There’s no shortage of challenging issues facing municipal leaders across the province, and the County of Peterborough’s Bonnie Clark is zeroing in on three priorities in the months to come for the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC).
Clark, warden of Peterborough County, was recently acclaimed as the 2025 chair of the EOWC. The EOWC is a non-profit organization that advocates for 103 small urban and rural municipalities across eastern Ontario. Clark had served as the EOWC’s vice-chair since 2023.
Settling into her new seat at the helm, she shared with kawarthaNOW her thoughts around what she sees as the key priorities this year for the EOWC.
“In 2025, EOWC will seek to highlight the region’s economic strength, emphasizing its significant contribution to the Canadian economy through exports,” Clark said.
“We will be continuing to advocate for our region and our businesses who would be severely impacted should the threatened US tariffs be imposed. The EOWC supports initiatives like Fortress Am-Can to boost regional and North American economic resilience.”
An initiative of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Fortress Am-Can is described as a renewed strategic alliance between Canada and the United States “that is a beacon of stability, security and long-term prosperity,” according to the EOWC. “This plan will strengthen our economic partnerships on both sides of the border.”
Clark said her work as chair will focus on the three priority areas of infrastructure, housing, and health care.
“Recognizing the critical need for infrastructure investment, the EOWC advocates for increased funding from higher levels of government to address the region’s aging infrastructure and growing deficit,” Clark said.
In the housing sector, the EOWC emphasizes the importance of facilitating housing development, and supporting a “housing first” approach to address affordability and homelessness.
“Furthermore, while acknowledging the Ontario government’s efforts to improve healthcare access, the EOWC stresses the need for stable and sustainable funding models for impactful community paramedicine programs. Community paramedicine has already made huge impacts by providing front-end community-based care and lessening the burden on emergency rooms,” Clark noted.
Clark was acclaimed as chair earlier this month during an EOWC two-day conference in Kingston, which also saw Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson elected as vice-chair.
She brings with her to the role more than 20 years of public service experience. With a 28-year career as a registered nurse and deep roots as a member of a proud farming family, “Warden Clark is uniquely positioned to represent and advocate for the residents of eastern Ontario,” noted a media release from the County of Peterborough.
“She is committed to fostering collaboration with public, private, and community organizations to advance the interests of all member municipalities.”
Spanning 50,000 square kilometres and serving 800,000 residents, the EOWC has championed regional priorities with a unified voice for more than 20 years. The organization works closely with governments, businesses, non-profits, Indigenous leaders, media, and the public to advance key initiatives that strengthen communities across the region.
As chair, the County of Peterborough said Clark is uniquely positioned to advocate for issues affecting Peterborough County.
“Working together with the EOWC enables Peterborough County to leverage the voices of 103 municipalities regarding common issues and goals to advocate at higher levels of government.”
As for Clark, she said it’s “an honour” to serve in a new capacity for 2025.
“It is a critical time for our country, province, and region to step up, and the EOWC remains ready to work and ready to grow. I look forward to working with my caucus colleagues in the year ahead to advance priorities of infrastructure, housing, and health care on behalf of our 103 municipalities and residents across eastern Ontario.”
