Rural municipal leaders headed to Toronto for 2026 ROMA Conference

TORONTO, Jan. 9, 2026 /CNW/ - More than 1,900 participants from more than 300 municipalities and organizations across Ontario will gather in Toronto for the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Annual Conference, taking place from January 18 to 20 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.

Ontario's Rural Leaders Conference comes at a critical time for the province and municipal governments to work together – including developing a collective response to the economic uncertainty prompted one year ago when Canada-U.S. trade relations were upended. Ontario's communities were impacted quickly, and municipalities have continued to be on the frontline of ongoing province-wide challenges.

The conference provides a unique opportunity for Ontario's rural municipal leaders and provincial decision-makers to focus on rural challenges and priorities. It features dozens of speakers, sessions and workshops, including access to healthcare, homelessness, infrastructure, energy and more.

Key presenters include:

• Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
• Chief Margaret Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
• Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Hon. Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs (invited)
• Marit Stiles, Official Opposition Leader and Leader of the Ontario NDP
• Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario
• MPP Ted Hsu, Critic, Rural Affairs, Ontario Liberal Party
• Christa Lowry, ROMA Chair
• Robin Jones, President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)

Attendees will participate in a record number of delegation meetings with provincial ministries to advocate for the needs of their communities and foster partnerships and relationships across the sector.

All media are required to register in the VIP Room on the Concourse Level at the Sheraton Centre. Attending media are encouraged to book accommodation as soon as possible, if needed.

Media are also advised that the Ministers' Forum has been expanded. There will now be two of the popular questions-and-answers sessions, rather than just one. The sessions will be held on Sunday and Monday afternoon, each with its own theme and with different cabinet ministers fielding delegate questions. The full conference program is available online.

About ROMA
ROMA takes pride in promoting, supporting and enhancing strong and effective rural governments. About 270 of Ontario's 444 municipalities have populations of less than 10,000, while scores more are rural in character. The rural arm of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, ROMA advocates for policies and programs that will help build thriving rural Ontario communities.

SOURCE Rural Ontario Municipal Association

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Lambie, AMO/ROMA Media Contact, 416-729-5425, [email protected]