City advocates for rural funding

HAMILTON, ON – The City of Hamilton should be eligible for provincial funding programs targeting rural areas and requested a change of policy at the recent gathering of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association, which represents rural communities through policy and advocacy efforts directed at the Government of Ontario.

Hamilton is not currently eligible for provincial funding programs targeting rural areas through Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs funding streams such as the Rural Economic Development Fund, despite having 60 per cent rural land.

More than 40% of Hamilton’s population lives in rural areas, and the City was represented at the ROMA conference by Ward 11 Councillor Mark Tadeson and Ward 4 Councillor Tammy Hwang, who attended the conference on behalf of Mayor Andrea Horwath.

In addition to funding eligibility, the City advocated for priority projects, investments and services for rural Hamilton residents, including:

• Increased access to high-speed broadband internet;
• Rural housing needs, including supportive housing;
• Drainage infrastructure for the agriculture industry; and
• Rural transit connectivity.

This year's ROMA Conference took place in Toronto from January 21 to January 23, and provided municipalities the opportunity to meet directly with provincial ministers on local issues