News

Western Ontario Municipal Conference, featuring keynote speaker the Hon. Bob Rae. Presented by the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) and sponsored by Enbridge and Bruce Power, the annual conference brings together municipal leaders, staff, sector experts and government partners from across Ontario to discuss the issues shaping communities today and into the future.

The newsletter highlights the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus’ ongoing advocacy efforts on key regional priorities, including healthcare access, housing, transportation infrastructure, local governance, and rural representation. It also features new partnerships and policy submissions aimed at supporting economic growth and municipal collaboration. Additional updates include economic development resources for elected officials, a major $100 million investment in Ontario’s agri-food sector, new funding opportunities through Innovative Solutions Canada, and the launch of The Local Edge podcast.

The WOWC and the GLSLCI have formalized a new partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding to address shared regional challenges such as water quality and climate change, while advancing economic growth across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region.

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.

Registration is now officially open for the 2026 Western Ontario Municipal Conference!
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