FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 18, 2021
Southwestern Ontario – The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) advocated strongly for its three major priorities, through a series of constructive discussions with provincial government representatives during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) 2021 Conference, held virtually from August 15 to 18, 2021.
Joining thousands of participants virtually from across the province, WOWC members met this past week with several Provincial Ministers as well as Opposition Parties to discuss its key priorities for the coming year, being:
- Broadband Infrastructure Investment
- Western Ontario Workforce Strategy
- Affordable Housing in Rural Areas
“The WOWC has carefully evaluated and focused its priorities and projects for the coming year, and benefited from the AMO Conference to advocate clearly and effectively with the Province on our plans, our support, and our interest in collaborating with all levels of government on these initiatives,” stated WOWC Chair George Cornell.
“The WOWC appreciated the Province’s willingness to hear our perspectives, particularly as Ontario emerges from a difficult past 18 months, and it will take strong partnerships between our governments to face the challenging years ahead,” added WOWC Vice-Chair Darren White.
Provincial Ministers and Parliamentary Assistants present at the WOWC’s delegation were Steve Clark, Lisa Thompson, Peter Bethlenfalvy, Kinga Surma, Deepak Anand, and Donna Skelly. Opposition leaders Andrea Horwath and Steven Del Duca, representing respectively the NDP and the Liberal caucuses, also met with the WOWC along with MPPs from their parties.
“We would like to thank the many provincial representatives for attending these delegations, engaging in good conversation with us, and demonstrating how they value our perspectives and priorities,” concluded Chair Cornell. “The projects being carried out this year by the WOWC can serve as a model for the entire Province of Ontario – particularly around issues of workforce development, broadband infrastructure, and housing challenges – and this excellent cooperation among government will only continue to foster our collective future success.”
Click here to view the complete briefing document.
About The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) is a not-for-profit organization representing 15 upper and single-tier municipalities in Southwestern Ontario, representing more than three million residents. The WOWC aims to enhance the prosperity and overall wellbeing of rural and small urban communities across the region. Caucus members work collectively to influence federal and provincial legislation and programs through advocacy, research, analysis and education. For more information, visit www.wowc.ca.
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Media Contact Kate Burns Gallagher, Executive Director Economic DevelopmentWestern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus
T: 226-374-6654 E: ecdev@wowc.ca