Area municipalities take part in ROMA conference

The Town of Ingersoll delegation met with Honourable Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport. (Photo taken by CAO, Michael Graves. Left to right are Councillor Shannon Hutson, Deputy Mayor Lindsay Wilson, Mayor Brian Petrie, Minister Neil Lumsden, MPP Ernie Hardeman, and Councillor Rick Eus. (Town of Ingersoll Photo)

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The annual Rural Ontario Municipalities Association (ROMA) Conference was held last week in Toronto, and many area politicians attended the three-day event.

ROMA is the rural voice of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). A number of its executive members serve on the AMO board of directors. ROMA undertakes policy, research and advocacy activities through AMO.

The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) were present at the event, engaging with provincial leaders to advance priorities that strengthen communities across Western Ontario. The conference provided a platform for WOWC to share municipal perspectives, address pressing challenges, and explore collaborative solutions with provincial partners.

“Western Ontario municipalities are dealing with complex challenges that affect residents’ daily lives, from staffing shortages in essential services to the need for robust municipal infrastructure that supports growth, community safety and well-being,” said WOWC Chair and Oxford Warden Marcus Ryan. “ROMA provides a vital opportunity to bring these local realities directly to provincial leaders, ensuring decisions reflect the needs of our communities and support practical, sustainable solutions.”

WOWC met with Parliamentary Assistant Silvia Gualtieri (Ministry of Solicitor General) to discuss challenges with Vulnerable Sector Checks, including delays affecting timely hiring in long-term care and early childhood education, inconsistent interpretations across jurisdictions, and impacts on staffing stability and service delivery.

The Caucus also sat down with Associate Minister Sam Oosterhoff (Ministry of Energy and Mines) to discuss broadband and cellular infrastructure priorities for Southwestern Ontario, focusing on building on provincial investments, addressing remaining service gaps, and supporting economic development, public safety, and quality of life in rural communities.

The caucus met with Hydro One staff to explore opportunities for ongoing collaboration on regional infrastructure and energy initiatives, reinforcing the importance of strong municipal–industry partnerships in supporting local growth and sustainability.

Woodstock City/Council Councillor Bernia Martin also attended ROMA and took to her blog to detail her experience, including an education session on Rural Road Safety featuring Scott Butler, Executive Director for Good Roads, Jessica Jaremchuk from Intact Insurance, and Mike Pearsall from MTO.

“Scott spoke about the enormous financial commitment municipalities are facing when it comes to roadways and transportation infrastructure. He also spoke about the return on investment for spending on rural road safety initiatives that reduce the severity of collisions and ultimately save lives,” said Martin.

She also attended the Minister’s Forum, where 2,000 elected officials filled the hall and had the opportunity to question provincial government ministers. Martin asked a question about traffic safety and calming measures.

“When the Province introduced legislation to prohibit Automatic Speed Enforcement, it released road safety funding that is only available to municipalities that previously operated speed cameras. As a result, municipalities like Oxford that did not previously have this revenue source are not eligible. How does the Province intend to support road safety initiatives in municipalities that did not benefit from speed camera revenues but still face the same safety challenges and costs associated with implementing appropriate road safety initiatives?”

An answer came from Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy.

“By all accounts, the (minister) really didn’t answer my question, but it is my opinion that his non-answer was very much an indication of the government’s intentions for hundreds of elected officials who are all tasked with funding expensive infrastructure in an effort to improve road safety,” Martin said.

The Town of Ingersoll was also well-represented, and one of the most important meetings was with Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden. The town’s grant request to help build and pay for the Multi-Use Recreation Centre fell short by millions of dollars.

A meeting was also held with Vic Fideli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, to discuss the idled GM CAMI Assembly plant. A conversation was also held with

The Town spoke with the Ministry of Finance about local tax challenges.

“Thank you to the provincial officials who met with the Town of Ingersoll at ROMA,” said Mayor Brian Petrie. “These discussions help us match our local goals with provincial plans. It is a small but important step toward a better future for our community. We look forward to working together.”

This year’s ROMA conference featured speeches by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, party leaders, and various provincial ministers. Delegates participated in two Minister’s Forums and workshops on corporate sponsorship, waste management, economic development, housing, arts and culture, community safety, healthcare and reconciliation.