Mid-Year Review: Letter From the Chair

Dear ROMA Member,

As we reach the midpoint of another busy year, I've been reflecting on everything we've accomplished together as a rural municipal community. While the challenges facing rural Ontario continue to grow, so too does the strength of our collective voice.

This is a challenging time to serve in municipal government. Rural communities are facing growing pressures related to affordability, health care access, connectivity, and the rising cost of delivering local services. Municipalities are being asked to do more with limited resources, while the relationship between municipalities and the provincial government continues in flux. It has never been more important for rural municipalities to have a strong, united voice at provincial decision-making tables.

As your ROMA Board Chair, I wanted to share a few highlights of the work we have been doing on your behalf.

Delivering Results Through Advocacy

After years of rural municipalities carrying the burden of costs for drainage systems affected by railway infrastructure, one of our biggest wins is a landmark ruling confirming that national railways must play by the same Drainage Act rules as everybody else. It’s a significant victory for fairness, for rural municipalities, and for our local taxpayers.

We are also seeing success on our rural infrastructure advocacy. The federal and provincial governments recently announced dedicated infrastructure funding for rural, small and northern municipalities. Funding amount and program details to follow.

Advancing a Rural Health Strategy

Finding a doctor or accessing care shouldn't depend on your postal code. That's why ROMA launched work on a new Rural Health Strategy that brings together health sector experts and municipal leaders to shape future advocacy and advance practical solutions for rural communities.

Connecting Rural Communities

According to coverage maps, rural Ontario is fully connected. Rural Ontarians know otherwise. ROMA recently provided that message in our submissions to the CRTC (Canada Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, a federal regulator), highlighting the gap between reported coverage and real-world experience of rural residents. We are actively contributing to national conversations to ensure rural municipalities are represented as decisions about connectivity investments and policy are made.

Bringing Rural Leaders Together

Our 2026 ROMA Conference was our largest and most successful yet. We welcomed nearly 2300 delegates from 316 municipalities, our trade show sold out, and municipalities submitted nearly 900 delegation requests to meet with provincial ministers and parliamentary assistants - another record-breaking year!

The success of the conference reflects something much bigger than attendance. It shows the growing strength of rural municipal leadership in Ontario, and the importance of creating opportunities for our members to come together, share solutions, and speak with a united voice.

Building Relationships

ROMA has worked hard to strengthen our relationships with Minister of Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, ensuring rural voices are part of the conversation, even when those conversations are difficult or when we don’t agree.

At the same time, we've also built stronger connections with our sister municipal associations across the province, because we're strongest when we work together.

Looking Ahead

To those rural leaders attending the AMO Conference this August, I encourage you to participate in the Rural Caucus election process. The five members elected to the Rural Caucus serve a unique, dual role on both the AMO and ROMA Boards. Those connections help ensure rural voices are heard at some of the most important municipal decision-making tables in Ontario.

Before closing, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our current Rural Caucus members. Over the past two years, they have been strong champions for rural Ontario, bringing rural priorities to difficult discussions, helping bridge conversations between AMO and ROMA, and ensuring the unique realities of rural municipalities are not overlooked. Their leadership and thoughtful advocacy have strengthened rural representation across Ontario, and our communities are better for it.

Lastly, on behalf of the ROMA Board, I’d like to thank each of you for your continued leadership, your commitment to your communities, and your ongoing support of ROMA. We look forward to connecting with many of you in Ottawa and continuing our work together to build a stronger rural Ontario.

Thank you,

 

 

 

 

Christa Lowry,
ROMA Chair & Mayor of Mississippi Mills