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The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) represented the region’s 103 rural and small urban municipalities during the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) 125th Conference held in the City of Ottawa from August 18 to 21, 2024.

The EOWC welcomed the opportunity to advocate strongly for regional priorities – infrastructure, housing and health care – during meaningful conversations with federal, provincial and municipal elected leaders. The EOWC joined over 3,300 participants from 444 municipalities across Ontario including government, Indigenous, non-profit, private sector partners. The EOWC is pleased to see health care and infrastructure investments and tools announced by the Ontario Government during the conference.

“The EOWC continues to be a champion for our small urban and rural municipalities at decision-making tables,” stated Peter Emon, EOWC Chair. “This conference brings an opportunity for us to highlight our priorities and bring solutions forward to our federal, provincial and sector partners. We came prepared to ensure that our region’s needs are recognized.”

Meeting discussions centered on the EOWC’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan priorities and the EOWC’s Mind The Gap: Municipal Infrastructure Policy Paper. The paper outlines the region’s municipal infrastructure deficit, which has grown 58 percent from 2011 to $6 billion. The EOWC’s rural and small urban municipalities need specific support from the Federal and Provincial Governments to maintain and repair existing infrastructure, as well as build housing enabling infrastructure to support the growing regional economy.

During a joint meeting with the EOWC, Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC), and Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus (EOMC), representing 230 of Ontario’s municipalities, the three caucuses submitted a joint letter to the Ontario Government to advocate for the Social and Economic Prosperity Review, led by AMO. The EOWC, WOWC and EOMC Chairs also sent out a news release  around the ‘Solve the Crisis’ Campaign, led by the Ontario Big City Mayors, to highlight the homelessness and mental health crisis taking place across all of our communities. Ontarians are encouraged to join the call to action and visit the ‘Solve the Crisis’ website.

The EOWC thanks the elected officials and organizational partners for meeting (listed below):

• The Honourable Sean Fraser, Federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
• The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• The Honourable Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure
• The Honourable Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs
• The Honourable Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care
• The Ontario New Democratic Party, led by Marit Stiles, the Leader of the Official Opposition
• The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Bonnie Crombie
• The Federation of Canadian Municipalities
• The Ontario Medical Association
• The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus
• The Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus

For more information on the EOWC’s AMO 2024 advocacy, read our briefing package at EOWC.org.

About the EOWC

The EOWC Inc. is a non-profit organization advocating for 103 small urban and rural municipalities across Eastern Ontario. The EOWC covers an area of 50,000 square kilometres, serving 800,000 residents. For more than 20 years, the EOWC has gained support and momentum by speaking with a united voice to champion regional municipal priorities and work with the government, businesses, non-profit organizations, Indigenous leaders, the media, and the public.

Media Contacts:

Elected officials:

Peter Emon, 2024 Chair, EOWC (Warden of Renfrew County)
613-401-7186
info@eowc.org

Bonnie Clark, 2024 Vice-Chair, EOWC (Warden of Peterborough County)
705-927-4207
info@eowc.org

Staff:

Meredith Staveley-Watson, Manager of Government Relations and Policy, EOWC
647-545-8324
info@eowc.org