OGRA/ROMA Combined Conference – February 24 to 27, 2008

Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto

The Municipal Climate: Adapting to Change

Preliminary Program

Jan. 30, 2008

(subject to change)

Monday, February 25, 2008

Registration

7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

8:30 a.m. Opening Session

Canadian Room, Convention Floor

Sponsor: Independent Electricity System Operators

Co-Chairs: Chris White, ROMA Chair and Mayor, Township of Guelph/Eramosa; Jim Harrison, President, OGRA and Councillor, City of Quinte West

9:00 a.m. Plenary Session

Speaker: Premier Dalton McGuinty

(Admission to this session will be by official conference badge only)

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Coffee Break

Sponsor: Hydro One Networks

Information Rooms

9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

British Columbia Room, Main Mezzanine

Please join us to learn about how the mayors are showing leadership by working together to protect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence.

The Ontario Rural Council (TORC)

Quebec Room, Main Mezzanine

Learn about the work TORC does and how you can get involved! The only non-profit provincial organization to represent all rural sectors, TORC and its membership host forums throughout the year on emerging issues affecting our rural and rural/urban landscape. TORC works to ensure that the collective rural voice is heard. Join us!!

Pavement Treatments: S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g your dollars

Territories Room, Main Mezzanine

Talk with a professional about strategies to maximize the life of your pavements. Learn how the right treatment applied at the right time can save money.

Concurrent Workshops

10:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.

Waste Management: Diversion Tactics

Canadian Room, Convention Floor

Chair: Doug Thompson, Immediate Past ROMA Chair and Councillor, City of Ottawa

Speakers: Catherine Habermebl, Manager, Waste Collection and Diversion Operations, Region of Niagara; Randy Roy, Waste Diversion Supervisor, City of Sault Saint Marie;

Collecting household waste and diverting it from landfills is an on-going challenge for municipalities. Hear how some municipalities are dealing with illegal dumping, electronic waste and problems unique to small communities.

Respecting the spirit of the land. Reconciling treaty rights with municipal development

Ballroom, Convention Floor

Sponsor: Union Gas

Chair: Allen Taylor, ROMA Board Member and Mayor, Township of East Garafraxa

Speakers: Allan McLeod, Senior Legal Counsel, City of Kingston; Stephen Collins, Manager of Engineering, Region of York; Paul Williams, Red Hill Valley Joint Stewardship Board, Six Nations of the Grand River

Municipal growth and development can either open the doors to constructive relationships with First Nations neighbours or become mired in a tangle of treaty rights issues. Hear about recent municipal projects that found win/win solutions.

Minimum maintenance standards: The Five-Year Review – Looking Back and Planning Ahead

Imperial Room, Lobby Level

Chair: Alan Korell, OGRA Director and Director, Public Works, City of North Bay

Speakers: Alan Korell, Managing Director/City Engineer, City of North Bay; Murray Davison, Partner, Paterson MacDougall LLP; Barb Szychta, Director, Risk Management, Frank Cowan Company Ltd.

OGRA took on the challenge of reviewing the minimum maintenance standards as required by Regulation 239/02. The report, now under consideration by MTO, contains proposed amendments to strengthen the standards. Hear what is being recommended and why.

Alternative financing of public infrastructure projects: Why They Work

Tudor Rooms, Main Mezzanine

Sponsor: Infrastructure Ontario

Chair: Ken Hill, OGRA Director and Mayor, Township of Russell

Speakers: Steve Rohacek, Vice-President, Business Development and Customer Relations, Infrastructure Ontario; David Wright, Director, PPP Solutions Ltd, and Leader, Morrison Hershfield Partnerships

Alternative infrastructure financing will be explored through a presentation by Infrastructure Ontario that will review its loan program and business case model that are available to municipalities. There will also be a presentation that will describe what a municipal AFP might look like with examples of how such projects have succeeded in Great Britain and delivered needed public infrastructure.

Service Contract Management: Attend to the Basics

Confederation Rooms, Main Mezzanine

Chair: Joanne Vanderheyden, OGRA Director and Deputy Mayor, Township of Strathroy-Carrodoc

Moderator: Dennis O’Neil, AORS Second Vice-President, Manager of Public Works, Township of East Zorra-Tavistock

Speakers: Anne Louise Heron, Senior Policy and Program Advisor, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Jim Pine, CAO, County of Hastings; Richard Shannon, CAO, County of Prince Edward; Gerry Wolting, A/CAO, Municipality of Chatham-Kent

Every contract carries some risk. Management of that risk begins with a sound contract. Seasoned senior municipal staff will share some of what works and doesn’t work for them in managing municipal service contracts. The backdrop to this discussion is the development of a guide to service contract management currently underway.

11:30 a.m. Plenary Session:

Sponsor: Renew Canada

Speaker: The Honourable Jim Bradley, Minister of Transportation
Canadian Room, Convention Floor

Chair: Jim Harrison, President, OGRA and Councillor, City of Quinte West

Information Rooms

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Municipal DataWorks: Defining the Standard for Asset Management

British Columbia Room, Main Mezzanine

Come and see the latest upgrades to MDW and talk to some of the companies that have chosen to integrate their asset management tools with OGRA’s versatile data repository.

Broadband in Ontario

Quebec Room, Main Mezzanine

Concurrent Workshops

1:30 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.

Alternative energy – One Community’s Solution

Ballroom, Convention Floor

Chair: Allen Taylor, ROMA Board Member and Mayor, Township of East Garafraxa

Speakers: Ed Crewson, Mayor, Town of Shelburne; Trevor Lewis, Director of Public Works, County of Dufferin; Matthew Fairlie, Fairfield Group; David Paseka, EEC Energy Corp.; John Pennie, Chairman, Windrush Energy

Dufferin Eco-Energy Park (DEEP) is a proposal to produce energy from compost and wind that could be used to generate electricity and fuel. Learn about this innovative energy and waste solution under consideration in the County of Dufferin.

Bridges: From Inspection to Rehabilitation

Imperial Room, Lobby Level

Chair: Donald J. McDonald, OGRA Director and County Engineer, United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry

Speakers: Ken Becking, Director of Public Works, City of Kawartha Lakes; Dennis Baxter, Senior Project Manager, TSH Associates; John Stephenson, Senior Project Engineer, Region of Waterloo

Learn what is required to manage these critical, but aging, components of municipal infrastructure. The bridge experts will advise when and what to inspect and what to do with the results.

Public Art in our Communities

Tudor Rooms, Main Mezzanine

Chair: John Curley, OGRA Director and Councillor, City of Timmins

Speakers: Jeffrey McMann, Supervisor of Forestry, Town of Markham; Robin Armistead, Manager, Culture and Municipal Policy, City of London; Jane Perdue, Public Art Coordinator, City of Toronto

Sudbury has its Big Nickel and Wawa has its goose. Others have trains, planes and monuments to honour the past. Public art can tell our history and identify who we are as a community but it must be maintained and preserved. This session will discuss what our peers are doing to beautify our cities and manage public art.

Stormwater Management: Opening the floodgates to Climate Change

Confederation Rooms, Main Mezzanine

Sponsor: Cement Association of Canada

Chair: John Niedra, OGRA Director and Director, Etobicoke York District Transportation Operations, City of Toronto

Moderator: P. Jeffrey Seaton, Executive Director, Municipal Engineers Association

Speakers: Joan Klaassen, Senior Climatologist, Environment Canada; Paul Lehman, General Manager, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority; Paulin Coulibaly, Associate Professor, McMaster University

While the debate rages on as to the causes, the effects of climate change are undeniable. And the effects are already being felt here in Ontario. One sure sign is the growing frequency of severe storms that put our aging drainage infrastructure to the test. How will climate change continue to affect Ontario? What can we do to adapt?

Ontario’s Challenging Energy Market: How LAS and the IESO Can Help Municipalities Cope with Changing Prices and new Regulatory Obligations

Territories Room, Main Mezzanine

Chair: Bill Bilton, ROMA Board Member and Mayor, Township of Dawn-Euphemia

Speakers: Scott Vokey, Energy Services Coordinator, Local Authority Services, Association of Municipalities of Ontario; Terry Young, Director, External Relations, Independent Electricity Systems Operator

Municipalities across Ontario are fast becoming leaders in energy management. Local Authority Services (LAS) and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) will deliver important information about energy options that will help you take control of your electricity costs and reduce your environmental impact.

3:00 p.m Plenary Session

Ballroom, Convention Floor

Speaker:The Honourable David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal will address the delegates

4:45 p.m. – Reception

Sponsor: Champion Road Machinery Sales Ltd.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Registration

7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Continental Breakfast

Canadian Room, Convention Floor

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Imperial Room, Lobby Level

The Honourable George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and the Province’s 14 Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Chairs will host an information room to meet with delegates and answer questions.

8:15 a.m Plenary Session

Speaker: The Honourable Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Canadian Room, Convention Floor

8:45 a.m. ROMA Annual General Meeting

Canadian Room, Convention Floor

Chair: Doug Thompson, Immediate Past ROMA Chair and Councillor, City of Ottawa

9:05 a.m. OGRA Annual General Meeting

Canadian Room, Convention Floor

Chair: Eric Rutherford, OGRA Second Vice-President and Councillor, Municipality of Greenstone

9:30 a.m. Plenary Session

“It Takes a Village: The Eden Mills Carbon Neutral Initiative”

A lively presentation of Eden Mill’s ambitious aim to become the first carbon neutral village in North America. It will include illustrations of existing and proposed actions, video clips and a film of the childrens’ choir singing the carbon theme song.

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Coffee Break

Sponsor: Hydro One Networks

Information Rooms:

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Municipal Drains: Gains and Pains of Drains Explained

British Columbia Room, Main Mezzanine

Delegates will have an opportunity to discuss their drainage issues with several individuals who collectively have experience with The Drainage Act, technical and environmental considerations of drainage and drainage law in general.

Accessibility Directorate of Ontario:

Quebec Room, Main Mezzanine

Staff from the Accessibility Directorate will be available to answer your questions about The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the new Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Regulation. Also get an update on the status of other standards in development.

Concurrent Workshops:

10:30 a.m. to noon

The Economy of Northern Ontario

Imperial Room, Lobby Level

Chair: Bill Vrebosch, ROMA Board Member and Mayor, Township of East Ferris

Speakers: Dr. Bob Rosehart, Northwestern Ontario Economic Facilitator, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines; Tom Ormsby, Manager, Victor Project, De Beers Canada; Tom Laughren, Mayor, City of Timmins

This session will look at the strategies being developed to strengthen northern Ontario’s economy with a specific look at mining developments.

Municipalities and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence: Local leadership in action

Confederation Rooms, Main Mezzanine

Chair: Mike Galloway, ROMA Board Member and CAO, Township of Pelee

Speakers: Terry Quinney, Provincial Manager, Fish and Wildlife Services, Ontario Federation of Hunters and Anglers; Ellen Anderson, Mayor, Town of the Blue Mountain; Mike Layton, Project Coordinator, Environmental Defence

The Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River watershed is home to 40 million Canadians and Americans who depend on it for potable water, transportation and tourism. It is the third largest regional economy in the world. Yet this vast area is also a fragile ecosystem under siege from record-setting low water levels, invasive species, pollutants and development. Learn more about the threats to the Great Lakes and how municipalities and other local leaders are leading the efforts to protect and restore this precious natural resource.

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board: A Presentation by the WSIB Chair

Territories Room, Main Mezzanine

Chair: Rick Champagne, OGRA Director and Councillor, Township of East Ferris

Speaker: Steven Mahoney, Chair, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario

Municipal DataWorks: Improving your Municipality’s Asset Management Capabilities

Tudor Rooms, Main Mezzanine

Sponsor: Direct IT

Chair: Tom Bateman, OGRA Director and County Engineer, County of Essex

Speakers: J.W. Tiernay, OGRA Executive Director, Steve Desrocher, President, ASI Technologies; Jim Boyer, Partner, Direct IT; Robert Kendal, Managing Director, KiSP; Barry Kelly, Public Works and Engineering Solutions, ESRI Canada

This session will update MDW progress and present the improvements and integrations that make MDW work even better. MDW enhancements include the ability to add assets and link the values generated for PSAB to your municipal general ledger and FIR’s.

Municipal Wastewater: Influencing the Effluents

Ballroom, Convention Floor,

Chair: Ron Eddy, ROMA Board Member and Mayor, County of Brant

Speakers: Barbara Farrell, Senior Provincial Environment Officer, Ministry of Environment; Catherine Jefferson, Executive Director, Water Environment Association of Ontario; Nancy Bonham, Technical Services, City of Toronto; Barbara Anderson, Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Environment

After the completion of Justice O’Connor’s recommendations for drinking water systems, attention has shifted to municipal wastewater systems. This workshop will review current provincial legislation governing wastewater and discuss the draft strategy that the Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment is proposing for the management of municipal wastewater effluent.

12:00 noon

OGRA Awards Luncheon

Canadian Room, Convention Floor

Moderator: Alan Korell, Chair, OGRA Member Services Committee

Presenters: Honourable Jim Bradley, Minister of Transportation and Jim Harrison, President, OGRA and Councillor, City of Quinte West

2:15 p.m. Plenary Session
Speaker: John Tory, Leader, Ontario PC Party and Leader of the Official Opposition

Ballroom, Convention Floor

2:45 p.m. Plenary Session

Speaker: Howard Hampton, Leader, Ontario New Democratic Party

Ballroom, Convention Floor

3:45 p.m. Minister’s Forum

Canadian Room, Convention Floor

Moderator: Nigel Bellchamber

The following Ministers have confirmed their attendance at the Forum.

Hon. Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Hon. Chris Bentley, Attorney General

Hon. Margaret Best, Minister of Health Promotion
Hon. Jim Bradley, Minister of Transportation
Hon. Michael Bryant, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
Hon. Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources
Hon. David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Hon. Brad Duguid, Minister of Labour
Hon. Peter Fonseca, Minister of Tourism
Hon. John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment
Hon. Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines
Hon. Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services
Hon. Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Kim Craitor, MPP and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Registration

7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Continental Breakfast

Canadian Room, Convention Floor

First Prize Draw (must be present to win)

8:00 a.m. Michael J. Smither Memorial Question Box

Panel Chair: Fred Dean, Municipal Solicitor

Panel: Lynn Balfour, Chief Building Official, County of Brant; Robert Browning, Fire Chief, City of Kitchener, Brian Donaldson, former Senior Policy Advisor, Local Government Policy Branch, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Scott Tousaw, Director of Planning and Development, County of Huron; Sid Vander Veen, Drainage Coordinator, Resources Management, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Robert Walton, Director of Public Works, County of Oxford

9:30 a.m. Plenary Session

Speaker: Doug Reycraft, President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario

10:00 a.m. Plenary Session

Speaker: The Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Chair: Chris White, ROMA Chair and Mayor, Township of Guelph/Eramosa

10:30 a.m. Plenary Session
Speaker: Julian Fantino, Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police

Chair: Eric Rutherford, OGRA Second Vice-President and Councillor, Municipality of Greenstone

11:00 a.m. Closing Session

Installation of 2008-2009 ROMA Chair

ROMA Chair Elect Remarks

Installation of 2008-2009 OGRA President

OGRA President Elect Remarks

Second Prize Draw (must be present to win)

Adjournment of Conference