Bruce County advocates for local needs at ROMA Conference

Bruce County recently sent a delegation of local politicians and staff to advocate for local needs at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference. The 2024 conference theme, Closer to Home, speaks directly to the need for services locally.

Bruce County recently sent a delegation of local politicians and staff to advocate for local needs at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference. The 2024 conference theme, Closer to Home, speaks directly to the need for services locally.

Bruce County Warden Chris Peabody and Deputy Warden Luke Charbonneau made delegations to the following provincial leaders:

  • Minister Todd Smith (Energy) on the need to engage host communities on nuclear infrastructure projects.
  • Parliamentary Secretary Nolan Quinn (Children, Community and Social Services) on better integrating Ontario Works and Employment Ontario to create positive outcomes for clients.
  • Parliamentary Secretary John Jordan (Long-Term Care) on the need for investment in direct care within our long-term care homes rather than a focus on enforcement.
  • Parliamentary Secretary Robin Martin (Health) on expanding our community paramedicine program to support those needing mental health and addiction care.


“ROMA’s annual conference is an invaluable venue for Bruce County and our local municipalities. It presents a forum to address the unique needs faced by our communities,” said Warden Chris Peabody. “These delegations start vital conversations with our provincial counterparts on the needs of Bruce County.”

In addition, Bruce County solutions were profiled for the province in three panel discussions:

  • CAO Christine MacDonald talked about the leadership role municipalities play in poverty reduction and food security, profiling the work of Bruce County with the local poverty reduction task force.
  • Commissioner of Community Development Claire Dodds profiled the work of Bruce County on our housing affordability toolkit and the focus of the Community Development Office on housing affordability.
  • Director of Planning Jack Van Dorp shared our work in engaging Indigenous communities in the planning process as part of our commitment to reconciliation.


About ROMA: ROMA takes pride in promoting, supporting, and enhancing strong and effective rural governments. About 270 of Ontario’s 444 municipalities have populations of less than 10,000, while scores more are rural in character. The rural arm of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, ROMA advocates for policies and programs that will help build thriving rural Ontario communities.