Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus Engages Provincial Leaders at Queen’s Park on Key Regional Priorities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 5, 2026

Western Ontario– The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) met with provincial leaders at Queen’s Park to advance its 2026 advocacy priorities, with a focus on the infrastructure needed to support housing growth, strengthen homelessness response, and advance regional transit solutions for rural and small urban communities across Western Ontario.

Throughout the day, WOWC members met with key members of the Ontario government, including:

• Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs
• Todd McCarthy, Acting Minister of Infrastructure
• Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries

These meetings provided an opportunity for constructive, solutions-oriented dialogue with provincial partners on how best to advance these priorities across Western Ontario.

The discussions were anchored in WOWC’s three focused advocacy priorities for 2026:

• Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build (COBP) to ensure infrastructure funding supports growth in rural and small urban communities
• Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) to better align funding with rural service delivery realities and support sustainable community based services.
• Regional Transit, including the exploration of a Regional Rural Transit Authority, to enable coordinated, equitable transit and improve access to jobs, healthcare, and education across Western Ontario.

“Western Ontario communities are ready to support growth, but we need the right tools in place to do it,” said WOWC Chair Marcus Ryan. “Our focus is on practical, targeted solutions that will help deliver housing, strengthen essential services, and ensure people can move throughout the region to access jobs and opportunities.”

In addition to these priorities, discussions also touched on the alignment of infrastructure planning, energy needs, and broadband expansion, recognizing their role in enabling economic development and supporting sustainable community growth across the region.

WOWC emphasized its role as a constructive partner to the Province and highlighted the importance of ensuring rural and small urban communities are fully considered in the design and delivery of provincial programs.

“Today’s conversations were productive and forward looking,” added WOWC Chair Marcus Ryan. “We are committed to continuing this work with the Province to ensure policies and investments reflect the realities of rural and small urban communities, and support long-term, sustainable growth across Western Ontario.”

These conversations represent an important step in ongoing efforts to align provincial programs with local realities, and WOWC will continue to bring forward practical, regionally informed perspectives that support effective program design.

Photo 3: Chair WOWC Marcus Ryan (Oxford County), MPP Ernie Hardeman, MPP Laura Smith, Vice Chair WOWC Kevin Marriott (Lambton County), Minister Todd McCarthy.

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 1.6 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.

Media Contact
Kate Burns Gallagher, Executive Director
Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus
T: 519-495-6059 E: kate@wowc.ca