Wilmot Township delegation engages provincial leaders at ROMA 2025

Mayor Salonen, Ward 1 Councillor Cressman, Ward 4 Councillors Lillianne Dunstall and Steven Martin, along with Acting CAO Greg Clark, proudly represented Wilmot Township at the 2025 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Annual Conference held from January 18 – 21 in Toronto. 

The delegation attended Wilmot Township and joint township advocacy meetings and participated in important discussions about rural priorities with provincial ministers and officials. The conference, which brought together rural municipal leaders from across Ontario, focused on pressing issues such as affordable housing, infrastructure, rural transit, and rural economic development. 

Discussions included affordable seniors and workers housing opportunities with Minister Paul Calandra, Wilmot community-driven ideas to streamline affordable housing projects with Minister Mike Harris, rural transit strategies with Parliamentary Assistant Ric Bresee, and infrastructure grants for municipalities with populations under 50,000 with Minister Surma. The delegation also explored funding opportunities for municipal sport facilities with Minister Lumsden, enhancements to library services with Associate Minister Thanigasalam, and strategies for supporting rural economic development with Minister Lisa Thompson. 

As a ROMA board member and Association of Municipalities of Ontario Healthy Democracies Project advisory member, Mayor Salonen also chaired a session on fostering healthier democracies in rural Ontario, emphasizing the importance of inclusive governance and community engagement. 

This year’s ROMA conference featured speeches by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, opposition leaders, and various provincial ministers. Delegates participated in workshops on topics including housing-enabling infrastructure, primary health care access, and practical solutions for addressing homelessness across Ontario. 

“The ROMA Conference provided an invaluable platform to advocate for the needs of Wilmot Township,” said Mayor Salonen. “Our meetings with provincial leaders allowed us to highlight the unique challenges and opportunities in our community and to explore practical, collaborative solutions.” 

The Wilmot delegation will use the insights and connections gained at ROMA to continue advancing key initiatives for the township and ensuring a strong voice for rural priorities in Ontario’s decision-making processes. 

For more information, please contact: 

Carly Pettinger, Executive Officer to Mayor & Council  
Township of Wilmot 
519-807-2370