Following the completion and adoption in 2014 of the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Strategy by both the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) and the Eastern Ontario Mayors' Caucus (EOMC), a key action item of the strategy was the creation of a regional economic governance model, tasked with coordinating strategic economic development in Eastern Ontario. As a result, the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC) was launched at the Ontario East Municipal Conference in Kingston in September 2015 (read news release here). The initial documentation can be found at the bottom of this page.
Today, the EOLC has developed into a partnership between five regional partners: the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Mayors' Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, the Ontario East Economic Development Commission, and Community Futures Ontario East. The EOLC's mandate is to lead the implementation of the regional economic development strategy, namely through three working groups, being:
- Integrated, Intelligent Transportation System
- Workforce Development and Deployment
- Technology Integration and Innovation
Through the working groups, the EOLC also serves as a conduit for information and policy positions with various stakeholders, including the Province of Ontario; tracks and reports on the performance of the Eastern Ontario economy, as it relates to the priorities of the Economic Development Strategy; undertakes advocacy on key issues; and identifies resources and provides recommendations on funding opportunities.
To learn more about the EOLC and its activities, you may consult the following documents:
Introduction to the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council
EOLC Communications Newsletter #1, September 2017
EOLC Communications Newsletter #2, January 2018
EOLC Presentation at Ontario East Municipal Conference, September 2017
Economic Development Strategy and Documentation
The strategy document is available below, in both English and French:
English
2014 Eastern Ontario Economic Development Strategy
Appendix A: Regional Profile
Appendix B: Consultation Results
Français
Stratégie de développement économique de l'Est de l'Ontario
Annexe A : Profil régional
Annexe B : Résultats de la consultation
The initial report that encouraged the discussion and the creation of the strategy can also be found here: Economic Development Workshop Report, November 21, 2014