Ont. municipal leaders gather in Windsor

Leaders of cities and towns across Ontario have gathered in Windsor, Ont., for the annual conference of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

More than 2,000 municipal delegates, their spouses and trade show participants have come to Caesars Windsor in the border city for the three-day event.

It is the first time in more than 40 years that the conference has been held outside of Toronto or Ottawa.

The group's outgoing president, Ottawa councillor Peter Hume, said one of the key issues at the conference is the economy.

"Laying the groundwork for our own economic prosperity, building the foundations of strong and vital regional economies, whether that's here in Windsor or in eastern Ontario," said Hume.

Municipalities fear losing economic stimulus funds

However, Hume said many of the 444 member municipalities expressed concern about the funding for projects specifically designed to act as an economic stimulus for their regions.

Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis said several leaders are worried about meeting the March deadline to complete infrastructure projects in order to receive full federal and provincial stimulus funding.

'Many municipalities are beginning to ask the question as to whether or not there is going to be flexibility or whether there are going to be dollars completely lost.' Eddie Francis, Mayor of Windsor

"Many municipalities are beginning to ask the question as to whether or not there is going to be flexibility or whether there are going to be dollars completely lost," said Francis.

Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs, Jim Bradley, said the province has asked the federal government to consider extending the deadline.

"Having said that, we all wish that municipalities will move as quickly as possible to get those projects done," said Bradley.

Federal House Leader and former transportation minister, John Baird, is scheduled to speak at the conference Tuesday morning.

Premier Dalton McGuinty, several of his cabinet ministers and the leaders of both opposition parties will also address delegates at the meeting which ends Wednesday.