Bruce County promotes Affordable Housing and Workforce Training at AMO Conference

Bruce County Delegates will bring key requests on affordable housing and long term care workforce training to the 2023 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in London, Ontario, running from August 20 to August 23, 2023.

Bruce County Delegates will bring key requests on affordable housing and long term care workforce training to the 2023 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in London, Ontario, running from August 20 to August 23, 2023. The County’s delegation will include Warden Chris Peabody, Councillor Steve Hammell, Councillor Kenneth Craig, CAO Derrick Thomson, and Deputy CAO Christine MacDonald. 

Help Rural Communities Grow
Bruce County will ask the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) to prescribe Bruce County as an upper-tier level of government with the authority to create an Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan.

As the Service System Manager for Housing, and with upper-tier Planning Approval Authority, Bruce County has the experience and leadership to make the biggest impact in housing and to operationalize the work that has been developed through the Affordable Housing Toolkit.

Action Needed Now

  • 20,000+ projected resident growth in Bruce County by 2046.
  • 1,093 applicants on the waitlist for Community Housing.
  • 45% of renters spend more than 30% of income on housing.
  • 76% rise in average home value in Bruce County, surpassing provincial growth rates of 56% (2016-2021).
  • Bruce County’s clean energy industry is set to meet rising electricity demand and build on Ontario’s clean energy advantage. Bruce County is well positioned to expand its already leading role within Ontario’s clean electricity grid. Housing availability and affordability in Bruce County goes hand-in-hand with industry growth needed to ensure Ontario has the power to maintain its position as a leader in job creation and a magnet for industries of the future.


“To fast track affordable, mixed housing, we need all levels of government to collaborate on innovative solutions,” said Bruce County Warden Chris Peabody.

Train More Staff For Long Term Care
Bruce County will ask the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) to support the YMCA Grey/Bruce submission for the Skill Development Fund.

For the past two years, YMCA Grey/Bruce has run a successful training program that has infused/upskilled over 135 workers in Long Term Care and healthcare services in Grey and Bruce. This program has demonstrated that it creates a resilient Long Term Care and healthcare workforce, empowers workers and job seekers who face higher barriers to finding work, and encourages partnerships across Grey/Bruce with innovative ideas to addressing labour shortages. 

“To support all citizens in Bruce County to age in place, we need a strong long term care sector, employing local people in quality jobs,” added Warden Chris Peabody. “This is a unique opportunity to support the expansion of a proven program to an area underserved by post-secondary education due to travel distances.”

Action Needed Now

  • 8 long term care homes in Bruce County.
  • 73 job postings for Personal Support Worker-type roles in the past year.
  • 4.5% unemployment rate in Stratford-Burce Peninsula in June 2023.
  • $24.36 average hourly wage for PSW-type roles, which is above the local living wage.
  • Bruce County is set for significant growth over the next few decades. With continued investment in the clean energy sector, it is anticipated that many Ontarians will choose to make Bruce County their home. 
  • Already known as a retirement destination for Ontarians, Bruce County has an aging population. By supporting our long term care sector in developing the talent needed, Ontario can help make sure people can age in place when they decide to move to Bruce County.


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