economic growth.

Quotes

“Every municipality is facing complex challenges that cannot be solved by local governments alone. Our meetings at AMO were an opportunity to bring Cambridge’s priorities directly to provincial decision-makers and advocate for practical solutions that will improve public safety, strengthen our community, and protect taxpayers. We look forward to continuing these conversations with the Province.”

- Mayor Jan Liggett, City of Cambridge

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