Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander and county staff have joined over 1,600 municipal leaders at the 2025 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference in Toronto, which wraps up today (Jan. 21.)
The conference, focusing on rural challenges and opportunities, featured keynote speakers like political columnist Chantal Hébert and Nominee Co-founder Jordan Simmons, alongside appearances by Premier Doug Ford, opposition leaders, and key provincial ministers.
Northumberland County delegations are advocating for three community-focused initiatives. They are seeking provincial support for the HART Hub pilot program to address homelessness and addiction recovery in partnership with the Pathways to Recovery & Resilience initiative. The County will also push for changes to Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) policies to improve support for paramedics recovering from mental health injuries. Additionally, they are advocating for inflation-adjusted Ontario Works rates and streamlined eligibility requirements to better serve residents.
“The ROMA Conference is a valuable opportunity to bring our community’s priorities directly to provincial decision-makers,” said Ostrander. “These initiatives are crucial for addressing some of our most pressing challenges.”
Sessions will cover issues such as municipal waste management, cyber security, and fostering rural democracy. For more details, visit roma.on.ca.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
