The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) strengthened its vital partnerships with representatives from the Province of Ontario during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) 2024 Conference, held from August 18 to 21, 2024.

Throughout the conference, the WOWC engaged in productive discussions with Provincial Ministers and Opposition Parties, effectively advocating for its strategic priorities. For the 2024-2025 year, the WOWC’s key focus areas are:

• Housing
• Infrastructure
• Workforce to Support Economic Growth
• Mental Health, Addictions and Homelessness
• 
  

“During our recent delegations with provincial representatives, we were pleased with the positive response to our discussions,” stated WOWC Chair Glen McNeil. “We emphasized the unique needs of our rural and smaller communities across Western Ontario, underscoring that the support required in these areas differs significantly from the needs of urban centers. Our recommendations aim to ensure that these distinct challenges are effectively addressed by the government.”

In advance of the conference, WOWC members engaged closely with regional MPPs and senior provincial staff to present comprehensive briefings, research, and recommendations on key priority issues. For detailed information on the WOWC’s priorities, research, and the materials used for the AMO 2024 Conference, please refer to the briefing document here.

Representatives at the WOWC’s delegations with the government included;

• Kinga Surma, Ministry of Infrastructure
• Lisa Thompson, Ministry of Rural Affairs
• Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General
• Parliamentary Assistant, Patrice Barnes, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

The WOWC also met separately with MPP Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP and the Official Opposition; Ontario Liberal Party, Party Leader Bonnie Crombie; and MPP Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario.

“The WOWC remains committed to ensuring that our research and insights help inform policies across the province,” stated WOWC Vice Chair Andy Lennox. “We value the constructive dialogue with our provincial partners and are hopeful that these discussions will lead to tangible outcomes. Our advocacy for rural Western Ontario will continue with the goal of securing the support our communities need to thrive.”

View the press release

Representing 230 municipalities and over 2.6 million people across Ontario, the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus,and Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus join the call to action around the ‘Solve the Crisis’ Campaign, led by the Ontario Big City Mayors.

During their joint meeting at the start of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) 125^th Conference, the three caucuses are stating their collective support around the need for the Ontario and Federal Governments to take immediate and targeted action to help solve the crisis around homelessness and mental health.

There is a homelessness and mental health crisis happening on streets across our communities, small and big, rural and urban. Municipalities continue to step up, but do not have the tools, expertise or capacity to fully address the intersectional and complex issues around housing, homelessness, health care, and social services.  

We appreciate the actions that both the Federal and Ontario Governments have taken to-date including Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness, the creation of the Homelessness Prevention Program, and investing in youth wellness hubs. But we need to do more to ‘Solve the Crisis’ together as government partners, and we need to act swiftly.

As municipalities continue to raise, the rising number of homeless encampments and the human toll of the opioid crisis are a symptom of deeper system failures that hurt Ontario's overall social and economic prosperity. The WOWC, EOMC, and EOWC will be sending a letter to Premier Ford to further underscore the need for a Social and Economic Prosperity Review. We need a municipal fiscal relationship that supports the foundations of a strong economy, sustainable communities and quality of life that reflects modern day and front-line realities.  

Organizations and Ontarians can join the call to support the ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign by visiting www.solvethecrisis.ca.



View the press release 

On Tuesday, August 6th, WOWC Chair Warden Glen McNeil met with Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agri-business.

Discussion included the WOWC's four strategic priorities and how the organization can support the new Ministry in protecting valuable farm land in Western Ontario.

The new Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, created in June of 2024, helps to build a stronger agri-food sector by investing in the development and transfer of innovative technologies, retaining and attracting investment, developing markets, providing regulatory oversight, and providing effective risk management tools.

In a separate meeting on Thursday, August 15th, Chair McNeil met with Hon. Lisa Thompson, to extend WOWC's support to the new Ministry of Rural Affairs.

Learn more about the ministries