At their annual inaugural meeting in Kingston last week, the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus appointed a Chair and Vice-Chair for the upcoming year.
Mayor of Kawartha Lakes Andy Letham will be the Chair for 2020, while Hastings County Warden and Mayor of Tyendinaga Township Rick Phillips will serve as the Vice-Chair. Phillips served as Chair of the EOWC in 2013.
Both positions are one-year terms and filled by one of the EOWC members, while also being voted on by members.
“The EOWC Chair and Vice-Chair serve as the main point of contact for the Caucus and play a leadership role in helping to ensure that key EOWC priorities move forward,” the EOWC says.
“The EOWC will undergo 2020 priority setting in the spring and at this time will decide the focus for the remainder of the year,” they say. Topics of discussion will include the Eastern Ontario Regional Network Cellular Network Improvement Project and Broadband Gap Strategy, the “overhaul” to the provincial health system, affordable housing, and funding for long-term care.
“The EOWC’s greatest strength is its ability to speak with a unified voice and bring together the entire region of eastern Ontario at one table,” Phillips says. “As we work towards advancing EOWC priorities in 2020, we will continue to work closely with the provincial and federal governments as well as key partners in order to best serve eastern Ontario residents.”