Ramara councillors raise local concerns at provincial conference.

Ramara Township councillors attended the ROMA conference in Toronto, meeting several provincial ministries and thanking the infrastructure minister for a $30-million grant. Delegations emphasized quarry regulation, rural health-care staffing, transportation communications and recreation planning.

Several members of Ramara Township council attended last week's Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto and met with multiple provincial ministries. The delegation formed five teams to speak with the ministries of Natural Resources, Health, Transportation and Sport. Rather than seeking funding, the group thanked Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma for a $30-million grant to the township. Their discussions focused on local issues such as quarry operations, health-care staffing, transportation bottlenecks and recreation planning. Delegation highlights: - The council publicly thanked the infrastructure minister for a $30-million grant to Ramara Township. - Councillors urged stronger legislation and stricter regulations around blasting and site reconditioning at local quarries; Ramara has 22 quarries and another application is under consideration. - The delegation told Health Minister Sylvia Jones that the township needs a permanent practitioner, and heard provincial efforts to increase physician numbers were underway. - Concerns were raised about the narrow Brechin roundabout and frequent train stoppages; councillors discussed improving communications with CN Railway and emergency communication systems. - Meetings included discussions on long-term care bed shortages in Simcoe County and networking with groups such as TAPMO and the Ontario Long Term Care Association. Summary: The council used the conference to reinforce local priorities around aggregate regulation, access to health care, traffic and railway communications, and recreation. Reported next steps include further discussions with provincial ministries, outreach to partners like CN Railway and TAPMO, and staff work on a feasibility report for a sports dome. Undetermined at this time.