Education, housing, a focus for Glengarry at AMO

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By Nick Seebruch
Education, housing, a focus for Glengarry at AMO

OTTAWA, Ontario – Representatives from municipalities across Ontario were wrapping up their stay on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the annual Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) Conference.

South Glengarry Councillor Stephanie Jaworski was invited by North Glengarry Mayor Jamie MacDonald to be a part of a delegation to the Minister of Education at the conference.

Jaworski said that in their first meeting, which was with Education Minister Stephen Lecce, brought up concerns around rural education.

“These schools, they are the hearts of communities and key to their economic development,” Jaworski said in an interview with Seaway News.

Key concerns include keeping busing to a minimum, class size and co-operation between co-terminus boards, such as the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) and its Catholic counterpart the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO).

South Glengarry Mayor Frank Prevost had a delegation representing the Township to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, which is headed up by MPP Steve Clark.

Prevost explained that his delegations primary concerns were around the municipal building code.

“We want to see a few things removed and less things that are mandatory and more flexibility,” he said. “We currently have no say as municipalities in what the CBOs (Chief Building Officials) do in regards to their decisions.”

Things that Prevost hoped would be removed from the building code include the current mandatory requirement that new homes have charging ports for electric cars.

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