ROMA June Board Update

June 23, 2025

ROMA’s June Board meeting was held in Chair Christa Lowry’s home community of Mississippi Mills, outside of Ottawa. These annual on-location meetings offer ROMA Board members the opportunity to learn more about the diverse needs of rural communities, and to find common ground on shared interests.

Highlights of the meeting included:

Face to face with Minister of Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson: The Board held their first meeting with the Minster since the provincial and federal elections. ROMA emphasized its desire to work collaboratively with the Minister to promote the long-term economic resilience of Ontario’s rural communities, and sought the Minister’s leadership in addressing rural municipal fiscal sustainability.
The Board also raised the impacts of trade disruption and tariffs locally, including on the cost escalation for infrastructure projects
OPP Billing Review: The Ministry of the Solicitor General recently announced a review of the OPP cost-recovery model. The review should be completed before the next 2026 annual billing cycle. AMO is working closely with the Ministry on this review and will emphasize the broader need to reform the provincial-municipal fiscal relationship.
Broadband: It does not appear that the province will meet its 2025 target. AMO and ROMA will continue to communicate to the province that municipalities share its priority to rollout high-speed internet to all Ontarians quickly, and are doing all they can to make fast, responsible installation happen in their communities, working with Internet Service Providers.
Tariffs: AMO recently provided materials and supportive resources for municipalities to help the sector understand the impact of trade disruption and tariffs, including on local communities and on their infrastructure projects. Resources related to infrastructure, tariffs and trade, including a modeling tool and webinars are available on AMO’s website.

In addition, the Board took part in AMO's Rural Healthy Democracy Forum and also met with local businesses regarding the on-the-ground impacts of global economic turmoil. It also heard from Lanark County on their highly collaborative process to create a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.

Developing a Rural Infrastructure Advocacy Strategy

Rural Ontario’s population has grown significantly since 2021, putting further strain on municipal infrastructure. Funding for this infrastructure is inadequate – it’s often one-time funding, involving lengthy and competitive application processes, often dependent on achieving new housing starts.
ROMA is working with the AMO Policy team to develop a new rural infrastructure advocacy strategy to build a case for a better municipal-provincial funding arrangement across the province. Stay tuned for more information on this work.

Get to know your ROMA Board

ROMA Zone Representatives

Zone 1 – Jamie McGrail, Councillor, Municipality of Chatham-Kent
Zone 2 – Steve McCabe, Councillor, Township of Wellington North
Zone 3 – Dave Beres, Deputy Mayor, Town of Tillsonburg
Zone 4 – Christina Early, Councillor, Town of Caledon
Zone 5 – Pam Sayne, Councillor, Township of Minden Hills
Zone 6 – Jennifer Murphy, Councillor, County of Renfrew
Zone 7 – Carma Williams, Deputy Mayor, Township of North Glengarry
Zone 8 – Christa Lowry, Mayor, Municipality of Mississippi Mills* ROMA Chair
Zone 9 – Mark Wilson, Councillor, City of Temiskaming Shores
Zone 10 – Janet Hager, Councillor, Municipality of Red Lake

AMO Rural Caucus Members

Nicole Martin, CAO, Township of Amaranth
Dane Nielsen, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Grey Highlands
Natasha Salonen, Mayor, Township of Wilmot
Nathan Townend, Deputy Warden, County of Lennox & Addington
Tanya Vrebosch, Councillor, City of North Bay