Windsor Ward 4 council candidates outline plans on important issues

Willistead Manor in the Walkerville neighbourhood of Windsor, Ont. on Tuesday, June 8 2021. (Gary Archibald/CTV Windsor)

CTV News Windsor reached out to candidates running for Windsor council. Here’s where Ward 4 candidates fall on the issues of healthcare, including their position on the new hospital as well as mental health and addiction issues, transit service, economic development, the environment and crime in Windsor.

GIOVANNI ‘JOHN’ ABATI

Healthcare

My Healthcare vision involves creating Hubs for Long term care, mental health and overall health. We could create a Mega-Hospital Hub next to the Serbian Centre and adjacent to the via rail corridor. This would provide easy access for Canadian and American researchers as well as their patients.

We can repurpose the Metropolitan Campus for Long-Term Care, offering private and semi-private rooms, palliative care, rehabilitation services and research for dementia and Alzheimer patients. The same approach can be taken at the Ouellette Campus for an H4 facility focused on mental health and addiction services. These hubs would free up space at the Prince Road Campus allowing an emergency care unit for central and west end Windsor.

Public Transit

I support Public Transit and believe it is a perfect example of ‘Build it & they will come’. Not everyone can afford a vehicle and as a result they can find it difficult to access employment, education, health services, food or family. An efficient and reliable transit system will improve our economy, community health and the overall functioning of Windsor as a whole.

I would use the Transit Windsor Master Plan to examine ways of improving the system. Some of my suggestions include: Add smaller buses to reach deeper into residential and commercial districts; establish park and ride stations at malls and further out at City-County borders (401, Highway 3); work with businesses and schools to stagger start times to reduce peak demand. My dream is to establish a Light Commuter Rail Network linking Windsor and the County to industry and residential neighbourhoods.

Economic Development

My Economic Growth Strategy focuses on diversification and public sector investments in infrastructure, transportation and recreation. These would help address our labour shortages and open the door to more private sector investments. The developments along our railways will see me push to diversify our Public Transportation network to include a light commuter rail service. The new Jackson Park Nursery offers an ability to grow and sell Native Fruit and Nut trees as a form of food security and species biodiversity.

I would also go after the Hemp industry. Biodegradable oils for plastics and fabrics could revolutionize the automotive sector while benefiting our agriculture, manufacturing and healthcare fields. I would initiate an off-site patio framework for restaurants to install and sponsor picnic tables in our public spaces. This would increase restaurant revenues, while adding municipal amenities and making our public spaces safer.

Environment

I have spent 40+ years in the environment field and understand the links between a healthy environment and a prosperous economy. Whether in urban / watershed planning, waste management, recreation or transportation, my background will address the potential environmental harms and offer best management solutions.

We need more than policies and words, we need action. Our environmental needs to go far beyond the protection of Ojibway shores or an eco-passage legacy project. We can lose it all with a single natural disaster (fire, tornado), or an insect infestation or a disease. With only 7.6 % land base cover in Windsor-Essex, we need to protect what little natural spaces we have left.

Crime in the city

My cost-effective plans see the police and residents work together to combat crime. The police can’t be everywhere. A combination of community watches and more public amenities (picnic tables, splash pads, dog parks, playgrounds) will get more eyes, ears and feet in the streets to reduce crime.

The other plan is known as Crime Prevention through Environmental Design and offers residents simple ways to make their properties safer. Eliminating blind spots by trimming hedges, removing debris piles, using chain linked fencing, installing cameras or adding lighting with motion sensors act as great crime deterrents.

Other issues

All of Ward 4, is concerned about the homeless issue or the lack of affordable housing. I will work with the city, the province, the federal government, the private sector and non-profits to attract funds to increase housing construction.

I will also support updating zoning policies that will increase densification through varied housing styles. These would always need the approval of residents through public consultations.

EDY HADDAD

Healthcare

Homelessness Crisis

Create a holistic approach to homeless people in our core. Help give dignity to our fellow Windsorites, treating them with love. This should include a facility that provides:

1. Housing

2. Mental health

3. Addiction rehabilitation

4. Counseling

5. Social activities

6. Job training

Transit Service

Economic Development

Prioritizing Spending

Hospitality Expansion

Diversify economy

The Environment

Crime in the City

Lastly is there an issue that stands out for you which has not covered in these topics.

Business Support & Reshaping Our Downtown

GREGORY HEIL

Economic Development

It strikes me that Windsorites pay among the highest municipal taxes in the province and much higher than the suburban jurisdictions. Unlike my opponents, I offer few new spending priorities. Just in the past term, the current Council has dipped into vast and excessive capital reserves for an array of frivolous projects (trolley pavilion, Adie Knox “reimagining”, abandonment of C. Clark skating rink and Peace Fountain for new, relocation of Sandpoint Beach). Under slogan: ‘BACK TO BASICS AT CITY HALL’, I would seek to reign in such superfluous spending and certainly resist the current Mayor’s likely $50+ million new main library initiative.

Our economic development can only be sustained if the cost of doing business in our private sector is not overwhelmed by the cost burden of an overwrought local public sector. It troubles me that, even in these ‘good times’, every other storefront on the commercial streets of my ward are vacant.

Further, I regret that city taxpayers must pay for central services/infrastructure (like the EC Row Expressway) and sponsor such initiatives as the new battery plant land assembly and mega-hospital servicing without suburban participation but to the benefit of all. I find it difficult to support the remote location of a “regional” hospital without regional government reform to support it. I believe it’s time to start an earnest conversation about establishing two-tier regional government where costs and revenues are more equitably shared between the city and suburbs and common services such as police, fire and transit are regionalized. ‘Transit Windsor-Essex’, with expanded routes through the entire urban areas of the county, would provide greater service to residents and opportunity for more efficient operations.

The Environment

My view toward climate change and effect on the environment is based on conviction that it represents an existential threat to the planet which must be tackled on a global basis through action by national governments. But, at the local level, we can do our part by promoting alternative transportation such as cycling and transit, as well as assist the conversion to EVs by sponsoring installation of local charging stations. As it relates to waste management, it’s high time that we catch up with the rest of the province by finally implementing organic waste collection.

Crime in the city

As it relates to the issues of homelessness and substance abuse plaguing core neighbourhoods, I support the recent homeless services hub initiative, but believe that it should be strategically located away from the core and other residential areas, perhaps in the commercial/industrial district on McDougall such as originally proposed for the Downtown Mission.

I do not see serious crime as an overriding issue in the city but petty crime, particularly in the core is a concern. We need to find a way to amplify police presence on the streets and in the neighbourhoods perhaps through considerable expansion of the auxiliary force.

I am deeply convinced that Windsor City Council would benefit from a voice of PRUDENCE…EXPERIENCE…MATURITY…and dare I say, WISDOM…a voice that I can provide!

MATT MARCHAND

Healthcare

I supported the new hospital in 2012 when I was President & CEO of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce and signed a letter in 2015 in support of the hospital, with the understanding that there would be an urgent care centre at the former Grace Hospital site. In my 2018 mayoral run, part of my campaign platform included strongly advocating for 24/7 emergency care on the Grace site.

Part of my platform calls for a Community Improvement Plan for the future use of the Met hospital site so the community can tell us what they want in their neighbourhood. In terms of mental health and addictions, my first platform piece addresses this and includes advocating for funding COAST, wrap-around supports for those using the safe injection site, and more.

Transit Service

I support the Transit Master Plan, including the 418x route, and have called for improvements to public transit in my Community Livability platform. I have also been a long-time advocate for protected bike lanes.

Economic Development

With optimism around new economic expansions in the region, we need to invest more in social success programs while growing economically, so when we get more, we can do more. This includes affordable housing, community amenities to attract and retain both companies and residents, and making the City safer.

The Environment

My Community Livability platform covers some environmental issues that we can control, including increasing greenery and trees, accelerating the City’s plan to replace Combined Sewers with a separated (sanitary and storm) system, ensuring our Great Lakes have clean and sustainable water and beaches for swimming, reducing reliance on vehicles, and installing solar lighting along trails and the waterfront.

Crime in the city

My Crime Prevention and Safety Strategies platform features more than 15 recommendations and ideas, including more frontline police within the same cost envelope, hot spot policing, increased lighting, and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

Other Issues

My full platform is available online, which covers the main issues that I’ve been hearing at the door in Ward 4: Homelessness, Mental Health and Opioids; Crime Prevention and Safety Strategies; Traffic Calming and Safe Streets; Neighbourhood Building; and Community Livability.

MARK MCKENZIE

Healthcare

The top complaint I've heard from residents in Ward 4 is the future use of the Met Hospital site. When the new "Mega Hospital" is built, we need to make sure that the Met Hospital site doesn't turn into another "Grace Hospital" fiasco where it will sit empty for years and turn into a haven for rats, drug users, and vandalism.

We need to consult with local residents and make sure that it will be properly developed into something that not only fits with the surrounding neighbourhood but also makes proper use of the large site. Many residents have suggested Long-Term Care, 24 hour Urgent Care, or at the very least a mix of residential and commercial that won't negatively affect the neighbourhood. Let's start having these discussions now, so that we can immediately get to work once the new Acute Care Hospital opens on County Road 42.

While I don't love the proposed site of the new hospital, I do support it being built; however, I will continue to fight for accessible health care in the city core and for 24 hour urgent care in multiple neighbourhoods. Windsor has gone from 4 hospitals with ER's, down to 2, and soon to be 1. We deserve better, and I will continue to be an advocate for more health care options in the city. I also promise to advocate for funding for mental health and addiction supports including a 24/7 drop-off location for police and EMS to bring people in crisis.

Transit Service

I'm running to make life better for residents of Ward 4, and part of that includes proper investment in transit. I will fully commit to the much needed Transit Garage Expansion and the Transit Master Plan. Many residents rely on public transit to get to and from work and school on a daily basis, and our current system is failing them. Every thriving city has a decent transit system in place, and if Windsor wants to take that next step and encourage new investment then we need a proper transit system to accommodate the work force and residents that live in this city.

Economic Development

With Windsor's unemployment rate hovering at 7.5%, we must continue to invest in attracting new business investment and opportunity in the City of Windsor. Unemployment leads to crime, malnutrition, homelessness and more. Lowering the unemployment rate in Windsor-Essex must be a top priority for our next city council.

We must renew and invest additional funding to the Community Improvement Plan program to help fund more redevelopment and investment in established neighbourhoods and BIA's, and work with current business owners and restaurants to reduce government imposed fees and 'red tape'. I will not only work with existing BIA's but also form a new BIA's on Tecumseh Road East from Howard to Walker Road to encourage investment and events in the area.

The Environment

It's imperative that Windsor divert 70% of its organic waste from the landfill by 2025, as mandated by the Provincial Government. I will push for the formation of a regional Organic Waste Program for all of Windsor & Essex County. Council must then decide whether taxpayers should cover the cost of building a facility to process organic waste or if the private sector is a better option. Seacliff Energy Corp which operated in Leamington takes organic waste and turns it into electricity, thermal energy and renewable natural gas. This could be a great option for Windsor-Essex if financially feasible. I would also encourage a switch to weekly pickup for compost and recycle and bi-weekly for garbage.

Crime in the city

Crime is a major concern for all Windsor residents. As a city, we must be proactive on our approach to crime by increasing neighbourhood police patrols, installing more lighting, assisting in creating more neighbourhood watch programs, and cleaning up and brightening our alleys. I will support the Windsor Police Services plan to hire additional auxiliary and special constables to add more police presence on our streets and in our neighbourhoods. Police presence and enforcement is key in tackling our crime issue and keeping our streets and neighbourhoods safe.

Other issues

Speeding cars down our neighbourhood streets has become a major concern, not only in Ward 4 but the entire city. One child hit by a speeding car, is one too many. Traffic calming measures need to be implemented on our residential streets as soon as possible, and school-zone safety addressed immediately.

Slowing down traffic from just 50 to 40 kilometres per hour increases the chances of survival for a pedestrian in a collision by a whopping 60%. Increased fines for speeding in residential and school safety zones, enforcement and implementing traffic calming measures outlined in Vision Zero will help address some of the speeding issues we are seeing in our neighbourhoods. Everyone has the right to live in a safe walkable neighbourhood, and I promise to make this one of my top priorities when elected.

KRISTEN SIAPAS

Healthcare

The new regional hospital is an important build, and now is the time to focus on getting the infrastructure we need for that site. We need to do what's required of us as a city to prepare that area for the massive development that’s going to take place. I’m excited to get shovels in the ground.

In addition to that important issue, one of the main issues in our ward and our city as a whole is to get the support that’s needed to people who are experiencing mental health issues. We have seen some of the worst and most tragic situations unfold when people haven’t been able to get access to the care that they need. I am committed to finding solutions along with agencies and health care providers in the city to create a permanent home for the H4 hub for people experiencing homelessness and complex trauma, to ensure that they are connected with the services they need to stabilize their mental health.

Transit Service

I am prepared to fully support the recommendations in the Transit Master Plan, including new routes and the garage expansion in the next four years. My dream is accessible, affordable, abundant transit for Windsor-Essex. I believe that if we want to be a city that is a choice destination for investment, for new Canadians, for working families and for young professionals, we need to have transit that supports how we work and how we live. I believe that our outdated and underfunded system is in need of long-term strategic thinking, not just the short-term band-aid solutions that we are offered by council year after year.

We have the potential to use transit to support our priorities related to the environment. After declaring a climate change emergency in 2019, we have consistently undervalued our transit system as a tool to fight against climate change. We need to invest where it counts, and where we can make a significant impact. We know that among those who don’t currently use transit, there is a large percentage of potential transit users who would use transit if it were more reliable and more frequent. There is a perception that transit is only used by students and people who can’t afford cars, a damaging stigma that prevents us from targeting those potential users and building the system to support their needs. The difficulties that transit users experience disproportionately impact equity-seeking groups in our community. A reliable, affordable transit system can help us to achieve our goals related to equity for all. I believe the future of our city demands it.

Economic Development

Ward 4 is the home to 4 different BIAs, with local businesses making up the vast majority of the membership here. It’s important to me that we continue the strong relationships that we have with local business owners, and target the crime prevention and beautification that helps to keep those communities strong and supported. We should continue investing in these communities, meet with business owners often to ensure that we are providing the best support we can. We’ve heard from business owners and BIAs in Ward 4 that have asked for more support and crime prevention in the area, and we know that when we do more to encourage residents to shop local, we keep more of our investment working for us right here in the region.

With a renewed focus on support for those experiencing homelesses, better active transportation and transit systems, we encourage folks from all over the city to shop, dine, and stay in our region, helping to build a stronger local economy for all.

On the larger scale, I’m committed to supporting large investments like the new battery plant that positively position our city in the global economy. We need to continue building on the relationships we have with the University and the College to support not just the manufacturing industry, but the tech industry and the arts industry as well. Diversification can be our strength moving forward.

The Environment

Two small things come to mind in the way that we address our environmental needs.

The first is an initiative that's already in place - that is increasing the urban canopy. With some of the mature trees we're seeing that need replacing, in Ward 4 especially, it's definitely an important issue. I support expanding that funding and seeing more trees planted across the city in our green spaces. The east end of Ottawa Street is a great example of an area with very little mature tree growth, and it could really use the shade!

The other is an issue that some residents raised about people who take the initiative and plant native plants in their front yards. There have been conflicts across the city recently with people who have been asked to uproot the landscaping they've done, and I believe they should be allowed to keep their native plants in place, as they enhance the landscape and provide necessary biodiversity.

Crime in the city

In Ward 4, I've heard complaints about petty theft, property damage, and folks breaking into cars and backyards. We have seen an increase in crime and unwanted behaviour in our community, an increase in homelesseness, addiction and mental health issues, because we haven’t invested in the supports that people need. We need to do more as a city to support these folks if we want to improve our community safety. I’m fully in support of finding a permanent location and funding for our Homelessness and Housing Help Hub that was originally located at Water World. We know that people need a safe place to go that gets them off of our streets and connected to the services that they need.

Other issues

Our city currently faces a deficit in housing capacity, and we have been told that as a region we need to add upward of 30, 000 units in order to meet demand over the next 10 years. In our next 4 years, this council will have the responsibility to create housing solutions through speeding up development approvals, encouraging gentle density, and building new affordable housing units. We need to make it our job not just to build, but to determine Who we are building for, How we are building to integrate into our existing communities, and Where we are deciding to grow. I am fundamentally opposed to urban sprawl because of the social and environmental impact and I believe we can increase capacity through infill first before growing our borders.

We’re entering a new era for the city - we have to ask ourselves who we are and who we want to be. We need to use this opportunity to build in a way that aligns our priorities with our resources and considers not just the economic impact, but the human impact and the environmental impact as well. Our decisions have to be measured by the triple bottom line: people, planet, prosperity.

PATRICK SUTHERLAND

Healthcare

I support the development of the new Mega Hospital that city council had decided on. In addition I would like to see an Addiction Centre added to Met Hospital as there are homeless in South Walkerville as well as along Tecumseh Road.

Transit

I support the Transit Windsor Master Plan. I have heard from the residents that an increase in buses on the Walkerville 8 route need to be added as well as the inclusion of more destinations. Once an hour just doesn't cut it especially in the winter months.

Economic Development

I believe that Wyandotte Town could use some assistance. My platform primarily outlines the elimination of the homeless one at a time along Wyandotte as well as the development of a taskforce to eliminate the drug trafficking in Ward 4 and the core. Economic Development with a safer environment, a few incentives from City Hall as well as eliminating parking meters will increase substantially.

The Environment

I believe that a vibrant transit system would decrease the use of thousands of vehicles on a daily basis thus decreasing pollution. The use of paper and cardboard by local restaurants would clearly decrease the use of plastic products.

Crime in the City

Crime in the city is clearly a byproduct of our opioid crisis. My platform primarily addresses this problem and if elected I would work 6 days a week at the street level to eliminate this issue. I personally have successfully assisted 8 individuals who were struggling and without a home. 6 of them are leading happy, healthy, and productive lives. I have proven success at the street level and I am currently collecting donations for one individual.

I am going to cofound the organization called F. A. D. D. once elected. It stands for Fathers Against Drug Dealers. This organization will conduct neighbourhood surveillance and hold protests and make sure every level of government is accountable and that our courts and police protect us. F. A. D. D. will do everything necessary to end drug trafficking amongst our society. Children are no longer free. No more overdoses! No more deaths! No more funerals! Enough is enough!!!!!

Other issues

The last issue that needs to be discussed is the Great Divide in Ward 4. For decades Walkerville and South Walkerville have had amazing representation at the local level and worked together with their BIA to successfully complete many projects. Here's the problem: anyone west of Gladstone didn't have representation and the area has been completely neglected year after year. If you reside in these areas please do not vote for someone who resides in Walkerville. Vote for your neighbour who also lives west of Gladstone.

Also running in Ward 4

*The candidate submissions are not edited by CTV News for grammar or content. Only those candidates who responded to CTV News have been included.