From left, Jill Roote, Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Saugeen Shores; Saugeen Shores Councillor Dave Myette, Natalie Pierre, Provincial Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Sport; Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Kara Van Myall, Chief Administrative Officer, Saugeen Shores.
Hub Staff
Representatives from The Town of Saugeen Shores were in Toronto earlier this week for the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference. The annual event brings municipal and provincial leaders together to address rural issues.
In a media release from the Town, Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Councillor Dave Myette, Chief Administrative Officer Kara Van Myall, and Manager of Strategic Initiatives Jill Roote presented briefs to three ministries, including the Ministry of Sport to highlight the new Aquatic and Wellness Centre and invite provincial partnership, the Ministry of Health to reiterate the need for expanded primary care services, and the Ministry of Infrastructure to address the reduction in Ontario Community Infrastructure Funding and its impact.
“On top of the conference agenda, the ROMA conference offers a vital platform to address the needs of our growing community,” said Mayor Charbonneau, adding that the conference provides an opportunity to meet face-to-face with provincial ministries and bring the unique challenges and opportunities of Saugeen Shores to the province.
Bruce County was also present at ROMA with Warden Luke Charbonneau and Deputy Warden Don Murray making delegations with Solicitor General Michael Kerzner and Attorney General Doug Downey on the cost of court security and an equitable distribution of costs between municipalities.
Additionally Made in Bruce County solutions were profiled in panel discussions including Negotiating Approvals for Energy Procurement featuring Commissioner Claire Dodds; Growing the Long-Term Care Workforce featuring Director of Long-Term Care & Senior Services Megan Garland in her role as Chair of the Advantage Board; Leadership to Protect Employees from Unreasonable Behaviour featuring BCPL Director Brooke McLean in her role as ARUPLO Chair; and Recent Changes in Land-Use Planning: A Rural Perspective featuring Director of Planning Jack Van Dorp.
Representatives from Owen Sound and Grey County were also present at the annual conference to discuss their county's health care needs.
Owen Sound Councillor Jon Farmer and Fire Chief Phil Eagleson joined Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs and County Councillors Kevin Eccles and Warren Dickert in a delegation to Anthony Leardi, Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Health.
In a recent media release from Grey County the delegates noted the need for regional collaboration to address the pressure points created by emergency room wait times and a shortage of family physicians.
Last week hundreds of people from midwestern Ontario lined up in the cold and snow in Walkerton for their chance to gain one of 500 spots for a family doctor.
