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Press release: Delegates at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) 2009 Annual Conference supported AMO President's call for Federal funding to support child care in Ontario. The Federal Government is ending its support for child care as of March 31, 2010. Ontario municipalities will have to either close child care spaces or fund the programs through increased property taxes. "The property tax base cannot possibly bridge a $64 million funding gap," said AMO President Peter Hume. "The Provincial and Federal Governments need to hammer out a solution that does not leave municipal property taxpayers, young families and children hanging in the lurch." The Annual AMO Conference is Ontario's foremost educational forum for municipal governments. Approximately 1,600 municipal leaders from across Ontario and beyond are attending the event, which features more than 90 speakers. On Tuesday, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty will address delegates, as will Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak and NDP leader Andrea Horwath. In addition, as many as 15 Ontario Government Ministers will field questions from conference delegates. Wednesday's speakers include George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Ontario Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and the winner of Ontario's Count Me In! energy conservation challenge will be announced. - reprinted from CNW Group