To: Committee of the Whole

Agenda Section: Performance Management Division: CAO, Warden, Clerk's and Archives Department: Chief Administrative Officer

Item Number: CCW - 2020-080

Meeting Date: February 11, 2020

Subject: Rural Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference - 2020

Recommendation

That Item CCW 2020-080, dated February 11, 2020, regarding the Rural Ontario Municipal Association 2020 Annual Conference, be received.

Executive Summary

This report provides a synopsis of the 2020 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference, outlining discussions and delegations relating to the County of Simcoe, including topics of discussion between Provincial and County officials.

Background/Analysis/Options

The ROMA Conference was held in , Ontario from January 19 to January 21, 2020. The conference was reasonably well attended by municipal officials from across the Province of Ontario and provides significant opportunities for education, sharing of common issues and solutions, networking, and opportunities for municipalities to collectively and individually talk to the Province about their undertakings and issues. The 2020 conference program is provided as Schedule 1 to this Item.

The County of Simcoe had representation at the conference from County Councillors and staff, as well as many local municipal officials and staff; each attendee can speak to the direct benefit realized through their individual attendance at seminars, workshops and plenary sessions, and any discussions with vendors and peers from across the province. If a Councillor is interested in further information from the noted sessions, staff can research and provide contact to County officials that attended the session(s) of interest. The conference also included an exhibit area with vendors and other agencies, as well as receptions and networking opportunities for attendees.

This report is intended to provide council with an update on some of the discussions that occurred between County officials and the Province with respect to some of our initiatives and undertakings.

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SUNDAY:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

This delegation was attended by Warden Cornell, Deputy Warden Burton, Chief Administrative Officer Aitken, GM Debbie Korolnek and GM Greg Bishop. Minister Steve Clark and Ministry staff welcomed the group.

Topics of discussion included: - Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) consultation with Service managers re: roll out - Continuance of the Strong Communities Rent Supplement Program Growth Plan - Need for additional Homelessness and Housing with Supports funding - Regional Government Review – County of Simcoe undertakings - Growth Plan changes and LPAT changes - Streamlining of approvals for public infrastructure

Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus (WOWC) Delegation – Multi-Ministry

This delegation was attended by a number of Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus representatives whom are leading the various WOWC initiatives. Ministers, Parliamentary Assistants, and senior Staff members from the following Ministries welcomed the group: Ministry Municipal Affairs and Housing; Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Attorney General, and the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Topics of discussion included: - The Western Ontario Warden’s Economic Development Initiatives and Strategy - Transportation and Infrastructure matters and challenges including rural Broadband - Various Housing initiatives and challenges - Long Term Care matters - Various other assorted issues facing Counties in South Western Ontario

MONDAY:

Ministry of Health

This delegation was attended by Warden Cornell, Deputy Warden Burton, Chief Administrative Officer Aitken and GM Jane Sinclair. Minister and Ministry staff welcomed the group.

Topics of discussion included: - Paramedic Services - proposed restructuring - Paramedic Services - modernizing ambulance dispatch services

Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

This delegation was attended by Warden Cornell, Deputy Warden Burton, Chief Administrative Officer Aitken and GM Debbie Korolnek. Parliamentary Assistant and Ministry staff welcomed the group.

Topics of discussion included: - Lake Simcoe Regional Airport – opportunities and funding of strategic infrastructure - Invitation - Transit Funding February 11, 2020 Committee of the Whole - CCW 2020-080 Page 3

- Investment Attraction in

TUESDAY:

Ministry of Infrastructure

This delegation was attended by Warden Cornell, Deputy Warden Burton, Chief Administrative Officer Aitken and GM Debbie Korolnek. Parliamentary Assistant Stephen Crawford and Ministry staff welcomed the group.

Topics of discussion included: - Lake Simcoe Regional Airport – opportunities and funding of strategic infrastructure - Transit Funding - Provincial Highway Infrastructure

Ministry of Transportation

This delegation was attended by Warden Cornell, Deputy Warden Burton, Chief Administrative Officer Aitken and GM Debbie Korolnek. Minister and Ministry staff welcomed the group.

Topics of discussion included: − Simcoe County LINX Transit Update and start-up funding − Hwy 400 and Line 6 Interchange to access regional employment lands − Major Transportation Infrastructure in Simcoe County (County and Provincial)

General Comments from Provincial Ministry Officials and Staff:

Simcoe County continues to be very positively received by Provincial Ministers and staff, who often are aware of the County’s innovative programs, services, infrastructure and initiatives. We remain consistently viewed as leaders in the provision of many of our upper tier municipal services and receive very positive comments and encouragement on our initiatives and undertakings from the Province. As Council is aware, this often leads to a greater Provincial willingness to fund, partner, and work with the County of Simcoe as a regional service provider.

Other County Involvement and Matters of Interest at ROMA

Key note addresses by various Provincial political leaders, including the Premier and Ministers were made to the conference attendees, with focus on current Provincial initiatives and continued fiscal challenges. There were several other conference sessions and notable speakers including the annual ‘Ministers Bear Pit Session’ which was well attended by Simcoe County representatives. Various other meetings, discussions and receptions were also held by our member municipalities, other Ontario municipalities, Provincial officials and other groups which were attended by various County and local municipal representatives.

In addition to the noted meetings and attached conference itinerary, the County also participated in discussions with other upper tier municipalities, talked to various vendors and suppliers, and met casually with various member municipalities and other Ontario municipalities on common issues and initiatives.

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The Warden, Deputy Warden and attending staff promoted various undertakings and partnerships of the County and its member municipalities through casual discussions with various partners and Provincial officials and staff as well.

Generally, it was deemed through various feedback from delegates that the 2020 ROMA Conference was meaningful, useful and successful, noting that the venue was effective and convenient. There remains some feedback that ROMA and OGRA should re-consider the previous Joint Conference model, which provided more opportunities and was generally more efficient than holding two early year conferences with some very similar structures.

Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT)

On January 20, 2020 at the ROMA Conference, the announced the continued need for connectivity in the Province of Ontario, and that the Ontario government is working with the Federal Government and SWIFT to provide a combined investment of nearly $35M for a broadband pilot in rural communities across Ontario.

Under Phase II of the procurement process, SWIFT announced it has awarded approximately $19M in Provincial and Federal funding to significantly increase access to services for more than 10,700 underserved homes and businesses across the Counties of Wellington, Norfolk, Lambton and in Kettle and Stony Point First Nations. The collective investment value of the newly announced projects is approximately $35M, including close to $16M in contributions from the selected service providers.

Attached as Schedule 2 are the news releases from the Province Ontario and SWIFT regarding the Provincial announcements relating to the Phase II projects.

Attached also as Schedule 3 to this Item is a SWIFT update presentation provided at a subsequent Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus meeting. It includes further details on the Phase II projects, and notes that the Phase III projects should include Broadband infrastructure projects in the remaining WOWC Counties. There will be a presentation to County Council from SWIFT representatives in March 2020 to further inform County Council on the SWIFT projects and the proposed efforts to be undertaken in Phase III.

Financial and Resource Implications

There are no direct impacts resulting from this informational item. Financial impacts related to many of the issues noted have been outlined to County Council in topic specific reports on many of these matters, and within previous County budgets.

Relationship to Corporate Strategic Plan

All corporate strategies are influenced in one way or another with respect to the many items outlined in this informational report and discussed at the ROMA conference.

Reference Documents

Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) 2020 conference documents, and various Provincial legislation and regulations were referenced or discussed in this informational report

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Attachments

Schedule 1 – ROMA Conference Program

Schedule 2 – News Releases from Province and SWIFT

Schedule 3 – SWIFT Presentation to WOWC – January 31 2020

Prepared By Mark Aitken, Chief Administrative Officer

Approvals Date Mark Aitken, Chief Administrative Officer February 5, 2020