Greenstone Presses Key Priorities at AMO Conference
Greenstone took a broad list of local concerns to the 2026 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference, where Mayor Jamie McPherson met with provincial representatives and other organizations on issues ranging from highway safety and health care to housing and emergency access.
Among the Municipality’s priorities was Highway 11 safety, where Greenstone continued to push for 2+1 highway improvements and additional passing opportunities between Nipigon and Hearst. The Municipality also supported safety improvements being sought by Long Lake #58 First Nation, including better lighting, lower speeds and improved pedestrian safety.
Emergency preparedness was another major topic. Greenstone asked the Province to consider the public-safety value of maintaining key forest access roads, particularly where they could provide alternate access to communities during wildfires or other emergencies. These roads also serve as important recreational and tourism access points.
Housing discussions included the future of Kenogamisis Housing Corporation, which provides housing for vulnerable residents but is neither a Municipal Housing Corporation nor funded through the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB). That structure leaves it unable to access some traditional social-housing capital programs, including Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI).
On health care, Greenstone stressed the importance of attracting physicians who will make a long-term commitment to the area. Municipal officials argued that having doctors who live and practice in the community can provide patients with greater continuity of care and help create a more stable local health system.
Greenstone also met with Hydro One to discuss vegetation management on local distribution lines and the proposed Greenstone Transmission Line, including opportunities to maximize local and Indigenous economic benefits.
Outside of the provincial delegations, meetings were held with Circular Materials about the upcoming transition of residential recycling services and with TBDSSAB regarding housing needs in Greenstone.
The annual conference has proven valuable in moving local priorities forward. At last year’s AMO conference, Greenstone met with Ministers Prabmeet Sarkaria, Stephen Lecce and Greg Rickford about infrastructure needs. That discussion became an important part of the advocacy that ultimately led to provincial funding for the nearly five-kilometre Main Street Rehabilitation Project in Geraldton.
