N EWS LAJOIE RETURNS FROM AMO CONFERENCE FRUSTRATED BY MUNICIPAL FUNDING GAP
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GABRIELLE VINETTE gabrielle.vinette@eap.on.ca
municipalities to increasingly rely on property taxes to pay for services and responsibili- ties she believes should be funded by the province. She said she intends to continue advoca- ting for greater equity in provincial funding and for better accountability regarding ser- vices downloaded to municipalities. “I leave that AMO conference recognizing that gap, and that's a gap that I'm going to continue to fight for to close,” she said. Advocating beyond municipal borders Lajoie said she views her role as exten- ding beyond strictly local issues, arguing that municipalities cannot effectively address local concerns without also addressing relationships between different levels of government. She said she believes community enga- gement is an important part of that process because residents who understand how government works can better advocate for themselves with their Members of Provincial Parliament and Members of Parliament. “I want to build a community that demands more,” she said. Among the issues she continues to advocate for are the proposed ALTO high- speed rail project and federal return-to-work policies. Lajoie said she has been communicating with groups involved with ALTO and sharing information with them while ensuring that
local voices are heard at higher levels of government. She is also working with the Changema- kers of Canada Club on a report examining return-to-work policies and their potential impact on rural communities. Lajoie said Casselman should not become a “bedroom community” for Ottawa workers and argued that rural communities need economic opportunities of their own. “The Treasury Board needs to recognize that we have our own economy and we want to keep our people here,” she said. The United Counties of Prescott and Russell has already passed a resolution concerning return-to-work policies, but Lajoie said she intends to continue following up on the issue rather than simply passing resolutions and leaving the matter there. Next steps in Casselman Following the conference, Lajoie said she plans to bring several resolutions before Casselman council. One proposal would establish an artificial intelligence policy, with Lajoie saying she wants Casselman to be proactive in deter- mining how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used as a municipal tool. She said the goal would not be to replace people, but to use AI to expand the muni- cipality’s capacity for learning, thinking and development. Another proposed resolution would support a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the
Coalition to End Violence Against Women at a site in the seniors’ park. Lajoie said the event would provide an opportunity to bring residents together and raise awareness about domestic violence in the community. She also plans to propose stronger recognition for municipal employees, saying Casselman’s staff are hardworking and often do not receive enough recognition from the community. A fourth proposal would focus on attrac- ting French-speaking doctors to Casselman. Lajoie said Verismo Health has been wor- king with La Flesche Compound Pharmacy to attract doctors to the community. While an English-speaking doctor is expected to join the practice, efforts are underway to attract a French-speaking or bilingual physician. Lajoie said she plans to ask council to consider including a grant in the municipal budget to help attract French-speaking doctors. With Casselman’s aging population largely Francophone, she said ensuring residents can access health care in French is essential. “It’s imperative that their health needs are being heard in their language,” she said. For Lajoie, the AMO Conference therefore represents both a reminder of the challenges municipalities face and an opportunity to continue building partnerships and advo- cating for Casselman at the provincial and federal levels. of encouraging more residents to become involved in municipal government. During the current term, the Township established eight resident committees, including a Parks and Recreation Committee and a Teen Advisory Committee. “These committees are all volunteers from within the community that give their time,” he said, adding that they can help nurture future municipal leaders. Tarnowski said serving on a committee can be an entry point for residents interested in eventually seeking a council or mayoral position. “We’re trying to get more people involved in the whole community governance pro- cess,” he said. In his published “Word from the Mayor,” Tarnowski encouraged residents to remain engaged, learn about the candidates, ask questions and vote. The Township’s voting period runs from October 21 at 9 a.m. until October 26 at 8 p.m. Looking ahead to the next four years, Tar- nowski said his priorities will include sound financial management, strong infrastructure, reliable municipal services, transparent deci- sion-making and strategic planning. He also emphasized collaboration with council, municipal staff, residents and com- munity partners to establish priorities and strengthen the township. “With that spirit of collaboration and a clear sense of direction, I am confident in what we will accomplish together over the next four years,” Tarnowski stated.
Casselman Mayor Geneviève Lajoie said she left the 2026 Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) Conference with a clear message: municipalities need a stronger and more equitable funding relationship with the provincial government. The conference, held in Ottawa from Aug. 16 to 19, brought together municipal leaders from across Ontario. Lajoie said the event went well overall, although Casselman parti- cipated in one formal delegation, alongside South Nation Conservation (SNC), regarding repairs needed at the dam at High Falls Park. SNC led the delegation, while Lajoie attended to support the organization and advocate for the needs of Casselman residents. The delegation was seeking government funding to help pay for the repairs. For Lajoie, however, the conference also highlighted what she sees as a broader problem facing municipalities. “The AMO conference represents 404 municipalities all convening in one spot asking the provincial government for money,” she said. According to Lajoie, there is not enough provincial funding to adequately address the needs of growing communities, forcing
TARNOWSKI ACCLAIMED AS RUSSELL MAYOR FOR 2026-2030 TERM
PUZZLE NO.79
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GABRIELLE VINETTE gabrielle.vinette@eap.on.ca
Mike Tarnowski has been acclaimed as mayor of Russell Township for the 2026-2030 term, following the certifi- cation of nominations for the upcoming municipal election. Tarnowski said he is grateful for the confidence residents have placed in him, but described the uncontested mayoral race as “bittersweet.” “I’m honoured, obviously, to have been acclaimed,” Tarnowski said. “I’m definitely grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the community. So I don’t take that lightly.” However, he emphasized the importance of contested elections in a healthy demo- cracy, noting that races give residents an opportunity to choose their representatives while encouraging debate and bringing forward new ideas. While no mayoral race will take place in Russell Township, residents will still vote for four council positions. Three incumbent councillors are seeking re-election, while two other community members have entered the race. One current councillor did not seek another term. Tarnowski said he hopes the council races will provide opportunities for residents to ask questions, participate in debates and remain engaged throughout the election process The mayor also discussed the importance
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ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 79
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