2024 Annual Conference Program
IdPkgSTypeNameS DescStartTimeEndTimeRoomMapLinkDaySortFieldDescriptionSpeakerBlock
S01EDThe Road to Prudent Investing under the Municipal Act 11:00 AM12:00 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 5Waterhouse5Tuesday, September 17, 2024Prudent Investing under the Municipal Act is an eligible option for ALL Ontario Municipalities. This session will discuss Section 418.1 of the Municipal Act, the differences between Prudent Investing and Legal List investing (under Sect. 418), the benefits to "going Prudent", and the steps and considerations required for a Municipality.

The session will include an overview of the ONE Investment Joint Investment Board (JIB) and *new* Outsourced Chief Investment Officer offering with PH&N. We are very excited to introduce this new OCIO offering to Ontario Municipalities as a way to expand the prudent investing opportunity. Going prudent can take the politics out of investing and take the day to day management of investing off the ‘side of someone's desk’, while also turning your long-term funds into a diversified portfolio that can be a beneficial revenue tool for the municipality. An investment dollar raised is one less tax dollar that needs to be funded. The session will include time for questions and discussion.		Jennifer Hess, Manager, Investment Services, MFOA (bio)
Jason Hagan, Program Manager, LAS (bio)
Martin Leclair, Vice President and Institutional Portfolio Manager, PH&N (bio)
Paul Purcell, Institutional Portfolio Manager, PH&N (bio)
S31EDWorkshop 1: Development Charges - The New Impacts of the Changes 1:00 PM4:00 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 1-3waterhouse13Tuesday, September 17, 2024Municipalities in Ontario primarily use three tools to fund growth-related capital infrastructure: Development Charges (DCs), Community Benefits Charges (CBCs) and Parkland Dedication. In recent years, the Province has introduced an unprecedented number of changes to legislation that governs these tools, including the Development Charges Act and Planning Act. Notable changes to the Development Charges Act include the removal of DC eligible services such as studies and affordable housing and requiring a 5-year phase-in of calculated development charges, thereby reducing the ability of municipalities to collect DC revenues.

In December 2023, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has recently committed to engaging with municipalities to review the impacts of these changes and potentially amend the legislation. In regards to CBCs, which are a relatively new funding tool for municipalities, Hemson has successfully represented municipalities at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) resulting in a decision supportive of how municipalities collect and spend these monies. This session will discuss recent legislative changes and identify the potential impacts (both positive and negative) to municipalities as well as the findings of recent OLT decisions related to growth funding tools.		Craig Binning, Partner, Hemson (bio)
Nataliya Kelbas, Consultant, Hemson (bio)
S41EDWorkshop 2: Multi Year Budgeting 1:00 PM4:00 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 4waterhouse4Tuesday, September 17, 2024In 2006, the Municipal Act was amended to allow municipalities to prepare and adopt multi-year budgets of two to five years. Since that time, only a few municipalities have starting incorporating this approach into their budget processes. Developing a multi-year budget can be resource intensive, but that up front investment can pay dividends because it:

  • promotes longer-term thinking,
  • frees staff time in subsequent years to focus on strategic priorities, and
  • offers greater stability and certainty to ratepayers.

While every year can be a challenge for budget preparation and decision-making, 2024 was particularly challenging. In times of uncertainty, immediate challenges, like the cost increases associated with the high rate of inflation, increased urgency to invest in growth-related infrastructure, can distract from longer term challenges such as managing the ongoing asset management costs of existing infrastructure and the high cost of “people related” services. Multi-year budgeting is a tool that can help municipalities strike the right balance between longer-term objectives and short-term needs.

This session will start with an overview of multi-year budgeting from a legislative perspective, focusing on the Municipal Act, 2001 and associated regulations. Case studies will explore the multi-year budgeting journey of several municipalities who are at different stages in their journey. All aspects of this process will be examined, including developing an internal plan to get staff on board, as well as communicating to and educating Council and the public. Municipal staff will share their tips, tricks and lessons learned through an engaging and interactive session.		Donna Herridge, Executive Director, MFOA (bio)
Sue Cunningham, Consultant, MFOA (bio)
Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director, Finance,Treasurer, Town of Aurora (bio)
John Millson, Senior Financial Business Administrator, City of London (bio)
Alan Dunbar, Manager, Financial Planning and Policy, City of London (bio)
Shanna O'Dwyer, Deputy Treasurer and Manager of Financial Strategy and Reporting, City of Guelph (bio)
S51EDWorkshop 3: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Municipal Governance: A Framework for Integrity and Transparency 1:00 PM5:00 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 5Waterhouse5Tuesday, September 17, 2024This presentation delves into ethical challenges in municipal governance, emphasizing integrity and transparency. It introduces a robust framework to help municipal finance officers manage ethical dilemmas and uphold public trust. The framework offers tools for resolving ethical conflicts, maintaining financial transparency, and nurturing an ethical organizational culture. Using case studies, we'll examine common challenges like conflicts of interest and procurement issues. Attendees will gain insights into the ethical dimensions of governance and learn practical strategies to apply this framework, empowering them to lead with integrity and navigate governance complexities effectively.Marc Tassé, Strategic Advisor on Governance, Ethics and Financial Crime, University of Ottawa (bio)
S121EDUpdates Session 8:30 AM12:00 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 1-3 & 4waterhouse14Wednesday, September 18, 2024Hear the latest and greatest updates pertaining to the topics of significant interest to municipal finance officers. Speakers will provide updates of key changes that occured earlier in 2024, as well as current developments, and what's coming down the pipe in the near future. Confirmed organizations include:
  • Ministry of Finance (MOF)
  • Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)
  • Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS)
  • Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB)
  • Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI)
    		Mary Dawson-Cole, Director, Municipal and Stakeholder Relations (MSR), Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) (bio)
    Sukhvinder Dulay, Vice President, Pension Legal & Plan Administration, OMERS Administration Corporation (bio)
    Ian Freeman, Assistant Deputy Minister, Provincial Local Finance Division, Ministry of Finance (bio)
    Michael A. Puskaric, Director, Public Sector Accounting, Public Sector Accounting Board (bio)
    Michael A. Puskaric, Director, Public Sector Accounting, Public Sector Accounting Board (bio)
    Adam Gunn, Team Lead, Municipal Infrastructure Policy Unit, Project Implementation Branch, Ministry of Infrastructure (bio)
    S111EDWorkshop - Asset Management - Proposed Levels of Service: A Balancing Act 9:00 AM12:00 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 5Waterhouse5Wednesday, September 18, 2024Establishing proposed levels of service is arguably one of the more challenging tasks that municipalities will need to complete as part of developing their asset management plans. Regulatory requirements, public expectations, alignment with other strategic plans, and financial constraints are just a few examples of things that need to be considered when establishing proposed levels of service.

    Join us for this workshop to see an overview of strategies for developing level of service options/scenarios, engaging with council and the public, and examples from municipalities that have already gone through the process. Participate in an interactive activity to get a hands-on understanding of the concepts and be ready to apply them as your municipality works towards the 2025 requirements of O. Reg. 588/17.    		Peter Simcisko, Managing Partner, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. (bio)
    Suday Jain, Senior Consultant, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. (bio)
    S161EDWorkshop - Asset Management - Proposed Levels of Service: A Balancing Act 1:00 PM4:00 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 5Waterhouse5Wednesday, September 18, 2024Establishing proposed levels of service is arguably one of the more challenging tasks that municipalities will need to complete as part of developing their asset management plans. Regulatory requirements, public expectations, alignment with other strategic plans, and financial constraints are just a few examples of things that need to be considered when establishing proposed levels of service.

    Join us for this workshop to see an overview of strategies for developing level of service options/scenarios, engaging with council and the public, and examples from municipalities that have already gone through the process. Participate in an interactive activity to get a hands-on understanding of the concepts and be ready to apply them as your municipality works towards the 2025 requirements of O. Reg. 588/17.    		Peter Simcisko, Managing Partner, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. (bio)
    Suday Jain, Senior Consultant, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. (bio)
    S171EDUpdates Session 1:00 PM4:30 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 1-3 & 4waterhouse14Wednesday, September 18, 2024Hear the latest and greatest updates pertaining to the topics of significant interest to municipal finance officers. Speakers will provide updates of key changes that occured earlier in 2024, as well as current developments, and what's coming down the pipe in the near future.Confirmed organizations include:
    • Ministry of Finance (MOF)
    • Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) - no presentation available to download
    • Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)
    • Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS)
    • Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB)
    • Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI)
      		Mary Dawson-Cole, Director, Municipal and Stakeholder Relations (MSR), Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) (bio)
      Sukhvinder Dulay, Vice President, Pension Legal & Plan Administration, OMERS Administration Corporation (bio)
      Ian Freeman, Assistant Deputy Minister, Provincial Local Finance Division, Ministry of Finance (bio)
      Michael A. Puskaric, Director, Public Sector Accounting, Public Sector Accounting Board (bio)
      Adam Gunn, Team Lead, Municipal Infrastructure Policy Unit, Project Implementation Branch, Ministry of Infrastructure (bio)
      S291OTConference Opening Remarks 8:30 AM8:45 AMPeninsula RoompeninsulaThursday, September 19, 2024  
      S301OTMFOA's Awards Presentation 8:45 AM9:05 AMPeninsula RoompeninsulaThursday, September 19, 2024  
      S311EDOpening Keynote: Building Communities of Trust 9:05 AM9:55 AMPeninsula RoompeninsulaThursday, September 19, 2024There's nothing more important for human happiness than our trust in one another. But the world has been spiraling out of trust, with disconnection and division. The good news is that cities can help heal the trust divide. Charles shares fascinating social experiments to demonstrate how we can redesign our communities to bring people together in ways that nurture bonds that keep us all healthy, happy and strong.

      Sponsored by: OECM      		Charles Montgomery, Founder of Happy Cities, Award-Winning Journalist (bio)
      S321EDAnnual and Special Meeting of the members of the MFOA 9:55 AM10:30 AMPeninsula RoompeninsulaThursday, September 19, 2024  
      S341OTDiscussion Forum A - Population 1-10,000 (in-person only) 11:00 AM11:45 AMPeninsula RoompeninsulaThursday, September 19, 2024Collaborate, discuss and engage in meaningful discourse with other similar-sized municipalities. The agenda topics are developed by the questions, topics and/or concerns that you provide to us upon registration. 
      S351OTDiscussion Forum B - Population 10,000-50,000 (in-person only) 11:00 AM11:45 AMWaterhouse Ballroom 1-3waterhouse13Thursday, September 19, 2024Collaborate, discuss and engage in meaningful discourse with other similar-sized municipalities. The agenda topics are developed by the questions, topics and/or concerns that you provide to us upon registration. 
      S361OTDiscussion Forum C - Population 50,000-150,000 (in-person only) 11:00 AM11:45 AMWaterhouse Ballroom 4waterhouse4Thursday, September 19, 2024Collaborate, discuss and engage in meaningful discourse with other similar-sized municipalities. The agenda topics are developed by the questions, topics and/or concerns that you provide to us upon registration. 
      S701OTDiscussion Forum D - Population 150,000+ (in-person only) 11:00 AM11:45 AMWaterhouse Ballroom 5Waterhouse5Thursday, September 19, 2024Collaborate, discuss and engage in meaningful discourse with other similar-sized municipalities. The agenda topics are developed by the questions, topics and/or concerns that you provide to us upon registration. 
      S381EDConcurrent Session A: ARO Post Implementation Review 1:15 PM2:15 PMTom ThomsontomthomThursday, September 19, 2024This new standard is coming into effect for the year ended December 31, 2024. We would like to discuss:
      • What does this mean for municipalities?
      • We will go over the new standards, and illustrate impact for specific case studies drawn from municipalities across Canada.
      You will come away understanding the specific areas of impact, and practical next steps for implementation.      		Tariq Sattar, Senior Manager, KPMG LLP (bio)
      Dana Hassoun, Senior Manager, KPMG LLP (bio)
      S391EDConcurrent Session B: Asset Management Journey – Town of New Tecumseth 1:15 PM2:15 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 1-3waterhouse13Thursday, September 19, 2024The presentation will cover our journey from developing AM policy, Corporate and Service Area Asset Management Plans for Core and Other infrastructure. The Service Area AMP are focused on different services provided by the town whereas the Corporate AMP is a high-level document. We are a staff of two including the manager and our team in collaboration with the business areas, finance, IT (GIS), Engineering came up with the asset management plans that is currently available in the town's website. Besides asset management, our team also got involved in implementation of a work order management system CityWorks and Asset Management decision making tool Brightly Predictor which we are using in our Long-Range financial plan, Capital Plan and Budget. The models are built in Predictor with different strategies that will show us how our assets perform at different budget levels.Arun Chulliyil, Manager of Corporate Assets, Town of New Tecumseth (bio)
      Jodie Churilla, Infrastructure Asset Management Technologist, Town of New Tecumseth (bio)
      S401EDConcurrent Session C: Toronto’s Carbon Budget Process: How it works and lessons learned 1:15 PM2:15 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 4waterhouse4Thursday, September 19, 2024Municipalities can accelerate climate action through implementation of a Carbon Budget process that integrates data on greenhouse gas reduction impact into budgeting and prioritization processes. Toronto is playing a lead role in this field, developing a model that other municipalities can learn from and follow. This session will cover the why and how of Toronto’s work to integrate climate change action into annual budgeting, key lessons learned, and suggestions for how your municipality can start or step up its efforts in this area, even with limited resources.Marie Barcellos, Manager, Team IV, Financial Planning Division, City of Toronto (bio)
      Charles Hatt, Program Manager, Policy and Research, Environment and Climate Division, City of Toronto (bio)
      S411EDConcurrent Session D: Avoid the Pitfalls of the ERP Procurement Process and Get the Solution You Need 1:15 PM2:15 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 5Waterhouse5Thursday, September 19, 2024Explore the advantages of cloud-based ERP systems in terms of scalability, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness for local government finance departments. Provide insights into the security and compliance considerations associated with adopting cloud ERP solutions.Bonnie Agnew, Sales Executive, Sylogist (bio)
      Gerry Grant, Sales Engineer, Sylogist (bio)
      S741EDConcurrent Session E: Using Lifecycle Data To Inform Financial Planning and Establish Levels of Service 1:15 PM2:15 PMPeninsula RoompeninsulaThursday, September 19, 2024This data-driven presentation examines multi-year maintenance records of a diverse set of municipalities, encompassing critical lifecycle activities for infrastructure such as roads, water, storm, sanitary, and buildings. By analyzing the frequency, costs, and operational impacts of these activities, this presentation will shed light on current trends and practices, and the integral role this data has in defining levels of service and informing strategic financial planning.

      Rather than high level, abstract key performance indicators, the presentation will focus on real-world, practical data—bridging the gap between day-to-day maintenance management and long-term asset management.      		Israr Ahmad, Director, Integrated Product Development, PSD Citywide (bio)
      S431EDConcurrent Session F: Hemson introduces Hemson Analytics: a dashboard of municipal finance benchmarks for Ontario 2:45 PM3:45 PMPeninsula RoompeninsulaThursday, September 19, 2024There is increasing demand from municipal Councils, stakeholders and decision makers for municipal comparator data. However, this information can sometimes be difficult to interpret and is largely fragmented and difficult to access.

      This session will feature an introduction to Hemson’s newest web application, Hemson Analytics, a dashboard of municipal finance data and benchmarks developed using AI. Hemson Analytics features a series of dashboards that include financial indicators for municipalities across Ontario. Hemson Analytics can be used to generate comparable metrics on taxation, reserves, expenditures, debt levels, user fees and much more. The application is built using the Financial Information Return and enhanced by Hemson's in-house data and leading expertise in municipal finance. The session will include a live demonstration of Hemson Analytics as well as an overview of how this platform can be used to effectively to inform council and the public on a variety of municipal finance related measures. More information is available at hemsonanalytics.com.      		Craig Binning, Partner, Hemson (bio)
      Andrew Mirabella, Associate Partner, Hemson (bio)
      Christopher Balette, Associate, Hemson (bio)
      Stefan Krzeczunowicz, Associate Partner, Hemson (bio)
      S441EDConcurrent Session G: Contractual Risk Transfer: What It Is and How To Do It Right 2:45 PM3:45 PMTom ThomsontomthomThursday, September 19, 2024Most contractual relationships we enter into have some element of transferring risk to the other party. Oftentimes, a snow-clearing contract will specify who will be responsible for slip-and-fall accidents that occur, or a lease agreement will stipulate each party’s obligations. Alleviating some roles and responsibilities can often be shifted by properly using a hold-harmless agreement within a contract. This agreement however, is not a “once-and-done.” To effectively transfer risk from your entity to another requires you to understand:
      • the risk involved,
      • how to properly insure the risk involved,
      • whether risk transfer really is the best solution given the scenario, and
      • responsibilities you will still retain even if you have successfully transferred the risk to another party.
      This session will introduce the topic and discuss the importance of Contractual Risk Transfer; when risk transfer is desirable and when it is not, the things to watch for in agreements which could thwart your intent to successfully transfer risk, and creating a process to properly verify a vendor’s Certificate of Insurance and process claims.      		Jessica Jaremchuk, VP, Risk Management Services, Intact Public Entities (bio)
      S451EDConcurrent Session H: Alternative Revenue Sources: Municipal Accommodation Tax 2:45 PM3:45 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 1-3waterhouse13Thursday, September 19, 2024Join the City of Stratford and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for an insightful education session focused on the dynamics of Short Term Rentals (STRs). This session will delve into the challenges municipalities face in implementing and managing the framework around short-term rentals, including fee structures, policies, staffing and available tools.

      Karmen and Kyle will share their experience managing STRs and the financial and operational hurdles. Attendees are invited to share their experiences and gain valuable insights into how other municipalities manage Short-Term Rentals.      		Karmen Krueger, Director of Corporate Services/Treasurer, The Corporation of the City of Stratford (bio)
      Kyle Freeborn, Director of Corporate Services/Treasurer, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake (bio)
      S461EDConcurrent Session I: Empowered Municipalities: Shaping Ontario’s Electricity Landscape 2:45 PM3:45 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 4waterhouse4Thursday, September 19, 2024Electricity demand in Ontario is forecasted to rise by 60 per cent over the next 25 years driven by population growth and increased electrification. On the horizon is a dual-challenge to double the size of the current system to meet future needs while eliminating emissions from the grid. Join the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for an engaging session about Ontario's evolving energy landscape; upcoming procurements to secure new supply; building out the transmission system; and the crucial role municipalities play in approving projects that can benefit communities and the province.Steve Mooney, Senior Manager, Business Program Performance in the Demand Side Management division, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) (bio)
      S751EDConcurrent Session J: Empowering Municipalities with Essential Tools and Resources for Success 2:45 PM3:45 PMWaterhouse Ballroom 5Waterhouse5Thursday, September 19, 2024Join us for an insightful session where we will showcase MPAC's invaluable tools and resources, designed to assist municipalities in making informed decisions and fostering resilient communities. During the session, we will provide a comprehensive overview of Municipal Connect, your primary source for assessment data and information. This will include highlighting key benefits, the latest enhancements, and user engagement metrics. We will also feature resources tailored to support property owners, including our First-time Homeowners’ Hub and AboutMyPropertyTM. A Q+A session will follow the presentation.Michelle Lindquist, Regional Manager, Municipal and Stakeholder Relations, Public Affairs and Customer Experience, MPAC (bio)
      Lynne Cunningham, Regional Manager, Municipal & Stakeholder Relations, Public Affairs and Customer Experience, MPAC (bio)
      S541OTConference Opening Remarks 8:15 AM8:25 AMPeninsula RoompeninsulaFriday, September 20, 2024  
      S551EDEconomic Update 8:25 AM9:10 AMPeninsula RoompeninsulaFriday, September 20, 2024This presentation will focus on what municipalities can expect the economic backdrop to look like over the coming years. Topics will include the outlook for the Canadian labour market, inflation, interest rates, housing, immigration and productivity, plus a review of key global themes including the U.S. election, de-globalization, China and technological change.

      Sponsored by: RBC Global Asset Management Inc. PH&N Instutional      		Eric Lascelles, Managing Director & Chief Economist, RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (bio)
      S561EDConcurrent Session K: Advanced Property Tax Policy Analysis: Understanding, Measuring, and Explaining the Drivers of Property Tax Change 9:15 AM10:15 AMTom ThomsontomthomFriday, September 20, 2024This session is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the various factors influencing property tax changes. Targeting both newcomers and experienced professionals in the industry, the presentation will delve into advanced methods of measuring, reporting, and effectively communicating these changes. There will be a specific focus on strategies for effectively informing the decision making process and creating strong connections between council's objectives and the property tax policy decisions being considered or implemented. Key take-aways will help participants expand the scope of the annual property tax policy discussion to include strategic considerations beyond the tax rate. This presentation is ideal for individuals new to the municipal finance field, as well as seasoned professionals looking to refine their understanding and skills in property tax analysis. It is particularly beneficial for those involved in policy-making, tax administration, and financial planning within municipalities.Peter Frise, Vice President of Policy & Consulting Services, Municipal Tax Equity (MTE) Consultants (bio)
      S571EDConcurrent Session L: NPN Presents: Start Small: Everyday Tips using Office 365 - a small municipal case study 9:15 AM10:15 AMPeninsula RoompeninsulaFriday, September 20, 2024Using The Town of Petawawa as a case study, the session will provide real examples of how to leverage Microsoft Office 365 to make small changes at the individual level. The examples are real, incremental changes, that anyone can use day to day, regardless of the size of municipality and skill set.

      The session is geared towards non-IT people who are interested in saving time, gaining efficiencies, and collaborating with colleagues. Learn about Microsoft Forms, Teams, SharePoint & how they can integrate into Power Automate.      		Christine Leon, Director of Finance/Treasurer, Town of Petawawa (bio)
      S581EDConcurrent Session M: Calculating Recreation User Fees 9:15 AM10:15 AMWaterhouse Ballroom 1-3waterhouse13Friday, September 20, 2024User fees are considered not to be a tax, but a "voluntary" fee paid by a person who chooses to access a recreation facility or service. Whereas taxes are paid by force and do not always guarantee that the payer will see a direct benefit from their contribution. But in fact, municipal taxes are a user fee designed so that a community may meet set legal obligations of operational requirements while at the same time, maximizing life cycle of equipment and buildings they have chosen to provide.

      In many Ontario recreation facilities, there has always been a blended approach of taxes and fees. There is no one set formula that can be applied to calculate a fair recreation cost recovery system. Often, recreation user fees were set by what the owner feels the user would be comfortable paying versus a fee calculated to recover a fair amount to off-set costs of the facility's actual operational or program costs. This approach then requires the "non-user" to contribute through taxation for a service they receive no direct benefit from.

      As facilities age or services become a mainstay, the need to increase both user fees and taxes to cover related costs increases. If these calculations do not consider long-term life-cycle planning needs, the municipality will require large amounts of financial investment to maintain or operate. Finding a fair balance requires careful research into both direct and indirect costs to determine who in fact should be contributing what amount.      		Terry Piche, Director, Training, Research and Development, Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (ORFA) (bio)
      S591EDConcurrent Session N: Transferring Municipal Water and Wastewater Services to a Municipal Services Corporation 9:15 AM10:15 AMWaterhouse Ballroom 4waterhouse4Friday, September 20, 2024There has been much discussion recently of having municipalities transfer municipal water and wastewater services to a municipal services corporation (“MSC”) under the Municipal Act, 2001. There are requirements under that Act and the related regulations that would have to be complied with to establish an MSC. Transferring water and wastewater services to an MSC would involve numerous procedural steps and considerations in connection with the structuring and governance of the MSC, the borrowing powers of the MSC and whether the structure would be affected by, or have any effect on, the borrowing limits of the municipality.Heather Douglas, Partner, Weirfoulds LLP (bio)
      Brad McLellan, Partner, Weirfoulds LLP (bio)
      S761EDConcurrent Session O: Credit Ratings: Exploring Opportunities for Municipal Investing 9:15 AM10:15 AMWaterhouse Ballroom 5Waterhouse5Friday, September 20, 2024As stewards of our municipality's capital, we need to understand the safety of the investments we own. A credit rating is an important and mandated tool Municipal investors must use to do this. In addition, a credit rating is an important step for a Municipality to issue public debt. Join Geoffrey Pennal and the Dominion Bond Rating Service as they explore what credit ratings tell us about our investments, the process to obtain a credit rating, and how we can use them to protect and grow our dollars.Jennifer Parney, Executive Director, Wealth Solutions Group, CIBC Capital Markets (bio)
      Patrick Miller, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Morningstar DBRS (bio)
      Geoffrey Pennal, FCSI, CIM, Senior Wealth Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager, CIBC – The Geoffrey Pennal Advisory Group (bio)
      S611EDConcurrent Session P: AMCTO presents, Everyday Ethics: Examining Ethical Decision-Making in the Treasury Office 10:45 AM11:45 AMWaterhouse Ballroom 1-3waterhouse13Friday, September 20, 2024This session will explore ethical questions, concerns, and dilemmas that municipal treasurers may face. Together, we’ll explore the three pillars of AMCTO's Code of Ethics and Values and how these can be practically applied on a day-to-day basis to help you in your role when it comes to effective ethical decision-making. Annette will share her experience around ethical dilemmas and her decision-making process. Come away with an understanding of ethical challenges faced by municipal professionals and practical tools to help you be a more effective leader by embedding ethics into your organization.Annette Gilchrist, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk/Treasurer, Township of Bonnechere Valley (bio)
      S621EDConcurrent Session Q: AI and Municipal Government: The Innisfil Version 10:45 AM11:45 AMPeninsula RoompeninsulaFriday, September 20, 2024No Budget? Not enough staff? Want to use technology to make your life easier? Join this presentation to see how the Town of Innisfil is exploring the use of AI technology to optimize municipal services efficiently despite budget constraints and limited staff resources.

      By leveraging AI, the town is piloting several projects to free up valuable human capital for strategic activities. Garbage can sensors, equipped with AI, monitor fill levels in real-time, enabling optimized waste collection schedules and reducing unnecessary pickups. Concurrently, staff utilize leading-edge generative AI models for daily support to assist in data analysis, generate insights for informed decision-making, answer customer service queries promptly, and streamline workflow. These AI solutions are just a few of the examples deployed to ensure that Innisfil maintains high service standards while managing resources judiciously and increasing operational productivity. Join the presentation to see how your municipality - regardless of size - can do it as well…within budget!      		Mike Melinyshyn, CFO / Director of Corporate Service & Innovation, Deputy Treasurer, Town of Innisfil (bio)
      S631EDConcurrent Session R: “And another thing”: Hot Issues in Provincial-Municipal Relations 10:45 AM11:45 AMWaterhouse Ballroom 4waterhouse4Friday, September 20, 2024Drawing from StrategyCorp’s 2024 Survey of CAOs, and her almost 30 years of experience in provincial-municipal relations, StrategyCorp's Sabine Matheson will comment on current issues and their impact of municipal finance, including:
      • Top issues on the minds of CAOs
      • Provincial priorities or local needs: what gets funded, and who will make the choices?
      • The growing political critique on Development Charges
      • The need for a new fiscal deal among Canada’s governments
        		Sabine Matheson, Principal, StrategyCorp (bio)
        S641EDConcurrent Session S: Enterprise Risk Management 101 – A primer for Ontario’s Municipalities 10:45 AM11:45 AMWaterhouse Ballroom 5Waterhouse5Friday, September 20, 2024Organizations of all types and sizes are constantly at risk. The implications of unidentified or unaligned risks in Public Sector organizations can be widespread, affect entire communities, and result in public scandal.

        Many organizations do not have sufficient risk management processes despite the potential ramifications. It can be a mammoth task, and public sector finance departments are already overextended. This session will provide an overview of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), risk governance, and the tools that enable successful risk management without overextending the finance department.

        Learn how to protect your organization by identifying and keeping tabs on crucial risks before they become a crisis. Topics to be covered include:

        ERM Introduction
        - Evolution of Risk Management / ERM definitions / Why adopt an ERM program?
        Risk Governance
        - Key governance elements / Three lines of defense / Risk policy and program
        Risk Framework
        - The importance of risk appetite and risk tolerance / Risk types and risk taxonomy / Risk monitoring and use of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) / Enterprise-wide risk assessment        		Ed McCaulley, Principal Consultant, F.H. Black & Company Incorporated (bio)
        S771EDConcurrent Session T: Planning and Executing an Enterprise Resource Planning Transformation 10:45 AM11:45 AMTom Thomson RoomtomthomFriday, September 20, 2024Organizations that are planning to transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution will need to ensure that a number of considerations are taken into account to ensure a successful launch. This session will highlight key factors to take into account, share best practices and personal experiences, to assist those contemplating the introduction of a new ERP solution to their organization.Patrice Likamshum, Senior Manager, Business Development, OECM (bio)
        S651EDClosing Keynote: Why Not You? How to Excel in Business and Life 11:50 AM12:50 PMPeninsula RoompeninsulaFriday, September 20, 2024Sharing the tools and techniques developed throughout her career, Botterill shows audiences how to reach new levels of excellence, both personally and professionally. She discusses the critical importance of time management and setting high standards, while distilling strategies to help audiences prepare for and achieve their goals. From a no-regrets approach of “never having to say I wish I would have,” to asking yourself “why not you?” when considering the opportunities success can bring, Jennifer encourages those around her to strive for a new standard of excellence in everything they do.

        Sponsored by: RBC Global Asset Management Inc. PH&N Institutional        		Jennifer Botterill, Three-Time Olympic Gold Medallist, Keynote Speaker (bio)
         
         

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