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AMO Conference 2025 Delegations SubmissionAMO Conference 2025 Delegation Topics Ministry of Energy Issue Title (5 words or less) Transmission System Capacity Constraint Concerns Issue Summary (300 words or less) The Town is the owner/operator of their own Local Distribution Company (LDC), which is known as Tillsonburg Hydro Inc (THI). The Town would like to discuss some concerns regarding the availability of system capacity for future growth and the ability to fund these requirements. Issue Background (no limit) THI is facing a myriad of upcoming capital expenditures to maintain services to keep up with the rapidly growing community. The Town’s current Transformer Station (Tillsonburg TS) is nearing capacity with anticipation that based on load estimates that indicate with growth alone the capacity will be exhausted at the station by 2027. The estimated cost of a new transformer station is $25 million along with an estimated annual operating cost of $756,000. These costs do not include the cost to upgrade transmission lines that feed stations in Tillsonburg, Aylmer and St. Thomas. The cost of these upgrades is significant and in addition to the cost of building a new station and based upon current regulations for connection assets would be borne by any new large industrial customer or Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. and its customers. Should these costs be borne locally it would be a significant financial barrier to the community and make it almost impossible to attract any new industry as well as Tillsonburg Hydro to determine how to financially support this type of investment. Doing nothing would effectively close the Town of Tillsonburg to new growth of industry and eventually housing within the community. Given that the Transmission Lines are a part of the provincial transmission system, the Town is asking that these upgrades be funded by the province, leaving station costs to be borne locally to ensure that increased capacity is available for the community at a reasonable cost to allow it to continue to grow and thrive. Solicitor General Issue Title (5 words or less) Lottery Funding for Recreation Issue Summary (300 words or less) In January, at the ROMA conference, Tillsonburg representatives met with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. It was noted at that meeting that the topic of discussion would be applicable for the Solicitor General. They indicated that someone from the Solicitor General’s office would be reaching out about this topic, but the Town has not yet heard from anyone. The topic of discussion was that the Town is looking for ways to effectively work with our community groups and clubs on various Town projects – particularly those that improve the recreational amenities available for our residents. This initiative is supported by the Town’s Community Strategic Plan, which identified the theme of fostering community partnerships. As a municipality, it is important that we work with community partners to help build strong communities and achieve more significant impacts. Issue Background (no limit) There are often many community groups and clubs that would like to partner with the Town in providing some sort of contribution whether it be a sponsorship or an in-kind contribution. Historically, around the province, when you visit other municipal facilities, you will see the facility or a feature within it is named after a service club or group that helped fund or sponsored the project. The Town understands that in somewhat recent years, the legislation under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has changed. As per the Ontario Licensing Policy Manual, it states particularly the following: “A proposed use of lottery proceeds is ineligible if: -it provides a personal benefit or gain to the members of the applicant organization; -it supports tourism or other purely economic benefits; -it advances a particular political issue; -it enhances lands and buildings owned and/or operated by a government; -it is a responsibility that has traditionally been fulfilled by a government; or it funds activities that do not fall within one of the four charitable classifications.” The manual continues to note “eligible organizations may not use the proceeds from lottery licenses for: construction, renovation or improvement of buildings owned by or on land owned by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario or municipalities”. Given that barrier, it is understood that many service clubs and groups do obtain most of their funding through lottery licensed events. The Town would like to know if there are ways that the barrier can be reduced or eliminated to be able to allow for more lenient use of funds from community groups or clubs towards municipal projects.