Overview:

The first webinar will discuss what water and wastewater municipal services corporations could offer municipalities in terms of advantages for increased funding availability, increased debt allowance, and sharing risks amongst member municipalities. This webinar is intended to provide an overview of water and wastewater municipal services corporations so that those interested can determine if establishing a municipal services corporation is beneficial for their municipality.  Join us for an overview of the benefits and risks with establishing a Municipal Services Corporation.  

 

Topics to be discussed:

• What is a Municipal Services Corporation?
• How is one established and what is the relevant legislation?
• How are they governed?
• Does it reduce responsibility/risks to the municipality?
• What are the financial benefits or drawbacks?

Host:

Ed Houghton
OMWA Executive Director

Ed Houghton has more than 45 years of experience in both water and municipal-utility experience, as the long-time President and CEO of Collus PowerStream Corp. and Collingwood Public Utilities and the Executive Director of the OMWA since 2015.  In 2012, while he was still with the Collingwood Public Utilities, Ed was the recipient of the OMWA Exceptional Merit Award, presented to the individual who has made an important contribution to the waterworks sector over an extended period of time. For distinguished service to the water-supply field, in 2005, Ed was recognized with the most prestigious award for water in North America – the George Warren Fuller Award.  As the Executive Director of the Ontario Municipal Water Association, Ed has emphasized, to all that will listen, that OMWA is here because of our members and that our goal is to assist our member municipal professionals to be the best that they can be and to provide Ontario citizens with exceptional water, wastewater and stormwater services. 

Speakers:

 Byron Tan
Manager, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd.

 Byron joined the firm in 2013 and has over a decade of experience with assisting municipalities on various financial-related studies. To date, Byron has undertaken over 60 water and wastewater rate studies, water financial plan reporting (O. Reg. 453/07), over 120 development charge studies, asset management studies, reserve and reserve fund policy reviews, and fiscal impact assessments for municipalities and is the firm’s water and wastewater lead. Byron has been qualified as an expert witness in municipal finance and land economics on numerous occasions for appeal matters at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).  Byron holds a B.A. (Honours) degree in Economics and a Master of Business Economics from Brock University.

 

Peter Simcisko
Managing Partner, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd.

Peter joined the firm in 2013 and has over a decade of experience with assisting municipalities on various financial-related studies. To date, Peter has led and contributed to the preparation of water, wastewater, and stormwater rate assessments and financial plans, and is the firm’s asset management plan lead. He has also led the preparation of numerous development charge studies, long-term financial plans, and asset management plans for our municipal clients. Peter has received a certificate in training from the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) – a valuable asset when designing and facilitating public engagement activities which are an integral component of many of the studies completed by our firm. Peter holds a B.A. (Honours) degree in Economics and a Master of Business Economics from Brock University.

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