As the united voice for Eastern Ontario’s small-urban and rural municipalities, the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) has set clear priorities for the upcoming Ontario election. On behalf of nearly one quarter of Ontario’s 444 municipalities, the EOWC has outlined four priorities and 13 top recommendations in the 2025 Ontario Election Priorities Package Ready to Work, Ready to Grow.
The EOWC’s priorities for Ontario’s next government include:
- Regional Economy and U.S. Tariff Threats: Ensure municipalities are part of Ontario’s approach to U.S. government tariff threats and eliminate barriers to enable municipalities to buy local and give preference to Canadian companies.
- Municipal Infrastructure: Increase investments in municipal infrastructure to grow the region’s economy, create jobs, and close our municipal infrastructure deficit, which is now over $6 billion across the region.
- Housing: Support municipalities to build all types of housing through capital investments and modernizing provincial programs to prevent homelessness.
- Health Care: Continue provincial funding for community paramedicine programs that are proven to succeed.
About the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC)
The EOWC is a non-profit organization advocating for 103 small urban and rural municipalities across Eastern Ontario. The EOWC covers an area of 50,000 square kilometres, serving 800,000 residents. For more than 20 years, the EOWC has gained support and momentum by speaking with a united voice to champion regional municipal priorities and to work with the government, businesses, non-profit organizations, Indigenous leaders, the media, and the public.