The Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus has a long wish list for whoever wins the Ontario election tomorrow and the federal election later this year.
The Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus (EOWC) represents the 103 municipalities in the Eastern Ontario region, including the eight that make up the United Counties of Prescott-Russell. The EOWC released a four-page list of issues it wants both the winner of the February 27 provincial election and whichever party is in charge of Parliament after the federal election this year.
« We continue to partner together with the federal government and the Ontario government to strengthen our region given the social, economic and political challenges facing us ahead, » stated the EOWC news release.
Topping the list of issues that the EOWC wants to help both the provincial and federal governments to deal with is the threat from U.S. President Donald Trump of tariffs against Canadian goods exported to the U.S.
« The EOWC’s communities are strong contributors to the economy and major exporters to Ontario and other jurisdictions, » stated the EOWC. « Our region generates over $102 billion in total economic activity and exports over $42 billion outside our regional boundaries every year. »
The EOWC affirmed its support of federal and provincial efforts to convince the Trump administration not to impose tariffs and also of plans for retaliatory action if Trump makes good on his tariff threat.
« We stand with our Canadian and Ontario government partners and support the measures they have put in place around the threat of U.S. government tariffs thus far, » stated the EOWC « The EOWC has gathered regional data around exports, sectors and job impacts. We have reached out to partners in the U.S. and across our region to call for allyship and share information. »
Following both the provincial and federal elections, the EOWC wants the succeeding governments to ensure local governments are involved in a « coordinated approach » to dealing with any tariffs and are able to offer their local expertise to help craft a united response.
The EOWC recommends senior governments continue to invest in infrastructure and housing to stimulate and stabilize both the provincial and national economies, eliminate interprovincial trade barriers to help strengthen the national economy, and remove any obstacles that would prevent municipalities from giving preference to Canadian companies when tendering bids for capital projects and supply services.
The EOWC also wants senior government to provide increased funding aid that could help reduce municipal infrastructure deficit gaps, prevent critical infrastructure failures, and support development of new infrastructure that will help promote more future investment in local and regional economies.
Both provincial and federal governments are urged to help municipalities with their own efforts to increase the amount of local housing available, including providing capital funding for new projects, and investing in more social housing projects and programs.
The EOWC also urged the provincial government to continue provincial funding support for the community paramedic program.
