Grey County Warden Brian Milne is gearing up for a crucial role at this year's Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference, where he has joined over 2,500 participants, including key political figures like Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and Ontario's new Minister of Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson.
Scheduled from August 18-21, 2024 at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, the conference serves as a platform for municipal and provincial leaders to address pressing issues impacting Ontario’s communities, especially in rural areas.
During the conference, Milne and the Grey County delegation will participate in several critical meetings with provincial ministries. The first and perhaps most significant is with Minister Thompson’s Ministry of Rural Affairs.
Here, Milne plans to advocate for policy changes that directly address the unique challenges facing rural communities, such as improved access to healthcare, more childcare spaces, and solutions for attainable housing.
Milne emphasized the importance of this meeting.
“We need Minister Thompson to reassure us that rural Ontario has a strong voice at the cabinet table. Rural communities like ours are experiencing significant growth, but the infrastructure and services haven't kept pace. We need to ensure that rural Ontario is not overlooked, especially as we continue to welcome more people to our communities," Milne stated.
This sentiment is echoed in Milne's broader concerns about the impact of rapid population growth on rural municipalities.
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many urban dwellers have discovered rural Ontario, leading to explosive growth in areas like Southgate, which has seen a nearly 20% population increase in the last five years. While this growth is welcome, it brings a host of challenges. Our property tax base was never designed to support the influx of new residents, and we need provincial support to address the resulting demands on healthcare, education, infrastructure, and policing," noted Milne.
In addition to meeting with the Ministry of Rural Affairs, Milne will also be part of a delegation to the Ministry of Transportation, where Grey County will partner with Simcoe County to advocate for a regional transportation assessment.
The rapid development in the South Georgian Bay region has brought traffic and safety issues to the forefront, and the counties are looking to collaborate with the Ministry to develop solutions that will accommodate future growth while ensuring the safety of residents.
Milne’s delegation will also meet with the Ministry of Health, where they will be joined by representatives from Bruce and Huron Counties. The focus of this meeting will be on the urgent need for consultation and collaboration to address the healthcare challenges in rural areas, particularly concerning doctor recruitment and the strain on paramedic services.
Milne expressed his concerns about the potential downstream effects of reducing hospital resources, noting that “if we're going to reduce hospital resources, that’s going to have a significant impact on paramedics, and ultimately, on property taxes, as we’ll need to put more paramedics on the road to maintain response times.”
Minister Thompson’s appointment as Minister of Rural Affairs is seen as a significant move by the Ontario government to prioritize the needs of rural communities. Thompson, who has a long history of working in rural development, including her time as a Rural Community Advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), is well-equipped to understand the challenges facing rural Ontario.
Reflecting on her new role in June, Thompson noted, “The fact that Premier Ford has created a separate Ministry of Rural Affairs demonstrates our government’s commitment to rural Ontario, and I look forward to focusing exclusively on the needs of Ontario’s small towns and rural communities.”
Milne is optimistic about the potential outcomes of his meetings at the AMO conference, particularly his discussions with Thompson.
“I believe Minister Thompson understands the challenges we face in rural Ontario, and I’m hopeful that we’ll leave this conference with a strong sense of support from her ministry and others. Rural Ontario is doing its part to address the housing crisis and support population growth, but we need help to ensure our communities can thrive," Milne concluded.
