City of Waterloo advocates for investment in generational hospital project at AMO 2026

Representatives from the City of Waterloo, led by Mayor Dorothy McCabe, attended the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa this week to bring Waterloo’s unique perspective to provincial decision-makers. 

City representatives met with Anthony Leardi, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health, to discuss the new acute care hospital to be built in Waterloo. The delegation emphasized the work that has already been done by Waterloo Regional Health Network’s Redevelopment Team and City of Waterloo staff to continue planning for this generational project, and requested the confirmation of provincial funding needed to move Waterloo Region’s new acute care hospital project forward. Once the hospital receives dedicated funding in the provincial budget, it is intended to be a model for how to build standardized capital projects on time, on budget and in-line with provincial priorities, as well as how to leverage the unique Intellectual Property policies of the University of Waterloo to move health care innovation rapidly forward.

In addition to provincial leaders, the City of Waterloo elected officials and senior leaders also met with opposition party leaders and caucus members, taking every opportunity possible to advocate for funding: for the new hospital, for reliable and consistent funding for municipal infrastructure projects, and overall municipal fiscal review for sustainable, predictable funding solutions.

"Advocacy is one of the most important responsibilities we have as municipal leaders,” said City of Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe. “AMO gives us the opportunity to work directly with provincial leaders, share the challenges and opportunities facing our community, and build support for the investments that will shape Waterloo's future. From health care and infrastructure to sustainable municipal funding, we were proud to champion the priorities that matter most to our residents."

During the week, the City of Waterloo delegates also met with Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill and representatives of the Six Nations of the Grand River to continue Waterloo’s work in building municipal-Indigenous relationships and helping to amplify Indigenous voices.

Mayor McCabe was re-elected to the AMO Large Urban Caucus and will continue to bring Waterloo’s perspective and advocacy to municipal matters across the province. As a member of the AMO Board, Mayor McCabe will help set AMO’s policy direction and advance the priorities of Ontario’s 444 municipalities.

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Media contact:
Stacey Abbott
Communications Manager, City of Waterloo
Stacey.Abbott@waterloo.ca