This week is the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, a chance for staff and council members from Ontario’s 444 municipal governments to meet with their federal and provincial counterparts. But if there was a theme on Monday, it was provincial party leaders making a case for doing more for cities by forming the next government, and adding more fuel to the fire that a snap fall election is coming!

The key words were “new deal”. All the opposition leaders in their speeches used those two words to describe what they will do for cities when and if they become premier following an election, which is currently scheduled for June 2026.

“Affordable housing, quality infrastructure, and open ERs are a necessity in Ontario, not a luxury,” said NDP leader Marit Stiles. “Municipal leaders shouldn’t have to beg the province to do their job – but that’s exactly what’s happening right now. Our municipal partners and the communities they serve deserve better.”

Stiles calls here plan “Strong and Caring Communities: A New Deal for Ontario’s Municipalities” in which she pledges to upload housing and homelessness services to the Province, invest in non-profit and co-op housing and re-establish 50 per cent provincial funding for municipal transit.

“Cities and towns invest billions each year in vital services and infrastructure,” she added. “In return, they’re asked to take on skyrocketing costs and increasingly complex social and economic problems. I’m committed to working in partnership with municipalities to build strong and caring communities and a stronger economy.”

Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie, at her first AMO as a provincial politician, promised not just a new deal, but a fair deal.

“The reality is that Ontario’s Municipalities need a new, fair deal.We’re asking you to do a 21st-century job with 19th-century tools. You need a sensible, modern way to fund your operations sustainably,” Crombie said.

“We’ll ensure you have the tools you need to deliver the services and build the communities your residents demand so that together, we can build a stronger, more prosperous Ontario. I am committed to doing that work with you when we form government, because as a former Mayor, believe me when I say we need to better support our municipalities.”

Guelph MPP and Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner also promised that a Green government would partner with municipalities to create a New Deal for Cities and Towns, working together to “build a fair, caring, climate-ready Ontario.”

“Because Ontario needs a government that puts the needs of ordinary people before wealthy insiders. In this room are hundreds of leaders who know that a better Ontario is possible. Greens will work with you to make that Ontario a reality,” Schreiner said.

“Provincial flip flops and policy failures have put municipalities in the impossible situation of picking up the pieces from chronic underfunding of vital public services like healthcare, mental health and addictions and affordable housing. Downloading, lack of infrastructure funding and the rising cost of climate change is putting an unsustainable burden on municipal budgets.”

As for the current premier, Doug Ford, he didn’t talk about a new deal, but he did talk about a lot of other deals. “In recent years, Ontario’s economy has attracted tens of billions of dollars in the tech sector, $4 billion in life science, and more than $44 billion in electric vehicle and battery plants,” he said. “What I’m most proud of is that these new investments, these new jobs, are being created in communities across the province.”

In terms of support for municipalities, Ford announced the formal roll out of a new stream funding… to support sports and rec facilities. As announced in this year’s provincial government, Queen’s Park is making $200 million available through a fund to help communities revitalize existing community sport and recreation infrastructure and build new facilities.

“Today’s announcement is just one example of how we are working shoulder-to-shoulder with our municipal partners to ensure they have the infrastructure and support their growing communities need,” said Ford in a statement. “By working together, we can build growing, healthy and complete communities across Ontario and ensure people have access to the services and recreational opportunities they need to thrive.”