The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC), representing 103 rural and small-urban municipalities, participated in the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference in Toronto, advocating for key regional priorities affecting eastern Ontario’s communities.
“The ROMA Conference remains an essential forum to bring rural voices to the forefront of provincial decisions,” said EOWC Chair, Bonnie Clark. “Our eastern Ontario municipalities face unique challenges and opportunities, and we are committed to advocating for our region’s needs while working together with our provincial partners. Strong communities are the foundation of a strong Ontario and Canada, and that work begins at ROMA.”
Serving 1.1 million residents and covering 50,000 square kilometres, the EOWC advocated to the Ontario Government on regional priorities including:
- Supporting affordability together for rural and small-urban municipalities, businesses and residents
- Creating a regulated paramedic college in Ontario
- Modernizing the Ontario Provincial Police billing and Provincial Offences Act fines model
The EOWC also advocated for additional investment, systemic action, and government coordination around homelessness. Homelessness is growing fastest in rural and northern communities across Ontario. The EOWC supports the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)’s updated report and its recommendations, “Municipalities Under Pressure One Year Later: An Update on the Human and Financial Cost of Ontario’s Homelessness Crisis“.
Throughout the conference, the EOWC met with provincial government leaders, opposition parties, and sector partners, including:
- The Honourable Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs and Steve Pinsonneault, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Rural Affairs
- The Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
- The Honourable Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General
- Parliamentary Assistant Amarjot Sandhu, Ministry of Infrastructure
- Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP)
- Ontario Liberal Party
- Green Party of Ontario
- Hydro One
The EOWC was also proud to have regional Members of Provincial Parliament join meetings to advocate for the needs of eastern Ontario’s 1.1 million residents. Thank you to:
- Steve Clark, MPP, Leeds – Grenville – Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
- Billy Denault, MPP, Renfrew – Nipissing – Pembroke
- David Piccini, MPP, Northumberland – Peterborough South
- John Jordan, MPP, Lanark – Frontenac – Kingston
- Dave Smith, MPP, Peterborough – Kawartha
- Ric Bresee, MPP, Hastings – Lennox and Addington
- Tyler Allsopp, MPP, Bay of Quinte
The EOWC’s 2026 ROMA Advocacy Briefing Package, outlining priorities, data, and recommendations, is available at www.eowc.org.
