Waterloo Region – Municipalities from Waterloo Region met with Provincial Ministers to advocate for critical rural issues including affordable housing, transportation and internet connectivity as part of the 2022 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference, which has just concluded.

The Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich joined the Region of Waterloo to collaborate with Provincial colleagues in order to enhance the quality of life for residents across the Region’s townships.

Quotes

Regional Chair Karen Redman:

Quality of life and connectivity in our rural communities is fundamental to the success of Waterloo Region. The annual ROMA Conference is a timely forum for the Region and Townships to take local solutions and perspectives directly to provincial cabinet ministers. This includes important issues like economic recovery, transportation infrastructure and internet connectivity. We also appreciate the government’s continued attention to the housing crisis as this is a priority for our municipalities. Addressing the current housing needs requires all three levels of government to deliver collaborative, transformative change.

Mayor of North Dumfries Sue Foxton:

ROMA represents the opportunity to have direct connection with key Provincial Ministers to advance items that focus on rural Communities. In this forum, matters that are unique to countryside communities such as: alternative transit systems; climate change; infrastructure; business development and retention; affordable housing and housing that is affordable; and, access to services such as health care, mental health support, etc. can be raised and information exchanged. It is through forums such as ROMA that the voice of rural Ontario can be profiled and heard.

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Mayor of Wellesley Joe Nowak:

The ROMA conference was a great opportunity to collaborate with our township municipalities, the Region of Waterloo and Provincial partners to advocate for the needs of all residents across the townships of Waterloo Region. We know that Wellesley and our fellow townships continue to attract new residents and through ROMA, we were able to prioritize action on affordable housing, as well as transportation and internet connectivity to plan for now and the future. 

Mayor of Wilmot Les Armstrong:

The ROMA conference is an extremely valuable learning and networking opportunity, as rural Ontario works to recover from COVID-19 and the social and economic challenges of the year ahead. Wilmot is grateful for the opportunity to work collaboratively with our Township peers as we seek stable infrastructure funding, support for our collective efforts towards climate change, and partnerships to find solutions to the affordable housing challenges in rural Ontario.

Mayor of Woolwich Sandy Shantz:

Rural municipalities struggle with many of the same issues that the cities do. Affordable Housing, Climate Change, and Infrastructure Deficits are just a few of the issues that the Townships have raised with the Province during the Conference. ROMA provides an environment for us to network with the Province, and our municipal colleagues, to discuss our unique cultures and how best to deal with issues in the spirit of collaboration and partnerships.

About ROMA:

(ROMA) is the rural arm of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). The association is an integral part of AMO and a number of its Executive Members serve on the AMO Board of Directors. Policy, research and advocacy activities are undertaken by ROMA through AMO.