Prince Edward County Mayor Robert Quaiff. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
UPDATED: Monday 10:15 a.m.
The Eastern Wardens’ Caucus has set its priorities for 2017.
A press release issued by EOWC Monday morning announced three key priorities have been set for the caucus in the coming year and include: improving infrastructure and connectivity; growing regional economy and reducing operational costs.
As we reported Sunday, Prince Edward County mayor Robert Quaiff has been elected as the new chairman of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC).
The 13 County and Single-Tier municipalities comprising the caucus represent close to a million people.
Quaiff officially took the reins from former chair Peter Emon at a special ceremony on Friday. The mayor said it happened quickly. He was nominated Thursday and then elected by secret ballot Friday.
The new role also gives Mayor Quaiff the opportunity to sit on the Association of Municipalities’ board of directors.
During his New Year’s Levee speech on Sunday, Mayor Quaiff said he feels very honoured and privileged to have been selected.
In Monday’s release Quaiff said he is ‘honoured to advocate for this year’s priorities.’
“The EOWC remains concerned about the increasing costs of certain services in the region, particularly when we think about our residents and businesses and their ability to pay. This includes everything from infrastructure to hydroelectricity and cellular network improvements to natural gas expansion, and the EOWC will continue to work with its partners at the provincial and federal government levels for regulatory changes and cost relief across all sectors – as it has done successfully in the past,” said Quaiff.
“As a previous member of the EOWC, I am confident that this group will continue to extensively research the issues that affect rural Eastern Ontario. It will then be our objective to use those facts to lobby our partners for positive changes and new ideas that will ultimately improve service delivery as well as bring growth and new economic development opportunities in our municipalities,” added EOWC Vice-Chair Bill Dobson.
