Members of Council Attending 2024 ROMA Conference

Mayor Poirer along with Councillors Bernie, Manson and Van Belleghem and City CAO Kyle Attanasio will join more than 1,600 participants from across the province at the 2024 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference. The conference is being held in-person, in downtown Toronto, from January 21 to 23, 2024.

The 2024 conference theme, Closer to Home, speaks directly to ROMA’s advocacy work over the past year. ROMA Chair Robin Jones will present the Board’s latest research paper, Fill the Gaps Closer to Home, that focuses on solutions to accessing equitable primary healthcare services in rural Ontario.    

Key presenters for the 2024 conference include Ontario Premier Doug Ford, opposition leaders, and provincial and federal ministers. Keynote speakers at this year’s event include social entrepreneur Shane Feldman, speaking about the future of work, and award-winning journalist Althia Raj, discussing the impact of polarization on local decision-making.

ROMA Chair Jones and Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) President Colin Best will also speak.

Concurrent sessions will focus on topics that are top-of-mind in rural communities, like attraction and retention of municipal employees, local economic development, and attainable housing.

Kenora Council delegates will be meeting with the Solicitor General, the Honourable Michael Kerzner regarding policing costs, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the Honourable Paul Calandra regarding Inter-Provincial Licensing for Building Officials and the Honourable Stan Cho, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care regarding funding contributions from unorganized territory for Homes for the Aged. Council delegates will also be meeting with Minister Cho and Minister Rickford regarding a community grant.

During the conference, interviews with Mayor Poirier can be accommodated by contacting the Mayor at 807-466-2495.

About ROMA: ROMA takes pride in promoting, supporting and enhancing strong and effective rural governments. About 270 of Ontario’s 444 municipalities have populations of less than 10,000, while scores more are rural in character. The rural arm of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, ROMA advocates for policies and programs that will help build thriving rural Ontario communities.

For more information about ROMA or the 2024 Conference, contact: Brian Lambie, ROMA Media Contact, 416-729-5425, lambie@redbrick.ca