Asset Management Orientation Toolkit for Members of Council

As stewards of public infrastructure, Members of Council are key stakeholders in municipal asset management (AM). As elected officials are accountable to their residents for sustainable service levels, their choices determine whether infrastructure remains safe, reliable, and financially sustainable, today and in the future. Infrastructure investments are among the largest municipal expenditures, and the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario reported that as of 2021 45% of municipal assets are currently not in a state of good repair.

Furthermore, municipalities are facing increasingly numerous and complex challenges to navigate, including aging infrastructure, growing vulnerability to climate hazards, market volatility, budget constraints and limited funding options, and mounting growth and housing requirements. A solid understanding of asset management fundamentals will support Council members as they navigate these pressures by providing the assurance that they are relying on an evidence-based, data driven decision-making framework for identifying and addressing infrastructure investment priorities.

Together, AMONTario and AMO have developed the Asset Management Orientation Toolkit for Members of Council, to support municipalities of all sizes across Ontario. The Toolkit includes the following elements:

  • Executive Summary: a high-level summary of key AM topics including recommended actions for members of Council
  • Handbook: a detailed overview of key topics including recommended actions for members of Council, and links to additional resources for readers who want to learn more
  • PowerPoint: An editable set of slides that can be used as is or integrated into existing presentations

Click on the links above to view each element of the Toolkit, or download the full Toolkit here.

Explore the Toolkit

The Toolkit includes the following topics:

  • Why Asset Management Matters
  • Principles of Asset Management
  • Key Elements of Asset Management
  • Roles and Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders
  • Overview of the Ontario Regulatory Context
  • Example Case Studies
  • Working Slides for Municipal Staff:
    • Tips for Developing your own Case Study
    • State of Infrastructure Template
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This Toolkit was prepared by AMO in collaboration with Asset Management Ontario (AMONTario). AMO is an administrator of the community stream of the Building Community Strong Fund (BCSF-CS). The Community Stream provides permanent and predictable federal government funding for infrastructure and capacity building to support asset management.