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Good Roads is opening its Call for Nominations for its 2025-2026 Board of Directors.

Pursuant to Good Roads Policy B-008, the Nominating Committee of the 2024-2025 Good Roads Board of Directors will present a slate of 11 directors to attendees at the Annual Good Roads Conference taking place March 30 – April 02, 2025, at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, Ontario.

The Good Roads Board of Directors understands the strength that diversity provides and is committed to achieving equity and inclusion on its leadership team. Women and individuals from equity seeking groups are encouraged to apply.

The following directors will automatically serve on the 2025 – 2026 Board of Directors:

  • President: Cheryl Fort – Mayor, Township of Hornepayne;
  • First Vice-President: Paul Ainslie – Councillor, Ward 24, Scarborough-Guildwood, City of Toronto and
  • Second Vice-President: Aakash Desai – Treasurer, Township of Chatsworth; and
  • Immediate Past President: Antoine Boucher – Director of Public Works and Engineering, Municipality of East Ferris;
  • Directors
    • Melissa Abercrombie – Manager of Engineering Services, County of Oxford
    • Chris Angelo – Director of Public Works & Environmental Services, City of Quinte West
    • Guy Godmaire – Road Superintendent, Township of Harley and Kearns
    • Kristin Murray – Councillor, City of Timmins
    • Nancy Peckford – Mayor, Municipality of North Grenville

The Nominating Committee will put forward a slate comprised from Good Roads’ municipal and First Nations membership. The slate will satisfy the geographic requirements prescribed in Section 12 of the Constitution as well as the criteria in Policy B-008.

The following vacancies need to be filled:

City of Toronto 1 Vacancy
The City of Toronto Zone consists of the City of Toronto.
Northern Zone 0 Vacancy
The Northern Zone consists of the municipalities and First Nations in the Districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin Island, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming; municipalities in and including the District of Muskoka and the City of Greater Sudbury.
South Central Zone 2 Vacancies
The South Central Zone consists of the municipalities within and First Nations adjacent to the Counties of Dufferin, Grey, Simcoe, and Wellington, and municipalities in and including the Regional Municipalities of Durham, Halton, Niagara, Peel and York, and the City of Hamilton.
Southeast Zone 1 Vacancy
The Southeast Zone consists of the municipalities within and First Nations adjacent to the Counties of Frontenac, Haliburton, Hastings, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland, Peterborough, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, and the Cities of Kawartha Lakes and Ottawa.
Southwest Zone 2 Vacancy
The Southwest Zone consists of the municipalities within and First Nations adjacent to the Counties of Brant, Bruce, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford, and Perth, the municipality of Chatham-Kent, and municipalities in and including the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

 

Access the Good Roads Zone Map here.

Those elected shall serve for a two-year term ending on Wednesday, April 01, 2026.

Any member of Council or a permanent full-time staff from a Good Roads member municipality or First Nation who is interested in being considered as a candidate for a position on the Board of Directors must complete the attached Nomination Consent form found below and submit it along with a résumé to the attention of John Parsons, Chair of the Nominating Committee no later than 1700 h Eastern Time on Friday, January 31, 2025.

Nominations can be emailed to info@goodroads.ca or mailed to Good Roads, 1525 Cornwall Road, Unit 22, Oakville, Ontario L6J 0B2.

The Nominating Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, to recommend a slate of directors to the membership. The Nominating Committee is comprised of the following directors:

  • Chair: John Parsons, Immediate Past President
  • Vice Chair: Paul Schoppmann, Past President
  • Members: Melissa Abercrombie, Director, Chris Angelo, Director, Justin Towndale, Director

Questions regarding the nomination process or serving on the Board of Directors can be directed to Scott Butler at scott@goodroads.ca or 416-564-4319.

The 2025-2026 Good Roads Board of Directors nomination form can be downloaded here.

Road and Infrastructure Experts From North America Gather In Barrie To Discuss Low Volume Roads

Municipal Association Hosts Workshop To Tackle Rural Road Issues

September 23, 2024, Oakville, ON – Good Road is bringing together more than 100 road and infrastructure professionals to discuss and solve issues surrounding low volume roads in communities.

Good Roads is a municipal association that has been helping municipalities since 1894.  The Low Volume Road Workshop is the first of its kind in the sector and draws attendees from around the province and welcomes keynote speakers from the United States. “A low volume road is a roadway that sees vehicle traffic less than 400 vehicles a day.  Some are gravel roads, some are surface treated. The misconception is that these roads are low maintenance, when they are typically not cost-effective,” said James Smith, Ph. D., Manager, Technical Programs and Research, Good Roads.

“We’ve heard from our members that they need information and assistance regarding low volume roads, which are more seen in rural areas. It’s a safety issue at the end of the day.” continued Dr. Smith. The Low Volume Roads Workshop is hosting keynotes Brian Keierleber, the County Engineer for Buchanan County, Iowa and Dr. Halil Ceylan, professor in the Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department at Iowa State University, and Dr. Stefan Louw, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California Pavement Research Center.

Topics covered during the workshops include asset management, drainage, dust, maintenance techniques, material stabilization, potholes, winter maintenance, budgeting and more, plus an exhibitor hall. For a complete copy of the agenda and information, please visit:  https://goodroads.ca/courses/navigating-low-volume-roads-workshop/

Good Roads is a municipal association concerned with the advancement of roads and other infrastructure in Ontario. Based in Oakville, Ontario, we have been devoted to the cause of better roads since 1894. Originally known as the Ontario Good Roads Association (and still using that name corporately), we have more than 430 member governments, including most of Ontario’s municipalities and a growing number of First Nations, as well as dozens of affiliated corporate members in the transportation and infrastructure sectors. Our purpose, in part, is to connect our members to each other, to other levels of government, and to relevant companies in the private sector. Our members look to us for training, knowledge, political advocacy, and answers to their most pressing problems. Good Roads is resolutely independent.

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For more information, please contact:

Rachel Swiednicki
Manager, Communications and Marketing
Good Roads
1525 Cornwall Road, Unit 22
Oakville, ON L6J 0B2
905-630-0542

rachel@goodroads.ca

www.GoodRoads.ca

Heads Up Alert – Court Ruling Clarifies Role of Project Owners

In an August 23, 2024 ruling, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed an appeal by the Crown against the City of Greater Sudbury, affirming that the City exercised due diligence in a tragic 2015 construction site fatality. The case involved a pedestrian who was struck and killed by equipment operated by a contractor’s employee. This ruling is important for municipalities and contractors as it clarifies the responsibilities of construction project owners under workplace safety laws. These responsibilities had been put into doubt since late last year after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that an owner (i.e., a municipality) cannot evade responsibility for a workplace death by claiming lack of control over a contractor. 

Background 

The City of Greater Sudbury had hired a general contractor for a road and water main repair project. The contractor was responsible for safety on the site, while the City, as the project owner, had its employees periodically inspect the worksite for quality control. 

During the project, a pedestrian was killed by a grader operated by the contractor. The site lacked key safety measures, such as fencing and traffic control. 

Both the City and the contractor were charged under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). The contractor pleaded guilty and was fined, while the City fought the charges in court. 

Court Decisions 

The initial trial court acquitted the City, ruling that it was not at fault. However, the Crown appealed, arguing that the City should be considered an “employer” under OHSA, which would make it responsible for ensuring safety on the site. The Court of Appeal overturned the initial judgment and sided with the Crown. The City appealed this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada, who ultimately sided with the Crown. However, the Supreme Court also remitted the decision to the Superior Court to determine whether the City had exercised due diligence. 

On August 23, 2024, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled in favor of the City, confirming that it had exercised due diligence by selecting a qualified contractor and properly overseeing the work. 

Implications 

This decision clarifies that municipalities and project owners who take careful steps in hiring and supervising contractors may not be held liable for safety violations, even if their employees are present on-site for quality control. The ruling provides guidance on how to meet due diligence requirements, emphasizing factors like the level of control over the site, the qualifications of the contractor, and the oversight provided by the project owner. 

Municipalities and contractors can take this ruling as a benchmark for how to structure their roles and responsibilities in construction projects to avoid liability under OHSA. 

Good Roads encourages its members to speak with their legal counsel about how to best protect themselves. 

Good Roads 2024/2025 Board of Directors

Good Roads 2024/2025 Board Of Directors Announced

Local municipal professionals unite to represent road safety and promote better infrastructure in the province.

May 6 2024, Oakville, ON – At the 130th edition of the Good Roads Conference held from April 21 – 24, 2024 in downtown Toronto the 2024/2025 Good Roads Board was announced.  More than 1,800 professionals attended the conference to discuss and look at road safety, infrastructure and municipal funding.

“While the Board recognizes this milestone, it also acknowledges there is more work to do. Everyone understands that it is important to have leaders that reflect Ontarians,” said Scott Butler, Executive Director, Good Roads. “I look forward to working with the new Board to deliver the advocacy, training and services that municipalities need to be successful.”

“I am honoured to become the 2024 Good Roads President at such a critical time for the municipal sector. Municipalities are facing many challenges due to aging infrastructure and growth demand, rising construction costs and budget constraints, training and staff retention, together with regulatory compliance. I look forward to working closely with our Board of Directors to maintain a balanced staff/elected official perspective on these issues, to advocate on behalf of our members, to promote networking to unify our interests and to strengthen municipal-government relationship.” said Antoine Boucher, Good Roads President and Director of Public Works and Engineering, Municipality of East Ferris.

Good Roads 2024-2025 Board of Directors includes:

President: Antoine Boucher, Director of Public Works and Engineering, Municipality of East Ferris

First Vice: Cheryl Fort, Mayor, Township of Hornepayne

Second Vice: Paul Ainslie, Councillor, City of Toronto

Third Vice: Aakash Desai, Deputy Treasurer, Municipality of Southgate

Past-President: John Parsons, London, ON (Retired)

Melissa Abercrombie:  Manager of Engineering Services, County of Oxford

Salim Alibhai:  Director, Capital Planning and Delivery, Transportation Operations, Public Works, Regional Municipality of York

Chris Angelo:  Director of Public Works & Environmental Services, City of Quinte West

Cathy Burghardt-Jesson:  Warden, County of Middlesex

Nazzareno Capano:  Manager, Transportation Policy and Innovation, City of Toronto

Guy Godmaire:  Road Superintendent, Township of Harley and Kearns

Terry McKay:  Deputy Mayor, Township of Chatsworth

Kristin Murray:  Councillor, City of Timmins

Nancy Peckford:  Warden, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville

Justin Towndale:  Mayor, City of Cornwall

Good Roads is a municipal association concerned with the advancement of roads and other infrastructure in Ontario. Based in Oakville, Ontario, we have been devoted to the cause of better roads since 1894. Originally known as the Ontario Good Roads Association (and still using that name corporately), we have more than 430 member governments, including most of Ontario’s municipalities and a growing number of First Nations, as well as dozens of affiliated corporate members in the transportation and infrastructure sectors. Our purpose, in part, is to connect our members to each other, to other levels of government, and to relevant companies in the private sector. Our members look to us for training, knowledge, political advocacy, and answers to their most pressing problems. Good Roads is resolutely independent.

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For more information, please contact:

Rachel Swiednicki

Manager, Communications and Marketing

Good Roads

1525 Cornwall Road, Unit 22

Oakville, ON L6J 0B2

  1. 905-630-0542

rachel@goodroads.ca

www.GoodRoads.ca

 

Premier Doug Ford and Party Leaders to Address Municipal Conference

Good Roads Welcomes Municipal Infrastructure Leaders From Across Ontario at 130th Annual Conference  

April 15, 2024, Oakville, ON – Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford is set to address more than 2,000 attendees at the 130th annual Good Roads Conference taking place at the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto from April 21 – April 24, 2024. 

The annual Good Roads Conference brings together different levels of government from Ontario over four days focusing on municipal transportation and infrastructure. Renowned urban planner Jeff Speck and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe will provide keynote addresses. There are more than 80 sessions covering a wide range of topics important to municipalities.   

“Roads are the largest and most expensive infrastructure for local governments. Good roads have a direct correlation to economic vitality and enhanced quality of life for constituents” said Scott Butler, Executive Director, Good Roads. “This conference is the one time each year that leaders from the municipal sector, business and academia come together to chart a better way forward.” 

“At a time when Ontario municipalities are facing many complex and unprecedented challenges – climate change, outdated fiscal arrangements, a rapidly evolving technological landscape – these discussions are increasingly important.” said Mr. Butler. 

Premier Doug Ford is scheduled to take the stage on Tuesday, April 23 at 8:50 am, Marit Stiles at 2:30 pm on Monday, April 22, Bonnie Crombie at 2:50 pm on Monday, April 22, and Mike Schreiner at 10:05 am on Tuesday, April 23. You must be registered to attend this event. For media passes, please contact Rachel Swiednicki. To view the full conference program, please visit www.GoodRoads.ca/Conference.  

Good Roads is a municipal association concerned with the advancement of roads and other infrastructure in Ontario. Based in Oakville, Ontario, we have been devoted to the cause of better roads since 1894. Originally known as the Ontario Good Roads Association (and still using that name corporately), we have more than 430 member governments, including most of Ontario’s municipalities and a growing number of First Nations, as well as dozens of affiliated corporate members in the transportation and infrastructure sectors. Our purpose, in part, is to connect our members to each other, to other levels of government, and to relevant companies in the private sector. Our members look to us for training, knowledge, political advocacy, and answers to their most pressing problems. Good Roads is resolutely independent.   

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For more information, please contact: 

Rachel Swiednicki
Manager, Communications and Marketing
Good Roads  

1525 Cornwall Road, Unit 22
Oakville, ON L6J 0B2
905-630-0542

rachel@goodroads.ca 
www.GoodRoads.ca  

2024 Ontario Paving Report

Good Roads recognized the need to obtain accurate and current data on paving practices, trends, and quantities, of materials used in municipal asphalt paving to be able to better monitor and evaluate the effects of current practices and specification on the consumption of paving materials including RAP. This report captures the dedicated collaboration among stakeholders in the road and infrastructure sector.

The initiative leading to this report started in 2019 with RAP quantity estimation from satellite images, then evolved to be a collaboration study between Good Roads GR, Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council (OAPC – a Council of Ontario Road Builders’ Association, ORBA), the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA), to quantify the amounts and identify best practices of RAP stockpiling in Ontario.

Click Here to View the Full Report

2024 Provincial Budget: Big on Capital, Short on Maintenance

Good Roads is pleased to provide its members with key highlights of the Government of Ontario’s 2024 Budget. Below, we outline important developments that directly impact member municipalities:

  1. Infrastructure Investment Focus: The provincial government has allocated significant funding towards new infrastructure projects, including a $1 billion municipal infrastructure fund aimed at supporting home construction. Additionally, over $600 million has been earmarked for water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades. This was announced in the lead up to the budget.
  2. Community Sport and Recreation Fund: A new $200 million fund has been established to support the creation and upgrading of community sport and recreation infrastructure. No details have been announced on program design, but its likely municipalities would need to apply for such funding.
  3. Property Tax Relief for Rental Apartments: Municipalities will now have the ability to charge up to 35 per cent lower property tax rates on new purpose-built rental apartments. While this initiative aims to stimulate the construction of rental housing, it’s essential to note that it falls short of addressing broader funding concerns raised by municipalities in light of Bill 23.
  4. Ontario Transit Investment Fund: The launch of the Ontario Transit Investment Fund, with an annual allocation of $5 million, is aimed at delivering local and intercommunity transportation projects in underserved areas, particularly in rural regions. This initiative essentially makes the Community Transportation Grant Program permanent.
  5. Building Ontario Fund: The establishment of Ontario’s new infrastructure bank, the Building Ontario Fund, is noteworthy. With an initial allocation of $3 billion, the fund aims to support critical infrastructure projects and attract private capital to meet the growing needs of the province. It also explores opportunities to support large-scale municipal infrastructure projects.

While these initiatives represent positive steps towards addressing critical infrastructure needs and supporting community development, it’s important to highlight some areas of concern:

  • Lack of Investment in Rural Road Safety: Despite some positive initiatives, the budget overlooks the pressing issue of rural road safety. Good Roads’ advocacy for improved rural road infrastructure and safety measures has not received adequate attention in this budget. Rural communities face unique challenges concerning road safety, and without sufficient investment, these issues may persist, posing risks to all road users.
  • Maintenance Funding Gap: The budget lacks sufficient funding for maintaining existing infrastructure, posing challenges for municipalities grappling with aging infrastructure systems. Sustainable funding for maintenance and rehabilitation remains a pressing issue that requires attention.
  • Comprehensive Funding Solutions Needed: While targeted investments are welcomed, a comprehensive approach to municipal funding is necessary to address the diverse needs of municipalities effectively. Sustainable funding models are essential for ensuring the long-term viability and resilience of our communities.

As advocates for municipal transportation and infrastructure, it’s imperative to continue engaging with policymakers to address these concerns and advocate for the needs of our municipalities. We encourage all members to stay informed and actively participate in discussions surrounding municipal transportation and infrastructure.