Latest news with #DrewDilkens
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Windsor to change budget process for 2026, councillors to forego committee work
The process for the 2026 budget will be different from last year in Windsor. A brief update was provided to city council on Monday regarding the process and dates for when the budget will be tabled. For the 2025 budget, the 10 city councillors served on three different committees to find savings. Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens has announced that will not be occurring for the 2026 budget. Dilkens says he heard feedback from the councillors that they felt the meetings weren't productive based on the outcome. Administration stated during the meeting that it was still too early to give an indication of where the budget is at. A 12.9 per cent tax increase had been proposed in September 2024 for the 2025 budget. Dilkens then tabled the budget in early January 2025 with a 2.99 per cent tax levy increase. The budget was finalized at 2.98 per cent. Janice Guthrie, commissioner of Finance and City Treasurer, says the city will have to tighten up the belt strings on spending. 'The mitigating measures we have put into place, some of those are drying up, and so we are going to have to look deep. And so in terms of our Agencies, Boards, and Committees, we have always asked them to keep their budget at the previous years approval.' Dilkens says there won't be committees in place for this upcoming budget. 'I spoke to every member of council, and most of them actually said they didn't find it that helpful. So, if we're not adding value in the process through that structure, I'm certainly willing to work with council to find another structure that they think is appropriate, but I haven't had any of them come back to me and suggest another structure. And so, they always have the ability as they always have to apply in on the budget, to feed into the budget, to make recommendations.' He says the pressure this year is not as large as it was last year, but it's not far off. 'I'm not saying we're breathing a sigh of relief, we still made a commitment, I made a commitment to bring the budget in at or below the rate of inflation - that's still my goal,' says Dilkens. 'But every year when you have a lot of pressure it becomes more difficult to do that work. And so, we're only in July, we're halfway through the year, so there's a lot more clarity that has to come which will come over the coming months.' Another update on the budget is expected at the next council meeting this month. Administration estimates having the 2026 Operation and Capital budget approvals well before the legislative tabling date of Feb. 1, 2026. Under Ontario's Strong Mayor Powers, once the budget is tabled council will have 30 days to review and make any recommendations for change. Ward meetings will also continue this upcoming September and October to allow residents the opportunity to meet with the mayor and city council members and offer feedback. — Meagan Delaurier/AM800 News
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
City wants its departments to 'tighten the belt strings' as Windsor starts work on its budget
Windsor taxpayers will get a first glimpse of next year's taxes when city council meets in two weeks. And the city's treasurer warns it'll be a challenging budget that once again asks departments to put forward some options that could see internal budgets cut between 5 and 10 per cent. "We're sending the message that we do have to tighten the belt strings," said Janice Guthrie. "The mitigating measures we have put into place, some of those are drying up, so we are going to have to look deep." Councillors and taxpayers were shocked last summer when warned of a potential 12.9 per cent tax hike because of budget pressures. But that number went down after administration combed through some recommended service enhancements and cut costs. Council eventually passed a 3.07 per cent hike after losing the fight to save the city's tunnel bus service to Detroit, which Mayor Drew Dilkens decided to cut. Guthrie told council she'll bring forward a high-level budget report on July 28. "I can tell you the pressure this year was not as large as it was last year, but it's not far off," said Dilkens. "I'm not saying we're breathing a sigh of relief. We still made a commitment. I made a commitment to bring the budget in at or below the rate of inflation. That's still my goal." Dilkens will not be splitting council into public budget committees this year to search for savings like he did in 2025. "I spoke to every member of council and most of them actually said they didn't find it that helpful," he said. Guthrie has asked city departments — as well as agencies, boards and commissions that are funded with taxpayer dollars — to bring forward recommendations that cut costs by 5 to 10 per cent. That's been a standard practice for city departments in recent budget years, but it's new for the agencies, boards and commissions like Windsor Police Service, the Windsor airport and the library. "Are we sending the wrong message if we're pegging that at 5 and 10 per cent reductions?" Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac asked Guthrie during Monday's council meeting. Guthrie said it's a useful practice to outline where the pressures are, which can be used to ask Ottawa and the province for more money. "I think we have to ask for potential budget cuts just as city departments are subject to those cuts. I think we have to take a look at it now. It may not be something that will be recommended," said Guthrie. "And not necessarily in terms of service cuts, but perhaps alternative service, making sure that one of the messages is that we cannot continue to operate without support from upper levels of government." Holding the line 'extremely challenging' She said with inflation and tariffs, it will be difficult to run the city the way taxpayers expect at a cost they can afford. City staff warned council last year that holding the line on taxes at or below inflation has been an "extremely challenging process." "It is no longer possible to find sufficient savings within the city-controlled budgets to offset the annual budget increases without a significant impact to existing municipal services," wrote David Soave, a member of Windsor's budget staff, after the 2024 budget process. City staff expect to table the budget in the first week of 2026.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Mayor warns Windsor's jobless rate could climb higher as trade tensions drag on
A truck seen crossing the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont. on July 15, 2025. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor) Windsor once again holds the highest unemployment rate in Canada — and Mayor Drew Dilkens says the worst may still be ahead. 'We're going to have to stick together,' Dilkens said. 'I can't promise this isn't going to get harder before it gets better, but it will get better.' Statistics Canada reports Windsor's jobless rate rose to 11.2 per cent in June, up from 10.8 per cent the month before. It's the only census metropolitan area in the country with a rate above 11 per cent. Dilkens says the timing is no coincidence — pointing to renewed U.S. tariffs and uncertainty around cross-border trade six months into Donald Trump's second term. 'I've always said Windsor is going to get hit first and we're going to get hit the hardest,' he said. That impact, the mayor says, is now showing up in the region's tool, die, and mold industry — where many businesses rely on stable export volumes and long-term production planning. 'You have a lot of tool, die, and mold companies, who have a book of business that might be six months full,' Dilkens said. 'That book of business has dried up, and the order book is empty. And so, they are laying people off.' Mayor Drew Dilkens Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens seen in Windsor, Ont. on July 14, 2025. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor) Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association, says the trend is not unique to Windsor. 'There's nothing specifically haunting Windsor other than the president of the United States haunting the entire sector,' he said. Volpe says tooling firms across North America are dealing with paused investments, fewer orders and intensifying foreign competition — particularly from China. 'The Chinese are rather predatory in their pricing,' said Volpe. 'They are quoting fully finished product for less than the cost of materials here in Canada.' Both Volpe and Dilkens say a new trade agreement between Canada and the U.S. is urgently needed to stabilize the industry and give companies the confidence to plan ahead. 'The longer that we stay with this, the worse it's going to be,' said Volpe. 'We're seeing volumes, export volumes reduced by a quarter, 30 per cent, 35 per cent. All of those affect everything.' With companies holding off on investments and order books running dry, Dilkens says recovery won't happen overnight — but believes the region is well-positioned to rebound whenever trade stabilizes. 'We're going to make it through as a community,' he said. 'We're not going to go down the tube because of Donald Trump.'
CTV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Windsor to hold byelection for vacant Ward 2 seat this fall
Empty Ward 2 seat at Windsor city council in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor) Windsor's Ward 2 residents will return to the polls this fall to choose their new representative on city council. Council voted Monday to hold a byelection to fill the west-end seat left vacant by the resignation of Fabio Costante, who stepped down last month to become CEO of the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation. The decision came after brief but pointed debate around the council table — with the majority in favour of letting voters decide, despite the cost. 'You're talking about a billion-dollar budget,' said Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis, who made the motion to opt for by-election over appointment. '$150,000 is a small investment to make in democracy.' The byelection is expected to cost between $150,000 and $200,000 — a price tag that drew concern from Ward 8's Gary Kaschak, the only councillor to vote against the motion. 'We're one year away from this next election,' Kaschak said. 'I hear a lot of outcry in LaSalle right now of us spending a couple hundred thousand dollars on a one-year by-election.' Mayor Drew Dilkens supported the move, arguing that appointing someone would give that person an unfair head start in the next general election. 'Let the public choose who they want to represent them,' said Dilkens. 'I think you can never go wrong doing that.' Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie echoed that, calling the by-election an important step in democratic accountability. 'The person who's going to represent those folks should go door to door to door,' he said. 'This race will sort of be a precursor for what we'll see in the larger general election.' Ward 4 Coun. Mark McKenzie was absent from Monday's meeting. The remaining seven councillors and the mayor all supported the by-election. Among those already signaling their intention to run is Sam Romano, who finished second in Ward 2 in the 2022 election with 11 per cent of the vote. Speaking to media after the decision, Romano — a retired banker with 40 years of experience — said he's ready to get back on the campaign trail. 'I'm available. I'm retired. I can jump into it right away,' he said. 'I'm on my bike all the time riding around — and then stopping at McDonald's for a quick ice cream.' Romano previously said he hoped to be appointed to the vacant seat, but welcomed the opportunity to earn it at the ballot box. The nomination period for candidates will open July 21 and close at 2 p.m. on September 12. Election Day is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27. Whoever wins will serve the remainder of the current term — with Ontario's next municipal election already set for October 2026.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Windsor moves forward with $3.1M fire truck order amid tariff uncertainty
A fire truck at Station 1 in Windsor, Ont., on Oct. 8, 2023. (Melanie Kentner/CTV News Windsor) Windsor City Council has approved the purchase of two new fire vehicles — a decision staff say could save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars if tariffs rise in the near future. The $3.1-million order includes one aerial and one pumper truck, both replacing aging vehicles nearing the end of their service life. City officials say one of the key motivations for moving quickly is uncertainty around international tariffs, particularly as they relate to U.S.-built emergency vehicles. 'The nice thing is that right now, emergency vehicles are exempted under those tariffs,' said Michael Chantler, the city's commissioner of community services. 'That could change any given day.' Chantler said the lead time to receive the trucks is already a couple of years — and ordering now locks in lower pricing. 'By doing it now we save a couple hundred thousand dollars on the price of the vehicles,' he said. 'Then we have setup once the vehicles arrive… and we don't know where the cost will be on that equipment when those trucks arrive.' Each truck is expected to cost an additional $80,000 to fully equip after delivery. Mayor Drew Dilkens supported the move but said it highlights the financial strain the city faces when replacing major assets. 'We can afford to buy two new fire trucks, but it's at the expense of something else,' said Dilkens. 'If we're paying 73 per cent more on a $1.5-million fire truck, that means there's something else we can't do downstream.' Council's decision comes amid broader discussions about capital funding and long-term asset management. 'We still have to make sure we have police cars and fire trucks on the road and responding to 911 calls,' Dilkens added. 'But these are real pressures… and they speak to the inflationary issues we see as a city.' The new fire vehicles are expected to arrive in early 2026.
