The Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus (WOWC) and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) have formalized a new partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding to address shared regional challenges such as water quality and climate change, while advancing economic growth across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region.

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The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) is calling on the Province of Ontario to take immediate action to address growing pressures on emergency rooms (ERs) and improve access to timely care, particularly for children.



At its April 10, 2026 meeting, the WOWC Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution in support of Finlay’s Law on Emergency Room Reform, a proposed framework aimed at strengthening pediatric emergency care across the province.



Emergency departments across Ontario continue to face increasing demand, staffing shortages, and longer wait times. Data from Health Quality Ontario indicates that patients requiring hospital admission are waiting, on average, up to 20 hours, while high-acuity patients are waiting close to five hours to see a physician. These pressures are being felt in communities of all sizes, including across Southwestern Ontario.

The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) has submitted its recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance as part of the federal government’s 2026 pre-budget consultation process. Representing 15 upper and single-tier municipalities and more than 1.6 million residents, the submission emphasizes the critical role Western Ontario plays in powering Canada’s economy through manufacturing, agriculture, energy production, and trade.

The WOWC calls on the federal government to make targeted investments that recognize the unique realities of rural and mid-sized communities, particularly as municipalities continue to face growing pressures related to housing, infrastructure, workforce shortages, and economic competitiveness.

Key recommendations in the submission include expanded infrastructure funding for housing-enabling projects, increased support for regional and rural transit systems, investments in workforce development and skilled trades, and enhanced economic development tools to strengthen supply chains and attract investment to rural Ontario. The submission also highlights the importance of supporting trade-exposed sectors amid global economic uncertainty and tariffs, while ensuring municipalities have the resources necessary to support continued growth.

Through this submission, the WOWC reinforces its message that strategic federal investment in Western Ontario is essential to strengthening Canada’s broader economic resilience and long-term prosperity

The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) has submitted comments to the Province of Ontario regarding Bill 98, the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026.

In the submission, WOWC expressed support for the Province’s goal of accelerating housing development and improving transportation infrastructure, while emphasizing the need for practical implementation measures that reflect the realities of rural and mid-sized municipalities.

The submission highlighted several key themes, including the importance of Municipal Consultation and Collaboration, ensuring municipalities remain active partners in the development and implementation of legislative and regulatory changes impacting local planning and infrastructure systems.

WOWC stressed that municipalities across Western Ontario continue to face significant pressures related to servicing capacity, infrastructure funding, workforce shortages, and regional connectivity. The Caucus also emphasized that successful housing growth requires parallel investments in roads, transit, water, wastewater, and community infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability and economic competitiveness.

Through the submission, WOWC reinforced its commitment to advocating for collaborative solutions that support responsible growth and stronger communities across Western Ontario.

The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) has submitted comments to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy regarding Bill 100, the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026. In its submission, WOWC expressed concerns about proposed governance reforms that could weaken local decision-making and reduce municipal autonomy across Ontario.

While the legislation currently applies to specific regions, the Caucus emphasized that the proposed changes signal a broader provincial direction that could have long-term implications for counties and rural municipalities throughout Western Ontario.

The submission focused on several key themes, including Maintaining Locally Elected Leadership, Recognizing Differences Between Municipal Structures, Reflecting Rural and Regional Realities, and Ensuring Collaborative Municipal-Provincial Partnerships. WOWC stressed that counties operate differently than large urban regions, relying on collaborative two-tier governance systems that reflect local needs and balanced representation.

The Caucus urged the Province to ensure future governance reforms are developed in partnership with municipalities and continue to support local accountability, effective service delivery, and strong regional collaboration. Through the submission, WOWC reinforced its commitment to protecting local governance structures while continuing to advance shared priorities related to housing, infrastructure, and economic growth across Western Ontario.

The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) has launched a new professional development initiative for elected officials and senior municipal leaders titled Investing in Our Future: Why Economic Development Matters. The half-day sessions are designed to provide municipal decision-makers with a practical understanding of economic development and the important role local governments play in shaping long-term community prosperity.

Participants explore how municipal policies and decisions influence business growth, investment attraction, workforce development, and overall community vibrancy, while also gaining insight into the shared responsibility economic development requires across departments and leadership teams.

For more information and to register click here.