Grey County Advances Rural Issues at ROMA Conference, But Provincial Commitments Remain Unclear
Grey County met with eight Ontario ministries during the 2026 ROMA Conference to press for rural housing, health care, and infrastructure support. Specific results have not yet been announced.
Grey County officials attended the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference in Toronto from January 18 to 20, participating in ministry meetings and public programming aimed at addressing key rural challenges.
While the County reported a productive three days of advocacy and engagement, the impact of those efforts remains to be seen.
In the lead-up to the conference, Grey County had announced plans to meet with eight provincial ministries to push for local support on a wide range of rural priorities. These included rural housing development, long-term care transitions, court security costs, Conservation Authority changes, transportation delays, health care access, and support for Georgian College’s Owen Sound campus.
County officials, including councillors and senior staff, were joined by Warden Andrea Matrosovs, who also took part in a panel discussion on Ontario’s economic resilience.
Speaking as a representative of Grey County and as a board member of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Matrosovs emphasized the importance of collaboration between all levels of government in responding to economic and trade-related shifts.
“These delegations are a valuable opportunity to advance the priorities of Grey County residents,” Matrosovs said following the event. “The progress made at ROMA will help move key projects forward in meaningful ways.”
The County said its delegation meetings covered a broad scope of concerns and were well-received by ministry staff. Each session reportedly concluded with either a commitment, a request for further information, or an agreement on next steps.
However, no specific commitments, timelines, or funding announcements have been made public.
Grey County met with officials from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Long-Term Care, Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Attorney General, and the Ministry of Transportation.
County officials also thanked local MPPs Paul Vickers (Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound) and Brian Saunderson (Simcoe–Grey) for participating in several of the meetings. Their involvement, according to the County, helped reinforce key messages and provide regional context.
Beyond formal advocacy, council and staff attended sessions on topics including U.S.-Canada trade, regional economic resilience, the AMO Healthy Democracy campaign, and seniors’ care and staffing.
While County representatives described the conference as a success, residents may need to wait for concrete follow-up. It is not yet clear whether Grey County will release a post-conference summary outlining specific takeaways or ministry responses.
The ROMA Conference is one of the largest annual gatherings of rural municipal leaders in Ontario, with more than 2,400 delegates attending this year’s event in Toronto. It serves as a platform for municipalities to share ideas, attend policy sessions, and advocate directly to provincial decision-makers.
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