KITCHENER, ON — Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and City Councillors have returned from Ottawa after a week of meetings with provincial leaders at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference, pressing for stronger provincial partnerships on housing, infrastructure, and economic growth.
The delegation from Kitchener met with Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Assistants, and Opposition Leaders, advocating for investments that would help sustain growth in one of Ontario’s fastest-growing communities. The city’s leadership also joined broader discussions with the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) and the Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO), emphasizing housing affordability, transportation, and energy needs.
“AMO 2025 was a powerful opportunity to showcase Kitchener’s leadership and partnership in protecting Ontario,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “From exceeding housing targets to driving innovation and economic growth, Kitchener continues to deliver results. Our meetings with Cabinet Ministers and Opposition Leaders reinforced our shared commitment to building a vibrant community and protecting our economy.”
Housing at the Forefront
Housing dominated the agenda at AMO 2025, reflecting the urgent demand across Ontario municipalities. Vrbanovic, alongside fellow mayors, pushed for provincial support to ensure new housing supply is balanced with tenant protections.
One key development was Vrbanovic’s motion calling for an end to bad-faith renovictions — a growing concern as housing markets tighten. The motion received unanimous support from both the OBCM and MARCO caucuses, signalling broad municipal consensus on the need for stronger tenant safeguards.
“The last two days of individual meetings followed the annual joint meeting of the Ontario Big City Mayors’ Caucus (OBCM) and the Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO) where Mayor Vrbanovic joined his colleagues in advocating for important issues around housing,” the city noted in a release.
Vrbanovic said municipalities are ready to act quickly once the province provides the right tools and frameworks. “Now more than ever, we must capitalize on this momentum,” he said. “Kitchener is not just a willing ally, we’re aligned and fully prepared to act on Ontario’s vision locally, strategically, and with urgency. Let’s keep building Kitchener and protect Ontario, together.”
Infrastructure and Economic Growth
Beyond housing, Kitchener officials emphasized infrastructure and economic development. Meetings with the Ministers of Finance, Economic Development, Transportation, and Energy focused on long-term investments to sustain growth in Waterloo Region’s technology-driven economy.
The delegation highlighted how improved transit connections and energy reliability are crucial to supporting both housing expansion and business attraction. Kitchener, which has positioned itself as a hub for innovation and advanced manufacturing, pressed for commitments that would align with provincial priorities on competitiveness and productivity.
Recognition for Innovation
The AMO conference also provided a platform to recognize Kitchener’s municipal innovation. The city was awarded the prestigious Peter J. Marshall Innovation Award for its new City Hall Service Centre, an initiative designed to streamline and modernize citizen services.
The award, presented to Vrbanovic, Chief Administrative Officer Dan Chapman, and Trevor Lennox, Supervisor of the Corporate Contact Centre, celebrates municipalities that demonstrate forward-thinking approaches to governance.
The Service Centre, officials said, is designed around accessibility, efficiency, and community-driven design. By consolidating and digitizing services, the city aims to reduce red tape and improve the citizen experience — a model other Ontario municipalities are now watching closely.
Looking Ahead
Kitchener’s presence at AMO 2025 underscores the city’s efforts to secure provincial backing at a time when growth pressures continue to mount. With housing demand, affordability challenges, and infrastructure gaps at the forefront of municipal agendas, the city is positioning itself as both a provincial partner and a local leader in driving change.
For Vrbanovic, the conference was as much about demonstrating Kitchener’s readiness as it was about pressing for provincial resources. “Kitchener continues to deliver results,” he said. “Our shared commitment to building a vibrant community and protecting our economy is stronger than ever.”
