Members of Quinte West Council have returned home from the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference.
Mayor Jim Harrison says the main benefit of ROMA is to be able to talk with politicians and staff from across the province.
He says many of those politicians are feeling the same stresses and priorities.
“We’re all in the same boat. Homelessness, dealing with mental health and addictions, trying to build affordable housing and what is affordable and trying to get some kind of handle on that. Of course you’re looking for any kind of support that the province may be giving you.”
He says one of the best conversations he had was with a municipal planner from northern Ontario.
“He had a report in his hand and it was a kleenex. He said I’ve got to take a report to council – land development, land use, and how are we going to build houses in the rural area. He said I’ve got to take this to council, but he said I want them to know that what I tell them today may not be the same tomorrow.”
Also attending the conference were councillors Zack Card, Duncan Armstrong, and Shelley Stedall.
Premier Doug Ford making a presentation at the ROMA conference in Toronto (Photo: Councillor Duncan Armstrong)
