The warden of Huron County and mayor of Central Huron says he would have thought with a provincial election coming up and little to no government representation in rural Ontario, cabinet ministers would have been anxious to listen to the concerns of rural Ontario at this week's AMO Conference in Ottawa.
Jim Ginn says he wasn't able to get any delegations on behalf of Huron County or Central Huron and he says requests from Bruce County and Lambton County were also rejected.
“As I talk to more wardens from different counties it seems like it's common, which is a little surprising to me with an election coming up and the lack of the government's representation in rural Ontario. I would have thought they'd be more open to listening to the concerns of rural Ontario," he says.
Ginn says he will be attending presentations from the Western Wardens Caucus. The focus of those presentations will be an economic development strategic plan for Southwestern Ontario and the SWIFT program to bring broadband internet service to all of Southwestern Ontario.
Ginn says they have received some funding for that, but they're still looking for more because it's a very expensive project.
The AMO conference wraps up later on Wednesday.
Jim Ginn, Huron County Warden 2017. (photo by Bob Montgomery)