Mayor Jeff Jordan, Councillor Reg Freake, Councillor Don Howe, Councillor Lianne Vardy, Councillor Veronica Charrois, Councillor Jennifer Korstanje, Councillor Jacob Baradziej, Chief Administrative Officer Sarah Kim, as well as two Town Staff representatives, recently attended the 2025 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference as delegates for the Town of Grimsby. Critical topics included the timing of environmental assessment for the Provincial GO Station Project, addressing the rising WSIB costs for lower-tier municipalities and establishing a Workforce Development Alliance Group for the Manufacturing Workforce.
The conference was held in Toronto, Ontario from January 19 – 21, 2025, and this yearly event brings municipalities together to discuss best practices and share industry knowledge. The Town of Grimsby participated in delegations with members of the Provincial Government, advocating for issues on behalf of the Town.
Key priorities discussed:
Commitment to Timing of Environmental Assessment (EA) for GO Station Project:
- The Town of Grimsby has been waiting for the GO Transit project for many years and spoke with the Minister of Transportation about the Provincial Environmental Assessment required to move this project forward. A timeline commitment was requested from the Province to update residents on the much anticipated construction of the GO Train Station. The Town also discussed the need for two-way all-day GO service from the GTA into Niagara to support workers, residents, and students from other communities.
Establish a Lower-Tier Municipality Alliance Group (LTMAG) to address rising WSIB costs for lower-tier municipalities:
- The Town of Grimsby spoke with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to seek assistance in developing a Lower-Tier Municipal Alliance Group (LTMAG) to help align municipal resources and identify gaps and solutions currently impacting municipalities. By working with the Province and WSIB, Grimsby can focus on strategies and actions to assist municipalities to manage WSIB costs more effectively while ensuring the safety and well-being of staff, including our firefighters. To help address the rising WSIB costs for lower-tier municipalities, there is a need to align resources at the provincial, regional, and municipal level and implement strategic solutions to mitigate the impact of rising WSIB expenses on municipal budgets and operations.
Establish a Workforce Development Alliance Group for the Manufacturing Workforce:
- The Town of Grimsby spoke to Minister Piccini about the increasing need for the recruitment of skilled labourers to support our growing manufacturing industry.
The format also allows municipal representatives and ministries to meet and discuss the municipalities’ strategic priorities, campaign for local issues, and discuss program and funding partnerships.
As information becomes available regarding grants and funding received through the upper levels of government, thanks to our delegates, the Town will share them with the community through our website, and social media (Facebook and Instagram) channels. The Town’s advocacy program is instrumental in creating positive impacts in the Grimsby community both in the short and long term.
The Town of Grimsby remains dedicated to driving meaningful change for the municipality and raising awareness about the initiatives and concerns of the community.