Mayor and Councillors advocate for local priorities at ROMA Conference

Kawartha Lakes – Mayor Elmslie, Councillor Joyce, Councillor Doble and CAO Taylor attended the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference in Toronto from January 18 to 20, 2026. They met with provincial ministers, parliamentary assistants, and partner organizations to speak up for local priorities.

The conference brought together rural and small urban municipalities from across Ontario. Throughout the week, local representatives took part in meetings, delegations, and question-and-answer sessions to share concerns and advocate for action.

“This conference gave us the chance to voice our concerns about several issues and have our thoughts heard by provincial decision makers,” said Mayor Doug Elmslie. “We have advocated for Kawartha Lakes with the provincial government and partner organizations.”

Meetings with Provincial Leaders

On Monday, the Mayor attended a meeting with the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) caucus to discuss issues affecting rural communities. He also met with the Ministry of Infrastructure, alongside the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC). These discussions focused on EOWC priorities, including development charges and infrastructure funding. The meeting was positive, and participants felt their concerns were heard and understood.

A meeting was also held with Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Questions were raised about the status of Building Faster Fund (BFF) funding, which was a condition of the City’s Housing Pledge to build 6,500 homes by 2030. The issue was noted by the Ministry for future clarification.

Mayor Elmslie also advocated for municipal development charges to fund growth-enabling infrastructure, especially in small urban and rural communities with a limited tax base.  

Transportation and Policing Concerns

On Tuesday, local officials met with Ric Bresee, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation, to ask about GO Transit expansion to Kawartha Lakes. The situation remains unchanged, with no update on the timing of this much needed expansion.

Discussions with the Solicitor General focused on the rising cost of local police working in correctional facilities, especially related to the Central East Correctional Facility. Similar concerns were raised by other communities, including Penetanguishene. The Solicitor General acknowledged the issue and said he would investigate possible supports for affected municipalities.

Hydro One

The EOWC met with Hydro One to discuss the expansion of Wi-Fi and cellular access across the province, which will require extensive Hydro pole installation. Eastern Ontario is currently behind in hydro pole installation, with thousands more poles needed to reach coverage targets by 2028. Hydro One confirmed it is on board, recognizes the urgency of the issue, and is working towards the targets.

Homelessness Advocacy

Homelessness was a major topic throughout the conference. The EOWC supported the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s (AMO) call for $11 billion in additional provincial funding, along with increased federal support. While homelessness challenges are more dire in larger cities, rural communities are experiencing similar impacts while at the same time seeing the fastest growth in need for deeply affordable housing.

During question-and-answer sessions, provincial ministers emphasized that government investment is already at record levels. While they said they would continue to listen, they did not commit to additional funding.

Strong Regional Advocacy

The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus represents 103 rural and small-urban municipalities, serving 1.1 million residents across 50,000 square kilometres. At ROMA, the EOWC advocated for priorities including affordability, paramedic services, policing costs, and coordinated action on homelessness.

“The ROMA Conference remains an essential forum to bring rural voices to the forefront of provincial decisions,” said EOWC Chair Bonnie Clark. “Strong communities are the foundation of a strong Ontario and Canada.”