Rural Ontario's Future on the Line at 2026 ROMA Summit

TORONTO, ON – January 09, 2026 – More than 1,900 leaders from over 300 rural municipalities and organizations will convene in Toronto next week for the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Annual Conference, a pivotal gathering set against a backdrop of persistent economic uncertainty and mounting pressure on local services. From January 18 to 20, the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel will become the nexus for intense negotiations and policy debates as local officials seek concrete commitments from the provincial government on a host of critical issues.

The conference arrives precisely one year after a significant shift in Canada-U.S. trade relations sent ripples of instability through Ontario’s economy. Rural communities, many of which are deeply integrated with cross-border supply chains in agriculture and manufacturing, have been on the front lines of this disruption. Now, they are looking for a coordinated strategy to navigate the path forward.

Economic Headwinds and the Quest for Resilience

The central theme looming over the 2026 conference is the economic fallout from trade tensions that began in early 2025. Following the inauguration of a new U.S. administration, the threat of tariffs and protectionist policies created a year-long climate of caution for many of Ontario's export-oriented industries. This issue dominated discussions at the 2025 ROMA conference, where Premier Doug Ford championed a “Team Canada” approach to counter the economic challenges.

One year later, the focus has shifted from immediate crisis management to long-term resilience. Municipal leaders are expected to press provincial officials on the effectiveness of existing support programs and advocate for new strategies to bolster local economies. A key program under review will likely be the Rural Ontario Development Program (RODP), which was enhanced and its funding doubled to $20 million at last year's event. Delegations will be keen to hear about the impact of this investment and the potential for further support to help their communities innovate and diversify.

The conference agenda reflects this urgency, with sessions dedicated to developing a “collective response to the economic uncertainty.” For many rural municipalities, this means finding ways to strengthen local supply chains, attract new investment, and create jobs in sectors less vulnerable to international trade disputes. The discussions will go beyond high-level policy, delving into practical solutions that can be implemented on the ground to safeguard the economic future of Ontario's heartland.

Beyond Talk: Demanding Action on Rural Crises

While economic stability is a top priority, it is far from the only crisis facing rural Ontario. Municipal leaders will arrive in Toronto with extensive lists of urgent local needs, demanding more than just rhetoric from provincial decision-makers. Access to healthcare, a deepening housing and homelessness crisis, and a massive infrastructure deficit are issues that directly impact the quality of life for millions of rural residents.

Rural healthcare remains a critical concern, with widespread shortages of family physicians, specialists, and mental health professionals. At last year’s conference, delegations from municipalities like Belleville pressed the province for more funding for physician recruitment. This year, the pressure is expected to intensify as wait times grow and access to care diminishes. Similarly, homelessness, once considered a primarily urban issue, is now a visible and growing problem in smaller communities, forcing local governments to seek provincial support for shelters and affordable housing solutions.

A record number of delegation meetings have been scheduled, providing a direct channel for mayors and councillors to advocate for specific community projects. This process has proven effective in the past. Sustained advocacy by ROMA and its members has successfully led to targeted funding, such as the $175 million Health and Safety Water Stream of the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program announced in 2025 to help municipalities ensure safe drinking water and reliable wastewater services. This year, leaders will once again use these face-to-face meetings to push for funding for everything from bridge repairs to crucial sewage treatment plant upgrades, holding the province accountable for its promises to support municipal infrastructure.

The Political Arena: Forging Policy Under Pressure

The conference is not just a policy forum; it is a key political arena where the future of rural Ontario will be debated. The presence of Premier Doug Ford, key cabinet ministers, and the leaders of all three opposition parties—the NDP's Marit Stiles, the Green Party's Mike Schreiner, and the Liberal's Ted Hsu—ensures that the stakes are high. Each will be vying to demonstrate their commitment to rural communities.

Premier Ford and his ministers, including Hon. Rob Flack of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the invited Hon. Lisa Thompson of Rural Affairs, are expected to highlight the government's investments in broadband expansion, transit, and economic development. They will likely provide updates on major initiatives like the restoration of the Northlander train service and the impact of the $100 million increase to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) announced in 2025.

In contrast, opposition leaders will likely critique the government's record, arguing that current funding models are inadequate to meet the scale of the challenges. At the 2025 conference, both the NDP and Liberals proposed a fundamental review of the provincial-municipal fiscal framework, a call that is expected to be renewed this year as municipalities grapple with rising costs for services like policing.

A significant development for 2026 is the expansion of the popular Ministers' Forum. Instead of a single session, there will now be two distinct question-and-answer forums, each with a different theme and set of cabinet ministers. This change provides delegates with double the opportunity to publicly question ministers and demand direct answers on pressing local and regional issues, promising a more dynamic and potentially contentious level of engagement.

A United Front for Rural Priorities

Representing nearly 270 municipalities with populations under 10,000, ROMA serves as the unified voice for a significant portion of the province. The conference is the culmination of a year's worth of advocacy, and its success is measured by tangible outcomes. History shows that this collective approach works. Past advocacy has secured hundreds of millions in provincial funding for critical needs, including financial relief for rising OPP costs and massive investments to close the rural broadband gap.

As rural leaders prepare to engage with their provincial counterparts, the expectation is clear: they are not just coming to Toronto to talk, but to forge partnerships and secure the resources necessary to build thriving, sustainable communities. The challenges are immense, but the resolve of Ontario's rural leadership to secure a prosperous future for their residents is stronger than ever. The outcomes of the next three days will have a lasting impact on the landscape of rural Ontario for years to come.