A delegation from Lambton county voiced concerns surrounding the court system, public health, and housing at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference this week.
Over 1,600 participants from across the province attended the event Monday and Tuesday in Toronto.
Warden Kevin Marriott, Deputy Warden Brian White, and members of the senior management team made the trip.
They met with Attorney General Doug Downey to address Justice of the Peace shortages in Ontario, and advocate for additional resources for Sarnia-Lambton’s Provincial Offences Court.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones was asked to seek funding for supportive housing in Lambton, advocate for enhanced community paramedicine capacity, and discuss strengthening of public health and voluntary mergers of health units.
The last meeting was with Associate Minister of Housing Rob Flack to seek funding for the development of affordable and supportive housing in our Lambton communities.
Deputy Warden White said the county has been working on the need for supportive housing for a number of years.
"Of course, we've engaged with Indwell for the better part of the last year," said White. "Sitting down with the province and being able to discuss a plan, like the ones we've been working on with Indwell for the past year, is very much received by the housing ministry with open ears and open minds. The ministry is very interested in community-based projects where members of the community are pushing towards a solution, and where the county can engage with service providers to ensure that we are creating the most effective opportunity for folks to get the support they need in housing."
White said it was encouraging to see collaboration and common goals between different municipalities. He said the conference was a great chance to engage with other municipalities and service providers as well.
"If we're not open and available for these conversations then we're missing out on the potential of having really good partners," he said. "The reality is, it's not going to be just one municipality that comes up with a solution. As we work together, as we have these conversations together, we can see that we're not alone in this problem. We're not alone in creating the solution, either."
While nothing was set in stone, White is hoping ROMA will be a starting point for larger conversations moving forward.
