Increases for Ontario Works, affordable housing, the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (RCVTAC), funding and fencing were top priorities for the County of Renfrew at the recent Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Annual Conference. ROMA was held January 22nd to 24th and the County of Renfrew obtained five delegations.
ONTARIO WORKS
The County of Renfrew raised concerns to Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario’s Minister of Children, Community and Social Services about increasing the rates for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program by 5% but not to Ontario Works or Temporary Care Allowance.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Speaking with Michael Parsa, the Associate Minister of Housing, the County of Renfrew raised concerns over affordable and attainable housing. The County is working to build affordable and supportive housing units in the City of Pembroke, but says more affordable housing is needed.
LINE FENCES ACT
In a delegation with Rob Flack, the Parliamentary Assistant for Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the County of Renfrew discussed the Line Fences Act as it relates to costs of municipal ownership of abandoned rail corridors. At Petawawa Council on Monday night (February 6th, 2023), Mayor Gary Serviss says there could be upwards of 100 kilometers of fencing the County of Renfrew may be required to install along the Algonquin Trail that borders farm land.
LONG-TERM FUNDING
The County of Renfrew met with Amarjat Sandhu, the Parliamentary Assistant for the Ministry of Infrastructure, and asked the province to continue with the doubling of the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund allocations to municipalities, and commit to a long-term funding formula that would allow municipalities to align funding with their long-term financial plans and asset management plans, while also preparing for anticipated future growth.
RCVTAC
County of Renfrew representatives had a delegation with Dawn Gallagher-Murphy, the Parliamentary Assistant for the Ministry of Health, to emphasize the importance of the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (RCVTAC). The County says RCVTAC continues to work extremely well and is a good local solution to ensure all residents across the region have easy, safe access to primary care, and only need to visit hospital emergency departments for true emergencies. The County of Renfrew would like to continue providing the service of RCVTAC, but requires support and funding from the province. Funding for RCVTAC is only in place until March 31st, 2023.
(written by: Rudy Kadlec)