Municipal leaders from Northumberland County and Quinte West are in Toronto this week for the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association Annual General Meeting and Conference, a key event for rural communities across the province.
The three day conference brings together representatives from hundreds of small and rural municipalities to discuss shared priorities, including housing development, infrastructure funding, health care access, emergency services, and economic growth.
Premier Doug Ford is scheduled to deliver remarks at 9:35 a.m. Monday, January 19, ahead of addresses later in the conference from Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack and Rural Affairs Minister Lisa Thompson.
ROMA plays an important role for communities like Cobourg, Port Hope, Brighton, Trent Hills, and Quinte West, giving local leaders direct access to provincial decision makers at a time when many municipalities are facing growth pressures, aging infrastructure, and rising service demands.
For Northumberland County and Quinte West, issues such as water and wastewater capacity, housing affordability, transportation infrastructure, and support for rural emergency services are often central to discussions at the conference.
The annual gathering also allows municipal officials to network with peers from across Ontario, share solutions to common challenges, and advocate for provincial policies that recognize the unique needs of rural and small urban communities.
Minister Thompson will deliver remarks later Monday. All addresses are being livestreamed through official provincial channels.
The conference continues through Tuesday, January 20.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
