Lincoln, ON – (August 21, 2025) – A Town of Lincoln delegation of Mayor Sandra Easton, members of Council, and senior staff participated in the 2025 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa from August 17 to 20.
AMO brings together municipal leaders from across Ontario to share best practices, collaborate on solutions to community challenges, and engage directly with provincial ministries on funding, policy, and partnership opportunities.
“The AMO Conference provides an important platform for us to advocate for the Town’s priorities and to ensure Lincoln’s voice is heard on the provincial stage,” said Mayor Sandra Easton. “We are focused on building stronger partnerships with the Province to help us deliver on the needs of our residents — from housing and healthcare to digital modernization and tourism growth.”
“Our delegation engaged directly with key ministries, including Tourism, Culture and Gaming; Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement; Municipal Affairs and Housing; and Health, to advance Lincoln’s top priorities,” said the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer Michael Kirkopoulos. “We discussed critical issues such as strengthening our digital infrastructure to improve efficiencies, supporting housing-related growth, improving access to primary care, and driving economic development through tourism. These advocacy efforts are essential as we continue to seek the partnerships and resources that will move our community forward.”
“AMO is a valuable opportunity for us to sit down directly with provincial leaders and ensure Lincoln’s needs are heard,” said Deputy Mayor Tony Brunet. “This year, our focus has been on the issues that matter most to our community—healthcare, housing, modernization, and tourism. By building these partnerships, we are working to create a stronger and more resilient future for the people of Lincoln.”
The Town also met with Niagara College’s President, Sean Kennedy, to discuss building strong partnerships that support economic development and Lincoln’s business community. Topics included skilled trades and workforce development, Lincoln’s horticultural sector, and our award-winning craft beverage and culinary industries.
Key priorities discussed included:
Destination Niagara Plan and Tourism Growth
The Town of Lincoln’s delegation met with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming to emphasize Lincoln’s critical role in a broader Destination Niagara plan that will boost economic growth and create jobs through tourism. Lincoln highlighted recent local initiatives that support tourism expansion and shared the importance of ensuring the Town and the Niagara Region remain competitive as a premier tourism destination. The Town requested ongoing collaboration and provincial support to strengthen tourism as a driver of economic prosperity for the community and the region.
Digital Modernization and Cybersecurity
Town officials met with the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement to advocate for funding and support to strengthen Lincoln’s network security infrastructure, adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, and implement an Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS); all with the goal of improving efficiencies. These initiatives are essential to modernizing Town services, protecting community data, and streamlining service delivery for residents and businesses.
Access to Primary Care
The Town of Lincoln met with the Ministry of Health to highlight the ongoing challenges residents face in accessing primary care. The Town reinforced its support for the work of the Greater Hamilton Health Network, one of Lincoln’s health teams, in their pursuit of additional funding to expand services in Beamsville. Lincoln also showcased its local initiatives aimed at increasing access to primary care, emphasizing that healthcare close to home is a top priority for residents and requires sustained provincial support.
Housing-Related Infrastructure and Governance Modernization
The Town’s delegation engaged with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to discuss the impacts of proposed changes to the Development Charges Act on Lincoln’s finances and its ability to invest in housing-related infrastructure. The Town also advocated for modernization funding to support governance reform, including improved structures, digital tools, and streamlined decision-making. Officials emphasized that while these efforts will strengthen municipal governance and improve service delivery, the upfront investments required cannot be absorbed without provincial partnership.
The Town of Lincoln remains dedicated to fostering collaboration with provincial partners and advocating for the funding and resources needed to address these critical challenges. These efforts will help ensure a resilient, modern, and prosperous future for Lincoln’s residents and businesses.
As information becomes available regarding grants and funding received through the upper levels of government due to these advocacy efforts, the Town will share them with the community through our website, Lincoln.ca, social media (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) and traditional media channels. The Town’s advocacy program is vital in creating positive impacts on the Lincoln community for our present and future.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Paul Di Ianni
Director, Economic Development and Communications
Town of Lincoln
905-563-2799 ext. 272