EOWC Participates in Successful ROMA 2021 Conference

Eastern Ontario, January 27, 2021 – Members of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) joined rural municipal colleagues from across Ontario at the first-ever virtual Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference, which took place online from January 24 to 26, 2021.

At the virtual conference, EOWC members met with various provincial Ministers as well as the NDP Caucus to discuss priority issues for the region, including:

• the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) Gig Project;
• the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) Cell Gap Project;
• the comprehensive review of Eastern Ontario Long-Term Care facilities;
• Municipal Recovery; and
• Affordable Housing.

“The EOWC has a reputation for doing our homework and providing fact-based evidence in support of our advocacy,” stated EOWC Chair Debbie Robinson. “The ROMA conference is a key moment for the Caucus, as we have the opportunity to connect directly with provincial officials on issues and challenges faced by our eastern Ontario communities.”

“We appreciated the government’s willingness to hear our concerns and local perspectives. The critical partnership between the EOWC and the Province will together allow us to live up to our constituents’ expectations and work collaboratively on municipal pandemic recovery,” added EOWC Vice-Chair Liz Danielsen.

About the EOWC: Since its inception, the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) has worked to support and advocate on behalf of the 750,000 property taxpayers across rural Eastern Ontario. The EOWC covers an area of 45,000 square kilometres from Cobourg to the Quebec border, and includes 13 upper-tier and single-tier municipalities as well as 90 local municipalities. All members work together as a team, striving to ensure that conditions are in place to make Eastern Ontario the greatest place in the world to reside and do business.

About ROMA: As the rural arm of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, ROMA advocates for policies and programs that will help build thriving rural Ontario communities.