The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) continued to advocate strongly for its four major priorities as part of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) 2023 Conference, through a series of constructive discussions with provincial government representatives from January 22 to 24, 2023.

Joining thousands of other rural municipal colleagues in Toronto, WOWC members met this week with several Provincial Ministers as well as Opposition Parties to discuss its key priorities for the 2022-2023 year, which include:

• Affordable and Attainable Housing
• Mental Health and Addictions
• Workforce Development
• Broadband and Cellular Infrastructure

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Lambton County

• High-speed fibre-optic internet service is now available to more than 2,010 homes and businesses in Lambton County.

• SWIFT in partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors has committed a combined investment of $18.8 million, including an additional investment of $2.5 million from Lambton County, to bring high-speed internet service to nearly 5,000 underserved homes and businesses throughout Lambton County.

Middlesex County

• 640 additional homes and businesses throughout the municipalities of Thames Centre, Adelaide-Metcalfe and Strathroy-Caradoc, now have access to fast reliable broadband connectivity as the Southwestern Ontario regional broadband expansion program marks the completion of two high-speed fibre-optic projects in Middlesex County.

• In partnership with SWIFT, Xplore (formerly known as Xplornet) has completed construction of a 38-kilometre fibre-optic network in the Municipality of Thames Centre to provide more than 460 homes and businesses throughout the communities of Putman, Crampton, Avon, Mossley, Harrietsville and Gladstone with access to high-speed internet service.



• Within the Townships of Adelaide-Metcalfe and Strathroy-Caradoc, Execulink Telecom has completed the construction of a 17-kilometre fibre-optic network to provide 174 homes and businesses throughout the communities of Kerwood, Napperton and Strathroy with access to high-speed internet service.

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On Monday, January 23, 2023, Bruce County’s Director of Human Services, Christine MacDonald, participated as a member of a concurrent panel on housing affordability and development at the 2023 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference in Toronto.

In the session, called “Attracting Housing Development to Rural Ontario”, Director MacDonald shared creative approaches to addressing the impacts of Ontario’s housing affordability and availability challenges and providing the full spectrum of housing options, particularly rental accommodations, for residents regardless of income or stage in life.

Director MacDonald highlighted the need for greater direct engagement by the municipal sector with the non-profit and private development sectors and explored approaches and tools to attract housing development, which is often a challenge for rural communities. Bruce County’s Affordable Housing Toolkit was showcased as a key strategy in the County’s Housing and Homelessness Plan.

Developers and builders are encouraged to explore Bruce County’s Affordable Housing Toolkit at:

www.brucecounty.on.ca/AffordableHousingToolkit

The public is invited to get involved in the design of a new municipal housing project and park in Wallaceburg.

The plan calls for the creation of 60-70 rental apartment units in two new buildings on Westcourt Blvd.

The project will be the municipality’s first affordable housing project incorporating net-zero emissions principles for residential construction.

The buildings will be constructed on a 4.8-acre site and will combine affordable rent and market rent units that are a mixture of bedroom unit sizes. A municipal park will be developed on the property to enhance the area and better integrate the development into the existing neighbourhood.

The public is encouraged to provide input and share ideas through a survey. Residents have until February 28, 2023 to complete the survey.

The municipality has obtained a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation SEED funding grant for the pre-design phase.

Pending project funding, construction on the site could begin in 2024.



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The County of Wellington’s Children’s Early Years Division is partnering with all 47 of Ontario’s Early Years and Child Care Service System Managers to launch a province-wide marketing campaign. The campaign, which launches today, is aimed at generating an increased understanding of, and support for, Ontario’s licensed child care sector.

The goal of the campaign is to increase public awareness and provide key facts to ensure the province is able to maintain a stable early education system that is equitably available, accessible, and affordable.

Quality child care supports the economy.

Quality child care is important for a child’s development and future success.

Early Childhood Educators are essential for quality child care.



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