MPP Oosterhoff Advocates for Niagara at Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference

January 21, 2026

Toronto – Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, advocated for several local municipalities at the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association Annual Conference in Toronto, this week, bringing the voice of rural leaders across Niagara to Queen’s Park.

The annual rural leaders’ conference facilitates delegation meetings between rural municipalities and Ministers of Ontario’s cabinet and Ministry staff, providing direct access to the province’s key decision-makers.

“I have always said, I was elected to be the voice of Niagara at Queen’s Park – not the voice of Queen’s Park to Niagara,” said MPP Oosterhoff.

“The province has made record investments in our region – from new hospitals and critical water systems to irrigation infrastructure and rural development projects. But there is still more to do, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working with representatives from our local municipalities to keep delivering for families and workers in Niagara.”

In his role as Associate Minister of Energy and provincial representative for Niagara West, MPP Oosterhoff hosted and attended more than twenty delegation meetings during the conference, as well as addressing municipal leaders and energy stakeholders in a plenary speech at a lunch event hosted by the Independent Electricity System Operator.

MPP Oosterhoff also attended the Rural Inspiration Awards celebration at the annual conference as excellence awards were presented to local recipients, Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Jordan and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

“It was a honour to present Restaurant Pearl Morissette with the inaugural Rural Heart Award at the Rural Inspiration Awards celebration,” said Hon. Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs.

“Together, the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Town of Minto received recognition for their rural partnership because these two municipalities demonstrated leadership in efficiencies through use of the GruShare listing platform in which they have an agreement to share under-utilized equipment.”

“Our government is working to protect the people and families who call rural Ontario home,” said Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

“From making investments in infrastructure, to supporting Ontario farmers, to creating the conditions to get more homes built, we are doing what is needed to keep workers on the job and safeguard the bright future that is in store for our rural communities.”

“The Rural Ontario Municipal Association Annual Conference provided a great opportunity for our municipal leaders across Niagara to sit down with our provincial partners to present our requests and opportunities,” said Wayne Olson, Regional Councillor for the Town of Pelham.

“Part of our focus was to ensure the province is open to new ideas from small businesses, entrepreneurs and farmers who are at the heart of rural Niagara, and we are thankful to have had the ear of MPP Oosterhoff.”

In the week leading up to the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Annual Conference, MPP Oosterhoff announced $4.5 million in provincial funding through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund for all five lower-tier municipalities in Niagara West, including Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Wainfleet and West Lincoln. The funding is part of the government’s more than $200 billion capital plan to protect Ontario by building key public infrastructure that will strengthen the economy and keep workers on the job in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty.

At the rural leaders’ conference, the province also announced the second intake of the Rural Ontario Development Program, a $20 million investment to strengthen the economies of rural communities and build critical infrastructure.