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SAVE THE DATE

For the 2025 Ontario West Municipal Conference

happening on OCTOBER 24th, 2025

The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC) at their October 4^th meeting passed a motion to support the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) “Solve the Crisis” campaign, a vital initiative aimed at addressing the growing housing and homelessness crisis across Ontario. This collaborative effort seeks to drive solutions that will not only alleviate the housing crisis but also strengthen communities across the province by ensuring access to affordable and attainable housing.

The "Solve the Crisis" campaign, led by the Ontario Big City Mayors, advocates for urgent government action to provide long-term, sustainable funding and support to municipalities to solve this unprecedented crisis. The campaign underscores the need for increased investment in housing solutions, social services, and homelessness prevention programs to ensure the well-being of Ontario’s most vulnerable populations.

As the housing crisis continues to escalate, affecting both urban and rural regions alike, the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus recognizes that collaborative action is necessary to implement lasting solutions. By aligning with the OBCM’s campaign, the WOWC joins a unified voice advocating for significant change. 

Learn more

Today, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy released the 2024 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Building Ontario for You. The government continues to take a fiscally responsible approach towards building the critical infrastructure our growing communities need, reducing gridlock, and making life more affordable by keeping taxes low and putting more money back in your pocket.

“Our government’s responsible approach has resulted in an improved fiscal position since the 2024 Budget, allowing us to keep taxes low, invest in infrastructure like roads, highways, hospitals and schools, and provide immediate relief to Ontario families as part of our plan to keep costs down,” said Minister Bethlenfalvy. “We’re going to continue investing responsibly to support Ontario’s growth and rebuild Ontario’s economy to make our province the best place to live, work and raise a family, all while reducing the debt burden for future generations.”

The government’s plan reduces the deficit and retains a path to balance the budget by 2026–27, even with uncertain global economic conditions and other headwinds beyond the government’s control. Compared to the 2024 Budget, Ontario is also projected to see both stronger growth in real GDP and employment in 2024.

An impactful highlight for our region includes; Increasing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) — the province’s main general assistance grant to municipalities — by $100 million over the next two years, bringing total funding provided through this program to $600 million by 2026. In 2025, municipalities will benefit from an immediate $50 million increase to the OMPF.

"The Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus would like to thank the Provincial Government for the significant increase to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), supporting small and rural communities. OMPF is a critical funding source that empowers our rural communities to deliver essential services and address unique local priorities. This funding ensures that smaller municipalities have the resources to invest in infrastructure and long-term development, fostering economic resilience and quality of life for our residents", stated Glen McNeil, Chair Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus



View the press release 

The County of Huron is taking proactive measures to address the issue of affordable housing in Huron County by developing additional affordable housing units. The latest development, a 20-unit apartment building on Sanders Street in Exeter, is set to be completed and ready for occupancy in late 2024.

This apartment building has been constructed on an existing County housing site, with funding partially provided by the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative. The County of Huron currently has two housing developments underway, aimed at increasing the availability of affordable housing in the region and addressing homelessness.

Huron County Warden Glen McNeil expressed his satisfaction with the progress being made, stating, "Staff, alongside Council, have been working incredibly hard to secure funding, manage construction, and prepare this building for occupation. I'm thrilled to see the progress that we're making to add more housing units and address the housing crisis locally."

The design of the building was done by JPM Architecture Inc., formerly Allan Avis Architects, of Goderich, and it adheres to the County's High Performance Building Standard. This standard prioritizes efficiency, resiliency in product choice, and sustainability in new builds. The apartment building will feature multiple barrier-free units, including 5' turning radiuses, roll under sinks, pull-down shelves, and flush balcony thresholds. The construction materials selected for the development are durable and practical, ensuring that the property can be appropriately maintained with minimal replacement requirements in the future.

Learn more about the County of Huron's commitment to developing more affordable housing in Huron,

We're thrilled to announce Explore Dufferin's recognition by the International Economic Development Council with awards in TWO different categories!

Explore Dufferin was awarded gold in the Print Brochure category for the 2024 Explore Dufferin Guide, and silver in the Special Purpose Website category for the Explore Dufferin website.

Explore both internationally recognized projects and plan your next visit here.

We’re excited to invite you and your team to the 2024 Growing Your Workforce Conference, an event designed to inspire and equip leaders across Southwestern Ontario. Hosted in Windsor this year, on the afternoon of November 21 and the morning of November 22, 2024, at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts, this conference will bring industry leaders together to address key workforce challenges and opportunities.

This event is tailored for forward-thinking organizations like yours, dedicated to building resilient talent pipelines, improving staff retention, and enhancing training and onboarding practices. Highlights include:

• Engaging presentations and in-depth panel discussions on workforce solutions
• Exhibitors offering resources to help your business attract and retain top talent
• An Exclusive Evening Networking Event in partnership with Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, to enjoy local food and beverages, and socialize in a relaxed networking setting with fellow attendees (limited Add-On tickets available via Eventbrite).

With Early Bird tickets going fast, now is the perfect time to secure your spots. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your team’s development and gain valuable insights to stay competitive in today’s labor market.

Reserve your tickets today to ensure your organization benefits from the expertise, connections, and solutions offered at this vital event. For more details and ticket options, please visit www.growingyourworkforce.ca.