Government House Leader / Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, Steve Clark; Warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Corinna Smith-Gatcke; Warden of Northumberland County, Brian Ostrander; Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, David Piccini; Mayor of the City of Kawartha Lakes, Doug Elmslie; Deputy Premier / Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones; EOWC Chair and Warden of Peterborough County, Bonnie Clark; Minister of Colleges and Universities, Nolan Quinn; EOWC Vice-Chair and Mayor of Prince Edward County, Steve Ferguson; MPP Laurie Scott; Warde of Haliburton County, Dave Burton; Warden of Lanark County, Toby Randell.
SDG COUNTIES Ontario – The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) made significant strides in advancing regional priorities during the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) 2025 Conference, held in the City of Toronto from Jan. 19 to 21, 2025.
From across Ontario, the EOWC joined more than 2,000 municipal colleagues at the conference to participate in meetings with provincial Ministers, Members of Provincial Parliament, and the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) and Liberal opposition parties to continue advocating for the region’s needs.
“The EOWC believes that strong partnerships between government are needed to tackle infrastructure, housing, health, and economic challenges across the region. The ROMA Conference was a success in building upon our relationships to better serve our 103 communities across Eastern Ontario. Additionally, we remain committed to strengthening the Canada-U.S. alliance, recognizing its vital role in ensuring our region’s economic resilience and future growth," said EOWC Chair Bonnie Clark.
“The EOWC coordinates strategically and we have the shared political commitment. We came prepared with data and clear recommendations at the ROMA Conference. Our small rural municipalities play a critical role in shaping Ontario’s future, and it is vital that our voices are heard when important decisions are made," said EOWC Vice-Chair Sreve Ferguson.
Throughout the conference, the EOWC met with the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones; Minister of Infrastructure, Kinga Surma; Minister of Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson; Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care, Tyler Allsopp; and the Ontario NDP and Liberal parties.
Regional priorities
The EOWC and its 103 municipalities remain ‘Ready to Work and Ready to Grow’ for 2025. Our region is poised for growth. The region has the land and is building its workforce. The EOWC remains dedicated to working alongside the Ontario Government to address key social, economic, and political challenges moving forward. The following priorities were discussed during the conference:
- Enhancing Eastern Ontario’s growing economy
- Strengthening Canada – United States relations
- Supporting municipal infrastructure and Municipal Asset Management Plans
- Expanding all types of housing
- Continuing funding for community paramedicine programs
For the ‘Ready to Work, Ready to Grow’ path forward for 2025, visit www.eowc.org.
EOWC support for Canada-United States alliance
The EOWC stands with Premier Doug Ford’s efforts to strengthen the alliance between Canada and the United States. In today’s interconnected world, our municipal leaders are committed to strengthening American and Canadian economic resilience and security across Eastern Ontario.
In light of the potential impact of the 25 per cent tariffs on Eastern Ontario exports, the EOWC is actively gathering data on how this would affect local communities, businesses, and jobs.
To strengthen partnerships across the border, the EOWC has sent letters to the New York Association of Counties and the Great Lakes and the St-Lawrence Cities Initiative to extend our allyship and reinforce commitment to collaborate towards the betterment of people in both Canada and the United States. Together with federal and provincial partners, the EOWC aims to ensure that the Canada-U.S. alliance remains a source of stability, security, and long-term prosperity.
About the EOWC
The EOWC is a non-profit organization advocating for 103 small-urban and rural municipalities across Eastern Ontario. The EOWC covers an area of 50,000 square kilometres, serving 800,000 residents. For more than 20 years, the EOWC has gained support and momentum by speaking with a united voice to champion regional municipal priorities and work with the government, businesses, non-profit organizations, Indigenous leaders, the media, and the public.