Sandwich South needs a reality check

 

Click here to donate to our GoFundMe The Sandwich South Master Servicing Plan is moving ahead A shiny new "Emerald City" is being planned south of Windsor Airport. But the data doesn't support this grand physical expansion. Windsor leadership is very quietly moving ahead on a long term municipal expansion south of Windsor Airport. This project is infinitely bigger than the widely promoted Country Road 42 Secondary Plan that includes the proposed new hospital site. The expansion, to be paid for by Windsor residents, covers a land mass the size of all of Windsor's central neighbourhoods combined. Are Windsor's leaders attempting to recreate the city somewhere else rather than investing in and improving our established neighbourhoods? The financial magnitude of the project has not yet been publicly disclosed. It includes very costly public infrastucture investments such as road widening, as well as re-aligned and expanded sanitary and storm sewers.  Because much of this currently rural land is flood prone, it will also require expensive specialized stormwater management systems to protect existing downstream Windsor neighbourhoods, as well as the adjacent Town of Tecumseh. And because of the proximity to Windsor Airport, special additional measures will be required to reduce the risk of waterfowl attracted to the pools of standing water created by this future stormwater diversion. Right now, the area is active farmland, so water retention ponds are unnecessary today. This servicing plan creates a framework for what could eventually become an entirely new community the size of a small city. The Sandwich South Master Servicing Plan site's area is equivalent to that of Windsor Wards 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 combined. Since Windsor taxpayers will be footing the bill and the city's future population and employment growth are less certain than ever before, why are we investing in such an ill-conceived expansion? This month, the public are invited to give their input before this infrastructure expansion project is approved to move to the next stage. Putting the enormous scale of this project in perspective The Sandwich South Master Servicing Plan covers a currently largely uninhabited 6,400 acre / 2,600 hectare area (outlined in red in the map below) from the E.C. Row Expressway in the north, Walker Rd. in the west, Highway 401 in the south, and Banwell Rd. in the east. It surrounds the 990 acre / 400 hectare County Road 42 Secondary Plan area (the purple perimeter on the map) being planned for the proposed single site acute care hospital, as well as commercial, industrial and low-density residential development. To better understand the scale of this project, the map below represents the size of the area: The area outlined in black is the same size as the Sandwich South Master Servicing Plan. It's equivalent to the area stretching 11 km all the way from the Ambassador Bridge to the WFCU Centre in East Windsor, and from the Detroit River to Tecumseh Rd. Building wider roads to stimulate more car dependency! To demonstrate what is being proposed, one of the public engagement stations shows the many roads to be widened. The accompanying text describes a  need to address future traffic congestion. The coloured lines along and within the project area's red perimeter highlight these roads. Why is there is no mention of the phenomenon of induced demand in the accompanying presentation? For further reading: Traffic engineers know you can’t build your way out of congestion. It’s the design of the roads themselves that cause more traffic. Why is this plan disconnected from Windsor's energy goals? The road widening plans show no compatibility with Windsor's 2017 Community Energy Plan, which specifically commits the city to reduce: per capita energy use by 40% from 2014 baseline by 2041;  per capita Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 40% from 2014 baseline by 2041. Issues that matter to residents: Urban sprawl concerns ignored During a previous public engagement exercise in January 2020, the public articulated many fundamental concerns, including environmental and other consequences resulting from the urban sprawl to be created by the Sandwich South plan: There is no evidence the concerns voiced earlier this year were taken seriously. Though this reflects a major shortcoming in the public consultation process, it's critically important to continue to keep municipal decision makers accountable. So don't give up!   CAMPP has submitted its comments on the Sandwich South Master Servicing Plan We expressed many concerns, including: Uncertain demographic and economic growth: The plan includes the same flat demographic projections that were used when the County Road 42 Secondary Plan was approved by Windsor City Council in August 2018.  Unrealistic new housing needs: We pointed out that the City's entire 20-year projected new housing needs are already being addressed in existing neighbourhoods, through new infill and subdivision projects that are in various stages of planning or construction. Climate Change ignored: There's a complete disconnect to the City of Windsor's climate change policies and action plans. Environmental impacts not evaluated: There is no evaluation of the greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of developing so much active farmland. What negative impacts can be anticipated from the construction of the proposed greenfield hospital 13 km from the heart of Windsor? Consider the environmental consequences of the daily increased driving dependency by thousands of patients, visitors and volunteers, but most importantly, the 5,000+ healthcare workers, many of whom live within walking distance of their workplace today. Costs not disclosed: The plan presents various elaborate options, but there's no disclosure of costs, which may be monumental for Windsor taxpayers. This makes it impossible to provide meaningful feedback.  Flood risk analysis incomplete: Updated flood mapping has not yet been completed, which also limits the usefulness of the public's feedback. Read CAMPP's comments here We urge you to provide your feedback on the Sandwich South Master Servicing Plan. The deadline is October 30, 2020.   Access the public engagement at www.sandwichsouth.ca And now, a reality check: Windsor's 20-year Strategic Vision  describes 3 goals:  1. More jobs in Windsor 2. Addressing Windsor’s reputation 3. Improving quality of life in Windsor Let's imagine what could happen if the astronomical sum of money needed to realize the Sandwich South Master Service Plan was invested in the city's existing neighbourhoods, earmarked to serve the people who already call Windsor home. We could redesign our streets for people and increased active transportation, without widening to accommodate more cars. We could have frequent, efficient and affordable public transit for all. We could have upgraded sewers and stormwater management infrastructure, and feel safely protected from flooding. We could build our new hospital in an existing neighbourhood that is accessible and environmentally responsible.  How would this alternative vision for Windsor's future positively affect the city as we know it today? How much more attractive might Windsor be to new businesses and to younger generations?    Help make this our reality! Windsor-Essex residents deserve a more transparent and accountable decision making process, especially for projects that will affect our community for generations to come.   Access the public engagement at www.sandwichsouth.ca In their own words: Members of our community comment on the issues "60.8% of ALL Windsor & Essex County residents are within a 10 km drive from Met. Only 25.5% (of city & county) are within 10 km of the CR42 location. 86% of all 130,000 ER visits per year are from Greater Windsor. CR42 will put our only ER the farthest from a city centre than any other city in the Country." "I am appalled at the Windsor Essex Development Commission using my money to try to sell this greatly flawed hospital plan ...Giving out "Free Signs"  Outrageous" "Sandwich south doesn't include a plan for affordable housing, stretches public transportation routes (less efficient), is only in range for active transportation for those who live in the immediate neighbourhood, and causes damage to climate change." "I think Premier Doug Ford needs to look at the issues of transportation, flooding and the cost to city tax payers for infrastructure on the land. I acknowledge that Windsor has grown from the inner city. However, I think we need a new location." "It would certainly be folly to even consider the bean field location. Most of the companies in the city are in sunset industries, already we are seeing many of them close down. Sunset industries do not produce growth." "I'm completely fed up with the group that runs the show here. They have never answered any of my questions on this proposed project. None!" "Please people, take a step back and realize what's going on here. Any mall needs an "anchor" store. A big player to anchor all the little stores in between. Mr Dilkens is using our hospital and healthcare and access to it, to anchor a suburb, to justify millions in taxpayer funded expenses to fill in farmland. Well enough, in some eyes, but it also deprives current neighbourhoods of two existing anchors, including 4,000 jobs (Windsor's 2nd largest employer) and their offshoots. New Hospital? Yes. A singular hospital & ER fenced off by an airport? Please, this location is chosen for & by developers, not patients, city or county. (PS not "mega". Same or less beds. Same or less services. One ER)." "An environmental and economic disaster waiting to happen, which is why even developer-owned Conservative and free-spending Liberal governments have not moved forward with this location. Dilkens just bought us hundreds of acres of swamp land."

Jeewen Gill and Gary McNamara Both Face a Political Dilemma

 

In Windsor's Ward 7 by-election on Monday, October 5, 2020, voters chose Jeewen Gill over 11 other candidates to represent them at City Council. Mr. Gill's campaign advocated strong action against climate change and the need to curtail urban sprawl. Yet, referencing an aging local population, his election platform also supported the disputed County Road 42 location for the new hospital.  Mr. Gill exposes an inherent contradiction when local politicians proclaim support for the proposed hospital location on farmland adjacent to Windsor Airport, while also acknowledging the need for decisive and immediate environmental protections. ​ On November 18, 2019, Windsor City Council unanimously declared a climate change emergency to recognize the importance of preparing for the city's climate-future. It is clear that Mr. Gill has an understanding of, and supports, Windsor's environmental and climate change policy framework. Below are direct quotes from his written comments in Windsor Law Centre for Cities' Cities and Climate Action Forum survey: I have always been aware of the City’s climate plans especially when our city declared a climate emergency. Climate mitigation would rank in my top 3 priorities regarding the City’s budget decisions.  If we wait any longer, we will simply continue to raise the price on how much we must spend to reduce the harm, we are causing to the planet.  It is our responsibility as global citizens to ensure we are doing everything now to eradicate global warming and environmental impacts. I fully support a carbon budget. A carbon budget incentivises residents to choose green methods of technology and transportation. To ensure that the city of Windsor makes climate-friendly urban planning decisions I would advocate for greater environmentally friendly policies...I would work on zoning laws to ensure we do not expand beyond what would cause harm to our environment. Despite Mr. Gill's admirable concerns about the effects of a changing climate on our community, he also claims to support the ultimate urban sprawl project. How is this possible? Approval for a hospital on County Road 42 is concurrently tied with approval for 900 acres of surrounding commercial and residential development in Sandwich South, which is active farmland today. Adding bike lanes and replacing Windsor's bus fleet with electric vehicles IS a step in the right direction. But these initiatives cannot begin to compensate for the enormous and costly urban sprawl that will result from moving 4,000+ healthcare jobs to the proposed new ex-urban, drive-to hospital location. To give an indication of the size and scale of the proposed Sandwich South development, the green shape superimposed on this map of Windsor's downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods represents a similar area.

It stretches from Windsor's riverfront to Giles Boulevard in the south, Parent Avenue to the east and Crawford Avenue to the west. Yet, while this central area is home to approximately 25,000 people today, Sandwich South is being planned for low-density residential development: the new subdivision is being planned for 7,000 residents.

Responsible development taking a backseat to political expedience Windsor-Essex politicians face significant pressure -- imposed by local power brokers, often not subtly -- to proclaim their unwavering support for the deeply flawed hospital plan. Councillor Holt called it out in a Facebook post:

"It’s a shame we have a municipal politician recommending voters support candidates in a Byelection based upon their support of the location of the “mega” hospital. Not only will these folks have absolutely zero impact on whether this development moves forward or not, but it suggests those questioning or opposing the CR42 site as being unfit for office. I would offer up that those candidates questioning or opposing the CR42 location have a superior grasp of city building principles, and the courage of conviction for doing what is right. These candidates need to be applauded, not dismissed."

The location of the new hospital has deeply divided our local community In spite of the pressure on Ward 7 by-election candidates to profess their full support for the County Road 42 site, the deep division in the community was obvious in a number of the candidates' ambivalent positions. As Anne Jarvis noted in an October 7, 2020 Windsor Star column: "Only six of the 11 candidates in the debate said they support the location unequivocally. Five either opposed it or didn’t commit to it." Local hospital planners and their supporters, to date, have shown no interest in acknowledging the costly consequences of building the region's only full service acute care hospital 13km from Windsor's central neighbourhoods. Instead of honestly addressing this divisive issue, they shrug off the inevitable urban sprawl, increased driving and other serious consequences that will be forced on our city. Most significantly: The long term financial ramifications have never been transparently addressed. The best time to prevent a mistake is before it is made If built as currently planned, the costly legacy of Windsor's proposed greenfield expansion will remain for decades. Our community will be paying with our taxes and our lives long after the current politicians' terms have ended.  Gary McNamara, Essex County Warden and Essex County Regional Energy Plan Community Task Force Chair alluded to this in an October 2, 2020  Windsor Star guest column:

"It’s not about science when it comes to climate change in Essex County — it’s about the cost."

Mr. McNamara noted that local per capita greenhouse gas emissions are about five times global best practice, and concluded his column with this advice:

"We can take the lessons we’ve learned from this pandemic and apply them to the climate crisis...The cumulative effect of empowered and informed individuals making smart, selfless choices can be transformative. We have an unprecedented opportunity to innovate and embrace a new normal. We must seize it together, creating jobs and a path to sustainable prosperity and smart economic growth."

Mr. McNamara (together with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens), loudly and persistently advocated for the County Road 42 hospital location. Yet he is now also calling for decisive climate action. If he truly believes in a climate emergency, how can he possibly support the scale of development and the increased driving that will result from the greenfield hospital location?   Demand the appointment of an independent facilitator to help expose the contradictory issues surrounding greenfield development that local decision makers are afraid to confront today. Windsor-Essex residents deserve better decision making before proceeding to the next stage of hospital planning.

In their own words: Members of our community comment on the issues

"The aggressive attempts by several who hold or have held leadership positions in this community to co-opt the campaign into a referendum on the hospital plan is overly simplistic and ignores all the underlying issues that opposition to the current hospital plan represents. These include lack of meaningful public consultation, climate and sustainability issues, fiscal responsibility from our city council, and real concerns over equity in the plan."

"When is the Mayor going to answer how much more the #42 site is going to cost the City taxpayers in infrastructure costs over the Tec. Rd. site? I'm sure it will make the $1.8m cost in the two properties look like peanuts."

"The proposed location is actually closer for me, as I live in Forest Glade just off Lauzon, but I despise the location for not really being near anybody, as the vast majority of users will now have a much longer commute; and for costing Windsor taxpayers a fortune for extra infrastructure upgrades."

"The top scoring spot based on THEIR OWN ESTABLISHED CRITERIA was the Tecumseh/Lauzon site. Now ask yourself who benefits by deferring to the CR42 site. I will give you a hint: when developers want to build new subdivisions or stripmalls in areas with undeveloped infrastructure, they are forced to pay some or all of the costs for necessary infrastructure improvements. But, if a site already has infrastructure that has been paid for by taxpayers, that expense is no longer their responsibility."

"The Candidates seem to think the hospital has to go to that location, or not at all."

"It seems too many of politicians and pundits really miss the synergetic effect of having a hospital in a high density population area, Affects the whole community."

"I still find it amazing that those in power really love to push this hospital propaganda any chance they get. I feel like if it rained tomorrow they would say we are being punished for not building the hospital"

"Sorry, but this plan is a mistake. And it will cost lives. We need to rethink this plan"

"I would hope Ontario Ministry of Health recognizes the the multitude of concerns around this entire plan."

Ward 7 By-Election Candidates' Thoughts On The New Hospital, Urban Sprawl & Climate Change

 

Windsor's Ward 7 is heading to the polls on Monday, October 5, 2020. This week, we're highlighting statements by the candidates about the proposed new mega-hospital, urban sprawl and climate change in Windsor-Essex.

Ward 7 is located in East Windsor, adjacent to the Detroit River to its north and the Town of Tecumseh to its east. Largely characterized by its many suburban row-houses, new home construction has been constant in Ward 7 in recent years.

This low-lying ward is located within the Little River Floodplain, which stretches from the Sandwich South area (where the proposed new hospital is to be built) to the Detroit River. The area has historically experienced major flooding due to its topography.

Demographics The 2016 Census recorded a population exceeding 24,000 residents, of whom 20% are aged 65 and older. With an average household income of $92,709, Ward 7 residents earn 30% more than Windsor's average income. What the Candidates Said What we found surprising from the quotes below was how few of the candidates made connections between (1) increased urban sprawl and car dependence (implicit in the construction of the new hospital on County Road 42 and its surrounding 900-acre residential and commercial development), and (2) the costs and effects of flooding resulting from extreme rainfall, which is considered Windsor's greatest climate change impact. Few showed much familiarity with the City of Windsor's environmental and climate change framework. We used colours (green, yellow and red) to indicate, in our opinion, how well each of the candidates (listed in alphabetical order) tackled the complexities of these issues. Who is best qualified to represent Ward 7 at Windsor City Council? We'll let you decide:

Igor Dzaic

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: I support the new hospital plans as they stand. I support the 42 site. I have been in favour of the new plans all along and I haven't flip-flopped. If we want to attract more specialists to move into our city, they must have a modern workplace as well. It will lower wait times and that is what we need...I'm glad CAMPP has lost in court every step of the way. Our seniors, our middle aged residents, my generation and the next generation, all deserve modern healthcare as soon as possible. It comes with thousands of new job contracts during the development process, both union and non-union. I want to attract talent to move here, and I want our talent to remain here. So, I will work with our mayor, our city council and our provincial partners to make sure we have this modern healthcare facility. We must say yes to a once in a lifetime project. My question is: Why don't some candidates support modern healthcare and thousands of new jobs as soon as possible? On urban sprawl: I dislike the negative tone about Ontario's urban sprawl, and I dislike the negative tone towards the Oil Sands. Both are very important to Canada. On climate action: Climate action is important, yes. Is it the most important issue for Ward 7? No, it is not. Getting people employed is the #1 issue in Ward 7 and in Windsor.

Farah El-Hajj

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: There's been lots of debate around where the new hospital's going to go. I think what the focus needs to go on is the services, both municipally and health services, and securing funding for that project. We have yet to see a comprehensive plan for what the hospital will entail, what services will be offered, and what infrastructure investments are needed to provide world class healthcare here for the residents of Windsor Essex. We should not have to travel to Toronto, or London or Hamilton or Detroit to get healthcare services that were once offered in Windsor and we have seen them be eliminated over the last 30 years. We need to see the necessary infrastructure investments made to roads, sewers, active and public transportation near the proposed location. We need to ensure that residents that do not have access to cars, still will have access to the hospital.  We need a new facility for sure, but we have yet to see any promised dollar amount from the Premier, from the province and with an aging population, it's needed now more than ever. On urban sprawl: There are many development related decisions that have created significant problems that we are being forced to address today. We cannot repeat those mistakes. On climate action: Climate Change is impacting all of us, especially our youth as we care about the future of the planet and what our lives will look like.

Michelle Gajewski

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: I don't think this issue will be coming back to council, but I will share my thoughts. We are the fastest growing ward in the city and new developments in Tecumseh between Banwell and Manning are also in the works, so we could use a hospital in our area. But ultimately I think the plan has issues that need to be addressed. I am most concerned about the shutdown of emergency room services of our existing hospitals that are planned to be demolished inside of neighbourhoods where people live, and they will not be replaced. The planned urgent care in downtown Windsor will not replace these services. Furthermore, the new hospital will not bring new services to Windsor-Essex. It's just an amalgamation, from my understanding. So residents will still have to travel to London and Toronto for surgeries, tests and scans. I'm just not sure closing 600 hospital beds that are over multiple locations is worth moving to one non-central location. We should be increasing hospital beds and not going for a net neutral...with our aging population, we should be bringing more here, and not just shuffling things around. On urban sprawl: I think its important to work with city planners, engineers, and look at what is working (or not working) in other urban centres across the world to ensure we are making sound urban planning decisions. On climate action: Human-caused climate change brings with it an increased risk of flooding. The reason that my platform includes climate change and not simply flood mitigation (one of the top issues facing Ward 7 residents) is because flooding is one of the biggest risks our city faces due to climate change. We need to address the problem holistically, rather than putting temporary band-aids on it.

Jeewen Gill

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: I'm a strong advocate and supporter of the current location. We need investment in Windsor...We have an aging population. Close to 55%+ is a senior in the ward and the hospital is welcome for our residents as it will give residents access to the best possible health care system. On urban sprawl: To ensure that the city of Windsor makes climate-friendly urban planning decisions I would advocate for greater environmentally friendly policies...I would work on zoning laws to ensure we do not expand beyond what would cause harm to our environment. On climate action: It is our responsibility as global citizens to ensure we are doing everything now to eradicate global warming and environmental impacts.

Barb Holland

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: It would be an absolute shame to lose that hospital. And when it comes to politics and the managing of budgets, when you have one party take office over another, and we are at risk. So it’s time to stop waiting. It’s time to begin building. I heard some concerns about buses. Transit Windsor will certainly adjust its routes to get people to that hospital. On climate action: The cost of doing nothing is too great to bear. Flooding has shown that we need to reduce risk to properties, strengthen the resilience of our infrastructure, protect our naturalized areas, and reduce community service disruptions. I support the City’s climate mitigation and adaptation action targets. City leaders must build on the work already done.

Greg Lemay

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: If anybody's been knocking, you know that 100% it comes up at almost every door. With a large population of seniors, they want that hospital. I want that $2 billion investment in my community...The issue I have right now is basically Lauzon, 42 and Walker with Windsor being completely on the hook in terms of the developmental fees. I’d like to see some cost sharing there with the other parts of the region. Outside of that I'm 100% in support of the location. On climate action: I believe council did the right thing in November 2019 when it declared the climate emergency. I continue to say we need to continue and follow through with plans.

Michael Malott

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: It comes up at the door a lot. It's a very polarizing question, and I get a lot of mixed reactions at the door. I get a lot of concerns...the mega-hospital is a city-wide issue and we have to address the fact that we have some EMS response time issues across the city. The province has mandated minimum EMS response times to and from the hospital. Having a mega-hospital on County Road 42 with no clear services provided in the core leaves me extremely anxious of how that will affect our downtown...So at the end of the day, after it's all said and done, I do support a new hospital. I don't think anybody here doesn't support a new hospital but the location is an issue and clarity as to what's going to be left in the core. On urban sprawl: We need Smart Development moving forward, not just more development. Infill has been proven to be up to 10 times more profitable for cities in terms of tax dollars than building new supercentres or Big Box stores.  On climate action: Permeable surface driveways and walkways, green roofs, swales and rain barrels are just a few ways to reduce flow into our storm-water system and should be encouraged, if not mandated, in future developments.

Angelo Marignani

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: A new hospital at $2 billion for this project will bring thousands of high-paying jobs to the region, attract world-class scientists, bring state-of the art technologies and innovations, medical professionals, surgeons, oncologists, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and healthcare teams. On urban sprawl: Firstly, whenever there is a large development, the city as a whole should have a voice and be a part of the democratic process before any planning at a particular location moves ahead. When you bring everyone to the table, with several experts in the field as well as public opinion, this can help make climate-friendly urban planning more seamless and ideal. Repurposing old buildings and developing brownfield will be a key objective of policies. On climate action: There has been a 1C increase in our average annual temperature, and an increase of approximately 7 per cent in annual rainfall since 1990. We need to look at future decisions regarding infrastructure through a more environmentally conscious lens. We all know the elephant in the room is climate change, and now is the time to deal with it. The mega hospital is a perfect example of how the City of Windsor can work with the County of Essex and surrounding municipalities to assist in actualizing climate mitigation.

Thérèse Papineau

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: I support city council and the location of the site. I believe it is in perfect proximity to the airport and, in a selfish way, it is very close to Ward 7. On urban sprawl: As the largest single source of pollution is gasoline and diesel, as councillor, I would put forward recommendations/incentives to promote carpooling and public transportation. Also, I would support more bike trails throughout the City to accommodate cyclists. On climate action: I would review existing reports, confer with experts in the field, ascertain the need, and then, along with Council, decide the priority, being mindful of budgetary restraints.

Albert Saba

On the proposed hospital on County Road 42: Back in 2018, when the debate regarding the rezoning of the plot of land targeted for a new mega-hospital took place at City Council, I was among the few running candidates, who are here, who were there that night. For 10 hours I listened to all delegations (60+) and all experts who had interesting things to say about the reasons they judged the selected location was a wrong one for the present and for the future situation of the City of Windsor. I am 100% for the mega-hospital. But, I remain against its proposed location today in September 2020 as I was against that site in 2018. On climate action: It’s an overdue action. I support the plan put in place.

Howard Weeks

On the hospital and the development of Sandwich South: I want to see the best possible healthcare for Ward 7, Windsor and the county as a whole. I believe that the process our community has been engaging in for the past several years is not working. The fact that after all these years we seem to be no closer to the state of the art healthcare facility that we all seek, indicates to me that we need a new strategy. In order to move forward, we need to unite the community, speak with one voice and present to the province a common front. This would involve all stakeholders coming together on a level and public playing field, rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever it takes to hammer out a common position. The process would involve a lot of work, compromise, and the end result will certainly not be loved by all. But if all sides truly believe their position is the right one, they should not have any hesitation to put it to the test in a fair and public process. On climate action: Our mitigation and adaptation targets cannot be set high enough. We need to get serious with reducing Windsor’s carbon footprint, and we need to do it now.

Notes: The quotes above represent just a portion of what the candidates had to say. For more, please go to: Windsor Law Centre for Cities Candidate Survey  Rose City Politics, September 30, 2020 Ward 7 Candidates' Debate hosted by the Young Rotary Leaders on September 22, 2020 What you need to know about the candidates running in Windsor’s Ward 7 byelection, Blackburn News, October 3, 2020 Only six candidates responded to the Windsor Law Centre for Cities candidate survey that asked them about their positions on urban sprawl and climate change. The candidates who did not respond are: Barb Holland, Ernie Lamont, Greg Lemay, Michael Malott, Albert Saba and Howard Weeks. Greg Lemay and Ernie Lamont did not participate in the Rose City Politics debate. Ernie Lamont's campaign does not have a website that we're aware of. His position on any of the issues is unknown.

Thank you for your many messages of support. Please continue to send us your comments and contribute to our fundraiser for legal expenses.

In their own words: Members of our community comment on the issues

"We are stalled in Stage 1 of this hospital process after so many years because of the autocratic patterns and the inability to listen, analyze and adopt well documented best practices for building strong healthy cities by this city’s leaders. Our city council failed in their mandate to give due consideration to all the well researched concerns brought to council chambers by concerned citizens and professional associations."

"the lack of respect for submissions by CAMPP presenters at Windsor City Council, especially the current Mayor, should be a legacy - a model for disrespect all municipal government classes should witness this arrogance"

"I think it is scandalous to use money for economic development, which we desperately need, to finance a propaganda program. Who even approved such a misuse of funds."