Eastern Ontario Warden's Caucus

Welcome

Thank you for visiting our website!  2010 will again be a critical and exciting time for Eastern Ontario.  Work is progressing on our Eastern Ontario Broadband Project. This project will be of direct benefit to the estimated 288,000 citizens still without broadband services but will also provide benefits to all of the 1,092,530 residents of Eastern Ontario through higher bandwidth capacities and new innovative applications. Broadband is needed to help unlock the potential of the Region and create jobs and prosperity.  Not unlike rural telephone or electricity services, access to the high speed internet is now a fundamental building block for rural residents and communities to grow their local economies.

The EOWC membership continues to include the eleven Eastern Ontario Counties and two Single-Tier municipalities of the City of Kawartha Lakes and Prince Edward County.   The transformation of the Caucus in 2009 to EOWC Inc. has allowed us to better promote Eastern Ontario and participate directly in federal or provincial programs that can benefit our region.

We will continue to meet regularly to discuss issues of mutual importance and present our findings to the federal and provincial governments, acting as a unified voice on behalf of our constituents.  Over the past few years the EOWC has grown into a formidable organization, drawing upon our diversity and strengths to engage the senior levels of government and improve both the municipal financial position and the socio-economic conditions throughout the region.

Our goal is to see Eastern Ontario develop into strong, vibrant communities where innovation, economic growth and industry thrive. Our priorities for 2010 have been established with the focus again on the economic renewal of Eastern Ontario and include:

Economic Development

§  Lobby the Province of Ontario to start the process towards developing a Growth Plan for Eastern Ontario that has an economic development focus.

§  Champion an Eastern Ontario Economic Summit through collaboration with the Ontario East Economic Development Commission, Province of Ontario and First Nations.

§  Update the Eastern Ontario Regional Data Set that was initially compiled in 2007 as part of the Eastern Ontario Rural Policy Project that was completed in partnership with the CFDCs of Eastern Ontario and the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Commission.

 §  Improve the Eastern Ontario Development Fund's eligibility criteria for Small Businesses.

Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) - Building the Network
This multimillion dollar project seeks to ensure that at least 95% of all people in the region get access with capacity to the Internet.  This is a key building block in ensuring Eastern Ontario's future prosperity.

·         Work towards finalizing a Contribution Agreement with the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario. The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are each committed to providing a grant of $55 million towards this project.

·         Expect to start network construction in 2010 after the Contribution Agreement and contracts are executed.
 

Mitigation Funding - Dealing with the Financial Impacts
Need to establish the financial impact on EOWC members of the recent decision by the Ontario Government to phase out the Mitigation Component of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund over a two-year period starting in 2010.

·         Prepare further reports for the Province on the financial impact of this funding decision to EOWC members.

Other ongoing projects for 2010 include:

§  Lobby the Ontario Government to update the current Land Ambulance Dispatch System in order to improve better response times, reduce costs and provide better data to EMS providers.

§  Develop a better profile with First Nations Communities as part of the Algonquin Land Claim that hopefully will lead to partnering opportunities.

§  Research and advocate on behalf of the EOWC long term care funding and regulatory issues.

Dave Burton, Chair
County of Haliburton
705-286-1333