County of Renfrew officials attend 2025 ROMA conference in Toronto

County of Renfrew officials attended several delegation meetings during the 2025 Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference in Toronto last week, including a meeting with Honourable Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Housing to discuss the concept of a Campus of Care known as Generations. Taking part in the meeting (from left) were Gwen Dombroski, Manager of Legislative Services/Clerk; Jason Davis, Director of Development and Property; Councillor Anne Giardini, Community Services Committee Chair; Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon; Parliamentary Assistant Rae; Councillor James Brose, Development and Property Committee Chair; Councillor Michael Donohue, Health Committee Chair; Mike Blackmore, Director of Long-Term Care; Andrea Patrick, Director of Community Services and Chief Administrative Officer Craig Kelley.

RELEASE DATE:

January 23, 2025

Representatives from the County of Renfrew met with several Members of Provincial Parliament during the 2025 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference to discuss and advocate for issues and challenges faced by rural municipalities in Ontario.

Held in Toronto from January 19-21, the theme of this year’s conference was “Rural Routes”. The gathering offered several opportunities for educational programming, expert panels, keynotes, and interaction with key municipal sector suppliers, all from a rural perspective and addressing the day-to-day realities of local municipal leaders.

Aside from taking in the keynote address by political columnist Chantal Hébert, remarks from Ontario Premier Doug Ford and a number of other provincial ministers and opposition party leaders, the ROMA Conference offered municipal officials from the County of Renfrew the chance to foster partnerships and relationships across the sector, and advocate for change.

The County of Renfrew was fortunate to take part in several delegation meetings:

• Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services – Urging the government to reconsider further funding reductions to Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County.
• Ministry of Education – Requesting at least 250 additional child-care spaces in Renfrew County under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Program.
• Ministry of Infrastructure – Addressing the reductions to the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and the effect on the County of Renfrew's ability to manage repairs, upgrades, new infrastructure, and ensure resident safety and local economic activity.
• Ministry of Transportation – Seeking continued support on the expansion of Highway 17 to Renfrew, a major infrastructure project aimed at improving transport, boosting regional economic development, reducing traffic congestion, and enhancing safety. The Ministry was also asked to support additional lengths of the Algonquin Trail as it extends to link with northern Ontario.
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing – A very timely discussion on seeking support for the County’s concept for a Campus of Care (known as Generations: a transformative project to create a seniors’ campus of care integrated with child-care spaces). A targeted funding program would enable the expansion of this much needed and cost-effective component of the care continuum.
• Ministry of Health – Seeking to receive a long-term commitment to base funding for the Community Paramedics in Long-Term Care Program to ensure this continued lifeline for seniors and vulnerable residents.
• Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and Ministry of Health (two separate meetings) – Discussing Mesa Program funding to support Community Paramedics and Mental Health and Addictions Counsellors to aid vulnerable populations. This model promotes effective solutions to mental health, addiction, emergency services, and housing issues by coordinating multi-sector approaches through collaboration among the County of Renfrew’s Administration, Community Services, Development and Property, and Emergency Services departments.
• Ministry of College and Universities – Discussing the need to expand the Learn and Stay grant eligibility for Primary Care and Advanced Care Paramedics to rural Eastern Ontario, as local data shows increasing demand for emergency services, risking system strain and staffing shortages. A request was made for better incentives to attract paramedics in rural areas to enhance access, improve service flow, and maintain service delivery.

"Attending the ROMA conference is crucial for Renfrew County as it provides a unique platform to directly communicate our community's needs and priorities to provincial leaders, as we reinforce the need for health and service equity,” said Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon. “The opportunity to engage in delegation meetings with provincial politicians and provincial staff allows us to advocate for strategic investments and collaborative solutions that will enhance the quality of life for our residents. These interactions are vital in ensuring that our voices are heard and that we can work together to address the challenges and opportunities facing our County. We look forward to the days and weeks ahead as we seek further meetings with the ministries to expand upon our made-in-Renfrew County solutions."

County officials had the opportunity to join several other municipal delegations to show support for their requests, including a meeting with the City of Pembroke to discuss the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) Allocation provided by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and with the Township of Whitewater Region and the Ministry of Agri-Business to seek support for the expansion of a business in the Cobden area.

Michael Nolan, Director of Emergency Services and Chief of the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service, presented the Mesa initiative during the Rural Responses to Mental Health and Addictions session which explored the unique considerations around mental health and addictions in rural communities, as well as featuring successful rural responses to this crisis. The packed room was extremely impressed with the approach taken by the County with many staying behind to ask additional questions.

The Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) is the rural voice 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. ROMA represents rural communities through its policy and advocacy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Craig Kelley Chief Administrative Officer 613-735-7288

Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288