Ontario cities to demand province address thousands of people living in the streets [Video]

When local councillors and mayors descend on Ottawa next week for an annual municipal lobbying event, homelessness and growing social problems in Ontario’s towns and cities will be top of mind.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa — set to run from Aug. 18-21 — is an annual opportunity for local leaders to bend the ear of Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s most senior ministers.

Pressure in recent weeks has grown from Ontario municipalities telling Queen’s Park the current system isn’t working, demanding a so-called new deal for property taxpayers and a top-to-bottom review of social and economic prosperity.

AMO executive director Brian Rosborough said addressing those issues will be a key focus of the conference.

“What success would look like is a commitment from the province that they want to work with — with AMO, with municipalities across the province — to take a look at how together we can make sure that we …