The Association of Municipalities of Ontario has wrapped up its annual Conference this week, held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grey and Bruce Counties made a number of delegations to representatives from various Provincial Ministries. Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker took part alongside our muncipalities and counties.
Local representatives talked about planning for key highways in the area, possible changes and innovation in long-term care, beef processing capacity and support for high speed broadband internet.
Local representatives told OMAFRA (Ontario Ministy of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) Parliamentary Assistant Randy Pettapiece the $16 million in SWIFT projects being developed in Grey County will address only part of the need for high speed internet.
The delegation said there is more project work that could start immediately but hasn’t, due to lack of funding. They’ve asked the Minister for open access fibre and infrastructure available to support it.
Grey County CAO Kim Wingrove says, the County approached OMAFRA this time on the subject, “Really wanting them to bring that rural perspective to the Ministry of Infrastructure.”
Wingrove notes, the business and education sectors have brought the need for better internet to the forefront this year but adds, “We have the increasing reliance on internet technology for the agriculture sector.”
Wingrove points to automation, as well as precision agriculture, “That gives them an awful lot of data on how to most efficiently use inputs, know where water and fertilizer and that sort of thing is, what their yields are, and even online updates to equipment,” says Wingrove.
Meanwhile, Wingrove says the County’s delegation about highways told Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney improving Highways 6, 10 and 26 are key for the County, “We believe it’s most important that traffic volume moves both safely and efficiently. There are a few places where the addition of a passing lane might reduce some of the riskier behaviour that we’re seeing and some of the more serious traffic incidents,” says Wingrove.
As for the beef farming delegation, the Wardens of Grey, Bruce, Huron and Perth Counties all met together with Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman to share their position that there is a need for more beef processing capacity in Ontario. Beef Farmers of Ontario have been saying a “high demand for Ontario beef means slaughter capacity must increase or market opportunities will be lost.”
Meanwhile, Bruce County CAO Sandra Deters Bere says the County made delegations about about a Foundational Hydrogen Infrastructure Project which is a partnership between the County and Saugeen First Nation, and it also made a delegation with the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus during which, they brought up a number of topics including broadband internet, funding for COVID-19 measures, (municipalities had also just received funding from the province before the conference) Paramedics, public health and long-term care.
Also of note, West Grey Mayor Christine Robinson was elected to the Rural Caucus of AMO. Grey County Warden Paul McQueen is also continuing on as a member of the AMO County Caucus.
Photo Credit: Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson via Twitter @LisaThompsonMPP
