Representatives from Owen Sound are using the annual Association of Municipalities Ontario Conference to lobby several provincial ministries for change.
City officials met with members of the Ministry of Transportation about needed upgrades to Highway 6 Sunday.
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy says improvements are needed to meet the economic, agricultural, and tourism demands of the region.
He says on an average summer day, over 11,000 vehicles use Highway 6 between Owen Sound and Chatsworth .
He explains, "So many kids from Grey Bruce end of at the Universities of Guelph or Waterloo, plus we want to develop our connectivity whether it be electronic through the new SWIFT initiative or the actual physical (act) of getting down the highway safely."
Boddy says improving the highway will help retain youth in the region, strengthen the economy and attract more tourists.
A regional Transportation Ministry supervisor from London will arrange a visit to investigate the issue.
Monday, Owen Sound officials met with representatives of the Ministry of Labour to ask for action on costly arbitrated contract settlements for police and firefighters.
He says, "If fire and police in Ontario had got the same raise as the rest of municipal employees between 2010 and 2014, it would have been a $485 million savings across the province."
Mayor Boddy says fire and police costs make up 48 per cent of the budget for Owen Sound.
He adds, " It's an awful lot of money, when we're doing roads, parks, arenas, water, waste water, all the other services. An awful lot of money is going to emergency services because of the arbitration awards that they've been given. "
He says Owen Sound cannot afford those costs.
Boddy was frustrated when they were told the same thing they were told 18 months ago, that the province will look into it.
Meantime, Owen Sound has requested a costing quote for OPP policing.
On Tuesday, Owen Sound officials will meet Ministry of Education representatives to complain the the school funding formula is hurting rural and small town students.
