City of London Councillor Anna Hopkins has been acclaimed for a second term on the Board of Directors of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). As a board member, Councillor Hopkins will continue to serve as a representative for the City of London and London City Council.
Since being elected to the Board of Directors of AMO in 2018, Councillor Hopkins has been a key voice for London through her leadership with the municipal sector’s policy and advocacy work with the Province of Ontario. Councillor Hopkins will continue to serve as a member the Large Urban Caucus, a five member committee directly meeting with provincial ministers to represent the interests of large and mid-size cities including London.
“Councillor Hopkins has been an important voice for London through her leadership and advocacy while serving the Board of Directors and the Large Urban Caucus,” says Acting Mayor and Councillor Josh Morgan. “Councillor Hopkins’ work in sharing perspectives of our city, our region, and large communities will ensure Londoners are represented at the Provincial level and as Ontario rolls out its economic recovery plans in the weeks and months ahead.”
“This term comes with new challenges and opportunities including the recovery from COVID-19 and it will take meaningful dialogue, thoughtful consideration, and listening – to our communities and all Ontarians,” says Councillor Anna Hopkins. “I hope to create further opportunities to ensure the perspectives of Londoners can influence policy making at Queen’s Park.”
Members of London City Council and City staff this week are joining over 1,000 participants across Ontario at Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) virtual 2020 conference, August 17-19. As the largest gathering of Ontario municipalities, the annual conference is a significant opportunity for City leaders to advocate on behalf of Londoners and to ensure the perspectives London are represented at the Provincial level.
London’s meetings with Provincial leaders focus on key local challenges and opportunities including social and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, funding to address homelessness and affordable housing, as well as funding for public transportation and future job creation.
To advocate on behalf of London, City Council members will be speaking with many of the most senior members of the Provincial cabinet, including meetings with the ministries of Health, Finance, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Municipal Affairs and Housing.
During the conference, AMO and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) will also be signing a joint Declaration of Mutual Commitment and Friendship. The overall intent of this declaration is to highlight the ways that AMO and the OFIFC, on behalf of their respective memberships, can work together to improve the quality of life of Indigenous people across Ontario’s municipalities. Both AMO and the OFIFC’s Presidents will be signing this declaration tomorrow. London will be joining Ontario municipalities who are home to Indigenous Friendship Centres in signing this declaration, building on the MOU that was signed by the City and by the N’Amerind Friendship Centre earlier this year.
This year’s conference shifted to a virtual experience in light of COVID-19. Next year, London is scheduled to host the 2021 Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, August 15 – 18, if the conference moves back to in-person.