West Lincoln champions modernization and infrastructure priorities at 2026 ROMA Conference

A Township delegation represented West Lincoln at the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference, held in Toronto from January 18 to 20. This annual conference offers municipal leaders a forum to engage with provincial officials and connect with peers on shared challenges and opportunities.

Mayor Cheryl Ganann, Councillors Shelley Bradaric, Joann Chechalk and William Reilly and Chief Administrative Officer Truper McBride met with Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure, and Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

“ROMA provides an important opportunity for municipalities like West Lincoln to speak directly with provincial leaders about the investments needed to support growing and evolving communities,” says Mayor Cheryl Ganann. “From modernizing how we deliver services to renewing essential stormwater infrastructure, our discussions focused on practical solutions that will strengthen resilience, support housing and ensure we are meeting the needs of residents today and into the future.”

“Securing provincial support is critical to advancing projects that improve efficiency, protect infrastructure and manage long-term risk,” says CAO Truper McBride. “Investments in digital modernization and stormwater renewal will help the Township deliver reliable services, safeguard municipal systems and make better use of existing infrastructure as our community continues to grow.”

The delegation advocated for provincial funding to support AI deployment and service automation and stormwater infrastructure renewal.

AI Deployment and Service Automation

The delegation requested provincial Municipal Modernization funding to support implementation of priority initiatives identified in the Township’s IT Strategic Plan, specifically for:

• Offsetting costs related to AI-driven automation, cybersecurity enhancements and enterprise system modernization
• Supporting emerging technologies and phased implementation
• Advancing digital transformation in a sustainable and secure manner

Provincial support would enable the Township to accelerate modernization efforts, protect critical municipal systems and deliver more efficient and accessible services to residents.

Stormwater Infrastructure Renewal

The delegation requested dedicated provincial funding support to assist with stormwater infrastructure renewal, specifically for:

• Design and construction costs associated with SWM pond cleanouts
• Rehabilitation of aging stormwater assets to restore design performance
• Proactive investment to mitigate flood risk, erosion and water quality impacts
• Support new housing through better use of existing infrastructure

Provincial funding support would enable the Township to address critical infrastructure needs in a timely manner, ensure compliance with Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks requirements, continue to advance new housing initiatives and reduce long-term environmental and financial risks.

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