KAWARTHA LAKES-Kawartha Lakes sent a delegation to the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) 2024 Conference held in Toronto from January 21 to 23, 2024. Representatives included Mayor Elmslie, Deputy Mayor Charlie McDonald, Councillor Ashmore, Councillor Joyce, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Smeaton and Ron Taylor, CAO.
“This year’s ROMA Conference was very productive. We were able to speak with a number of Ministers and parliamentary staff to ensure local priorities are being heard. I look forward to hearing back on a number of issues. The Councillors who attended felt the sessions and networking were valuable to the work they do on behalf of constituents,” commented Doug Elmslie, Mayor.
The City says Mayor Elmslie met with the Parliamentary Assistant of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Matthew Rae, to discuss the Housing Pledge of 6,500 homes by 2031, within the City’s planned growth. Most of the additional 10,500 units approved through Ministerial Zoning Orders (MZOs) fall outside urban boundaries and servicing areas. Kawartha Lakes is committed to accommodating these units by 2051, however, will require significant infrastructure support according to the City. They say the Mayor discussed supports such as water and sanitary systems, stormwater management, roads and bridges. Provincial support is also needed for regional GO Transit connections, widening of portions of Highway 35 and investment in health care and education to support a rapidly growing community.
Mayor Elmslie also secured a follow up delegation directly with Minister Calandra. The Minister congratulated the City for achieving 84 percent of the provincially-imposed 2023 housing target, and confirmed that further information on the Building Fast Fund is on its way.
The Mayor met with Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity and Parliamentary Assistant Patrice Barnes from the Ministry of Education. According to the City, the discussion focused on the need to increase Ontario Works payments as financial rates have been frozen since 2018. The recommendation made to the Ministry is to double the current Ontario Works rates and commit to annual cost of living increases. This would provide a single person with $1,466 per month or $17,592 annually, making housing and life stability a reality, so that sustainable employment can follow.
There are currently 645 children on the waitlist for licensed child care in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton equating to a 5.8 year wait. At the meeting, Mayor Elmslie recommended increasing the income thresholds for fee subsidy to $31,131 (current minimum wage levels) and providing capital funding to expand current child care facilities in Kawartha Lakes and Halliburton. A parent with young children wanting to get back to work and/or retrain for new employment is deprived of this opportunity, as they cannot find care for their children.
Source City of Kawartha Lakes
