Leading together for a stronger Oshawa and Ontario: City presents solutions and opportunities at AMO

At the 2025 Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference, Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter, alongside Economic and Development Services Committee Chair Tito-Dante Marimpietri (Alternate Deputy Mayor) and Economic and Development Services Committee Vice-Chair Bob Chapman (Deputy Mayor), championed the importance of innovation, collaboration, economic resilience and partnerships. Together, they discussed solution-focused opportunities that will strengthen Oshawa and contribute to a stronger Ontario.

With a record-breaking attendance of nearly 3,000 delegates, the Oshawa team met face-to-face with provincial leaders, ministers and parliamentary assistants and engaged in conversations with government representatives, municipal colleagues and industry experts from across Canada. Throughout the conference, they together reinforced Oshawa’s readiness to lead in building a dynamic, resilient economy and advancing collaborative solutions, while emphasizing the benefit of cooperation across all levels of government. 

Supporting growth and competitiveness: Defence, infrastructure and economic development

In the face of global economic uncertainty and tariffs, Mayor Carter and the team highlighted Oshawa’s unique position of having the talent, assets, infrastructure, resources and capacity to support Canada’s defence strategy. The team highlighted unprecedented opportunities which would accelerate the development of in demand sectors affected by the current global trade environment.

Mayor Carter and the team emphasized Oshawa’s unique history, capacity and longstanding contributions to national defence, including its WWII military production, the Oshawa Executive Airport, the Ontario Regiment (RCAC), and the Canadian Tank Museum, home to the largest collection of operational historic tanks and military vehicles in North America.

As one of the top North American markets for tech talent growth, the team highlighted Oshawa’s growing innovation ecosystem as a cornerstone of the city’s economic positioning, pointing to Ontario Tech University’s ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel, Durham College’s AI/Hub and Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation, the GM Canadian Technical Centre and GM Defense, which are advancing mobility and defence technologies.

Mayor Carter advocated for continued support for the automotive sector and emphasized the need for strategic investments in Oshawa’s infrastructure, advanced manufacturing capacity, and educational institutions to ensure long-term economic growth, diversity and competitiveness.

Investing in infrastructure to accelerate housing and economic growth: Jobs, education and healthcare

To support Ontario’s vision of building a more competitive and resilient economy, Mayor Carter shared the need for investment in critical infrastructure within our community. These investments are essential to:

• Expedite the construction of new homes and infrastructure
• Attract high-quality jobs
• Protect the most critical infrastructure that communities depend on every day
• Expand access to education and healthcare
• Drive a dynamic, competitive, resilient economy, boost productivity and further strengthen our growing community

Building Ontario’s talent pipeline: Education and workforce development

Mayor Carter and the team presented the importance of protecting the integrity of Ontario’s post-secondary education system and supporting international and domestic students who are essential in promoting economic growth and offer vital skills for industries and businesses that continue to invest in Oshawa and across the province. 

They highlighted the role of Oshawa’s post-secondary partners – Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham GTA and Queen’s University-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program – in preparing the next generation of talent and their integral role in contributing to local economic development, workforce readiness and skills upgrading. 

They welcomed support to help international students transition into the workforce and align training with emerging sectors, reinforcing Ontario’s position as a global leader in investment, job creation and innovation.  

Transforming health care delivery: Right care, right place, right time

Mayor Carter and the team continued to invite and welcome collaborative health care solutions that meet the needs of growing communities. They highlighted Oshawa’s innovative proposal for a 24/7 Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Care Clinic that would provide rapid access to care through continuous, around-the-clock mental health and addiction services – reducing pressure on emergency departments and first responders.  

The team also presented the benefit of partnerships being forged by Oshawa to address the shortage of family physicians in the region and reduce the number of un-rostered residents in Oshawa and surrounding municipalities. Mayor Carter and the team presented tangible solutions that complement residents’ needs and the Province’s healthcare goals.  

Quote:

“At this year’s record-breaking AMO conference, we had the opportunity to present innovative solutions and propose strategic investments that support the growth of our great city and help build a stronger, more competitive Ontario for all. We proudly spoke of Oshawa’s well-positioned economy and highlighted our readiness to work together to deliver solution-driven results for Ontario.”