The OGRA/ROMA Combined Conference is one of the largest municipal conferences in Canada attracting more than 1,300 delegates each year from rural, urban, large, and small municipalities. Delegates have access to more than 15 provincial ministers and can take part in meetings, seminars, and workshops. The audience is made up of municipal politicians and public works professionals and senior staff from all across Ontario, as well as over 90 private companies who exhibit the latest in technology, products and services in public works at the onsite trade show.  

“This year’s conference theme ‘The Road Ahead: Taking Stock, Taking Care’ focuses on the need for the planning, investment and managing of public assets that municipalities are entrusted with” says Tony Prevedel, OGRA President and Director of Public Works for the Town of Whitby. 
 

Workshops and Information Rooms include the following topics:

•         Creating clean energy from solid waste

•         Accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities

•         Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) requirements

•         Municipal Fire Protection

•         Rural Ontario Issues

•         Pavement Rehabilitation Strategies

•         Municipal Best Practices

•         Latest enhancements to Municipal DataWorks: OGRA’s Asset Management Tool

•         Infrastructure Financing

“Conferences such as this allow us to keep the other orders of governments’ feet to the fire by way of municipal delegations with provincial officials, keynote speeches by Leaders and Ministers, and the Ministers’ forum” says Doug Thompson, Chair, ROMA, and Councillor, City of Ottawa.

Ministers scheduled to speak are Hon. John Gerretsen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Hon. Donna Cansfield, Minister of Transportation, and Hon. Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-term Care and the 14 LHIN Chairs will host an information room to meet with delegates and answer questions on Tuesday February 27. John Tory, Leader of the Ontario PC Party, and Howard Hampton, Leader of the New Democratic Party, will address delegates Tuesday afternoon. The Ministers’ forum follows featuring a panel of twelve ministers prepared to answer questions from the conference delegates. And Premier Dalton McGuinty will host the Government Reception at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday evening.  

The 2007 OGRA/ROMA Combined Conference runs from Sunday, February 25 to Wednesday, February 28 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. For more details, visit www.ogra.org.

The Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) represents the infrastructure interests of municipalities through advocacy, consultation, training and the delivery of identified services. The Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) is the rural municipal voice of the Province. The association is an integral part of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). Policy and research activities are undertaken by ROMA through the staff at AMO.

-30-

Contact:  Jayne Patterson,Ontario Good Roads Association, 905-795-2555 or jayne@ogra.org

  Brian Lambie, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, 416-729-5425

At the Royal York Hotel from February 25-28: Check in at the Registration Desk on the Convention Floor