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By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

A canoe relay to oppose Bill 5 and the Dresden landfill project is taking place July 13.

Led by First Nation water protectors and settlers, Paddle for Nibi (Ojibwe for sacred water) participants will traverse the Sydenham River between Molly’s Creek and Wallaceburg to support the river’s rich ecosystem.

According to a media release from the grassroots effort, the goal is to defend sacred waters and treaty rights while promoting environmental justice.

“This call to action arises in direct opposition to Ontario’s Bill 5 and the proposed York1 Dresden landfill, which threaten the ecological integrity of the Sydenham watershed and violate foundational treaties,” the release said. “Our waters are sacred. Our treaties are still alive. And our voices will be heard.”

The journey will begin with a sunrise ceremony and will continue relay-style between Dresden’s Molly’s Creek and Wallaceburg.

The release points out that the Detroit Treaty from 1790 and the 1794 Jay Treaty codified protections for First Nations sovereignty and land. Part of Bill 5, The Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act 2025, “tramples those agreements,” stripping environmental oversight without Indigenous consent or proper consultation, according to First Nations officials.

The group states that the landfill – mere metres from federally protected waters – endangers the Kettle Point aquifer and violates the 1982 Constitution Act.

Due process and environmental protections are being dismantled, blocking First Nations and public legal remedies, organizers said.

“This is more than policy. It’s an environmental and human rights crisis.”

The group is currently taking registrations for the paddle. Participants must be age 16 or older and safety guides and life jackets are required.

Each two-member canoe team will complete a three-kilometre segment.

The event is drug and alcohol free.

Paddle for Nibi is being sponsored by Walpole Island First Nation and Dresden Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal (C.A.R.E.D.)

For more information, email chloewhitedeleary@gmail.com or jakubec@protonmail.com.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Administration for the County of Essex was directed to incorporate the findings of the 2025 Asset Management Plan (AMP) into the 2026 Budget preparation process to continue to address the shortfall in replacement costs, County Council unanimously voted during the June 18 meeting.

The AMP details the need to increase the capital program by just over $1M in 2026 to keep place with inflation and begin narrowing the existing spending gap. Funding will be dealt with at budget time.

The 2025 AMP does carry real budget implications for 2026 and beyond, Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, explained to County Council, adding this document was more complex than those of previous years, due to provincial requirements. It needs to be adopted by July 1.

It was completed in house.

The scope of the 2025 AMP includes all County corporate assets, core and non-core, that were in service as of December 31, 2023, Heidi McLeod, Deputy Treasurer, explained. It also includes proposed levels of service and the impact projected growth will have on County-owned assets.

She added that the condition assessments were updated as of 2023, however, replacement costs reflect current pricing.

The County’s total replacement cost is $1.2B, up $84M over the 2024 plan. Around 50% of that being the County Road network, followed by 26% for bridges and culverts, 6% for Sun Parlour Home, 6% for Emergency Medical Services, 3% Infrastructure and Planning, 3%, General Government, 3% Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority, 2% stormwater network, and 1% for the Essex County Library.

Overall, the majority of the County’s assets are considered in good shape, at 34.2%, and 29.8% are considered in very good shape. 27.9% are rated fair, while 58% are poor and 2.3% are very poor.

Very good and good conditioned assets accounted for 64%, which decreased from 2024 of 70.5%. McLeod noted building condition assessments were completed in 2024, which provided much better and accurate information.

In terms of annual requirements, McLeod explained the County should be spending, or setting aside in reserves for future replacement of assets, $58.5M. Actual annual expenditure is $25.4M with an additional $2.3Minreservecontributions,leavinga$30Mdeficit.That means the current expenditure rate is 43.4%, which is higher than the 41% investment rate in 2024.

The County’s current capital asset backlog – costs denoting the replacement value of assets that have reached the end of their useful life as of the conclusion of 2023, but have yet to undergo rehabilitation or replacement – is just over $5M. It was just over $11M last year. Thanks to the boost of funding received in the last few years, administration has been able to chip away at that backlog.

In looking at core assets, there is a slight decline in the average condition. 27% were in very good, 3% were in good, 32% were in fair, 6% were in poor, and 2% were in very poor condition.

“We need to continue to ensure spending keeps pace with inflation,” McLeod said, adding administration plans to focus on lifecycle activities to ensure the most efficient and effective timing of rehabilitation strategies. Staff will also continue efforts to replace backlog assets, so they are maintained before reaching critical points.

Non-core assets have a slight increase in condition. 39% were in very good, 37% in good, 15% in fair, 6% in poor, and 3% were in very poor condition.

McLeod noted administration will continue to refine its long-term capital replacement plan, will pursue regular building assessments, and review timing of procurement strategies to mitigate risks associated with supply chain delays and ensure a fair and competitive process so the County gets its best value for its taxpayer dollars.

The target reinvestment rate is 4.85% – based on the annual requirement divided by the total replacement cost of the $1.2B in assets. The County’s actual reinvestment rate – based on actual expenditures divided the $1.2B in assets – is 2.11%.

As per provincial requirements, the County looked at three proposed levels of service: status quo (maintaining spending at current levels), inflationary (continue spending in line with inflation), and progressive (increase spending to increase levels of service to work towards closing the spending gap).

Based on County Council feedback in December, McLeod heard the desire to maintain a reasonable level of service.

“The plan is to pursue an inflationary approach, which will help us meet that objective,” McLeod said. The proposed approach includes a 5% increase in the road network, based on the Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council’s inflationary calculations; a 5% increase in spending on bridges and culverts, to prevent future backlog and mitigate higher inflation rates; a one-time increase of $75,000 for Sun Parlour Home, followed by inflationary increases to address aging assets; and increases to EMS.

A chart provided shows an increase of $1M in 2026. That will increase each year to over $1.5M in 2035.

In terms of supporting population growth over the next ten-years, McLeod outlined estimated capital expenditures. The biggest being for roads, with $430M, followed by $10M for EMS (not including a new head-quarters) needed over the next decade.

Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley asked if any consideration was given to the proposed County Development Charges (DC), and if it is approved if the AMP will be adjusted at that time? As the DC policy is still in progress, admin was unsure of quantifying the value that would be received through that. Should a DC program be adopted, that could be built into future updates, McLeod replied.

Shepley also asked if the mega hospital funding that is baked into the County tax levy would be carried on after the County fulfills its requirement and if it would be put over to the AMP at that time. CAO Sandra Zwiers noted at the culmination of the hospital funding contribution, the recommendation made by County admin previously was to take that tax levy and divert it over to either the AMP and/or the expansion program. Administratively, it still makes sense, she added. Those funds at that time can be shifted, without increasing the tax rate for that.

It is difficult to say when the County would make that pivot, Zwiers said in answering LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche’s question on an estimated timeline. She noted the original intention for the $100M hospital contribution was to have a full accumulation of the funds, with using a reserve balance, then paying off the remainder with debt, with the levy to fund the servicing of the debt.

In answering Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey’s question on how much the County is putting into the hospital reserve annually, Ryan noted it was just over $7M in 2025 annually. That is supposed to increase, based on the original funding plan.

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy pointed out the Essex County Library is looking to do the inflationary approach, but noticed the vehicle fleet is in red. She was unsure of the level of risk of that. She wondered if that is something the Essex County Library Board has to deal with, or if it is dealt with administratively at the County.

If needed, she hoped County staff could meet with the Library Board, which Zwiers noted was possible.

McLeod noted the last library vehicle in the red is to be replaced within the next few years. The inflationary numbers for libraries in the document are for inflationary costs of books.

In responding to Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers’s question on if this was looking at a blanketed inflationary approach for everything, or if County Council could be more strategic in priorities, McLeod noted inflationary increases are only recommended for roads, bridges, and culverts, EMS, and Sun Parlour Home. Funding on the Civic Centre or other assets, where the County is already at a good level of service, the plan is to stay at the current level of funding.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara said the County should look at a full strategic life cycling plan for all its assets. He believes they need to look at how to balance debt with taxation over the course of a period of time to ensure those assets can be replaced in the future. He believes this document is a great start.

Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt ensured the $1M the AMP details is needed to increase the capital program in 2026 will be dealt with at budget time.

County administration will provide an update on the AMP annually, and will present a fully updated AMP every five-years.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Essex’s Administration will return with a report on the impact and opportunities to the Town of Essex resulting from the proposed County of Essex imposed Development Charges (DCs), once a formal implementation plan for such proposed Development Charges has been presented by the County.

Council moved that direction at the June 16 meeting.

At the June 2 meeting, Councillor Kim Verbeek brought this forward as a Notice of Motion.

All seven local municipalities have their own Development Charges By-Law, which is imposed on developers to pay for growth-related capital costs. The County does not have one, nor has it ever. In the County’s case, that would include highway, EMS, long-term care, waste diversion, public libraries, and studies related to the five services.

Last month, County Council was provided the information on the matter, but will have to decide whether or not to approve DCs at the County-level in the future.

The calculated residential Development Charges for the County of Essex was presented as $12,956 per single-detached residential unit, $7845 for rows and multiple-unit dwellings, and $6895 for other residential units. For non-residential, proposed Development Charges are $46.34 per square meter for commercial/institutional.

This is the max amount allowable. County Council can choose a lower amount.

Previously, it was noted if the County chose to implement the maximum DC on residential, the total charge for a single-detached unit, for instance, including the municipal DC, would be $48,113 in the McGregor service area and $38,176 for the Harrow Service Area in the Town of Essex.

The County of Essex recently hosted an open house with Essex Council on its proposed Development Charges.

Verbeek said she can see the money this would generate would be beneficial, specifically for the infrastructure costs.

She wanted this report so Essex Council can choose how it wants to direct Essex’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor on how to represent Essex at the County table on this matter.

Essex County Council is composed of the Mayors and Deputy Mayors of the seven local municipalities.

The uncertainty of the trade war with the US has contributed to the stall of development across the region, Verbeek believes.

“And we know development is not immune to these skyrocketing costs and to all the uncertainty around job losses and inflation,” Verbeek said, adding focus should be put on moving things along, not potentially putting a giant financial spoke in the wheels of those trying to build.

She understands it will be a County Council decision, but Essex Council needs to be as informed as possible. It is hoped a report could be created to provide clarity on the matter.

In answering Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais’s question on timelines, Mayor Sherry Bondy noted the County plans to provide an update to County Council after all open houses with the local municipalities wrap-up. The goal of County staff is to provide County Council with a report sometime this summer on the feedback received at those open houses.

Bondy believes there is time for Essex to create a report to help in its stance on the matter.

If the County decides to rush the matter, “that is going to be all the more reason for us to vote ‘no,’” Bondy said. “If I don’t have information on how it is going to impact Essex, and get consultation from Council colleagues here, then I am going to be a ‘no’ at the County already.”

Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley doesn’t think it’ll come back to County Council until its August meeting. As of right now, he will be voting “no” on the matter at the County Council table, unless a report comes back to him and tells him something totally different. He does not believe it is the right time and there are too many other things going on at the County.

Once the County releases its transition plan, CAO Kate Giurissevich said Essex staff can then prepare a report for Essex Council’s consideration. She believes there will be time for Essex to put together a report.

For more information on the matter, log onto www.countyofessex.ca/doing-business/planning-and-development/development-charges-initiative/

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Administration for the County of Essex was directed to develop a revised Community Safety & Well-Being Plan (CSWB) in cooperation with the City of Windsor and the Regional Systems Leadership Table, which, once completed, will be brought back before County Council for approval.

County of Essex Council moved that resolution at the June 18 regular meeting, in addition to approving the Progress Report for the current Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety & Well-Being Plan and its submission to the Ministry of the Attorney General.

As of January 1, 2019, the Safer Ontario Act, 2018has required municipalities to prepare and adopt community safety and well-being plans in partnership with a multi-sectoral advisory committee.

The plan from Windsor-Essex had to be submitted and endorsed by City and County Councils by December 31, 2021.

The updated version is required to be completed for presentation and approval from City and County Council by the fall of this year. Then, it will be submitted to the Ministry for approval.

Framework guiding municipalities in their planning efforts for the original document consisted of four areas of intervention, including social development, prevention, risk intervention, and incident response.

The local, current plan was developed focusing on the prevention and social development areas, which look at proactively implementing strategies to reduce priority risks before resulting in crime, victimization, or harm, City of Windsor Project Lead for Human and Health Services, Michelle Oake, explained to County Council.

The current Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan was developed to intervene before an incident occurs and prevent risks. The document includes four priorities, developed through community and stakeholder engagement: Good Governance, Engaged and Safe Communities, Mental Health and Substance-Use Supports, and Financial Security and Economic Equity.

It also includes eight goals and 17 initiatives that were outlined to achieve and action those four main goals.

Accomplishments made through the current plan include: strengthening relationships and committee membership through the establishment of the Regional System’s Leadership Table (RSLT) that resulted in government grants; promoting safe, healthy, and connected neighbourhoods and communities, including hosting community safety and crime prevention walks; and receiving around $2.9M from Public Safety Canada, where many regional community-led programs and partnerships were developed, promoted, expanded, and enhanced, while focusing on prevention and risk intervention in response to youth gun and gang violence.

In addition, the destigmatization of mental health and addiction issues was promoted, as well as awareness was raised for existing supports to promote early intervention and prevention of substance use. That included the provincially-funded Project SSNAPP, a Windsor Police, Windsor Essex County Health Unit, and City of Windsor project. It is hoped to complete similar initiatives in the County with the OPP this year, and that the joint-funding application of $500,000 will be supported.

LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche hoped LaSalle Police would be included, as well. She was told there are opportunities to collaborate.

In addition, local employment and increasing participation in local education and training was promoted as an approach to prevention, Oake said. The Windsor Regional Employment Network (WREN) was not established or funded when the CSWB plan was created, and it has since seen working with clients to find them appropriate employment training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Oakes spoke to County Council about the annual Progress Report of the Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety & Wellbeing Plan and the next steps in the project.

“Given the current economic climate, it is actually very cost-effective to allocate resources to community-based prevention initiatives targeted at the root causes of crime,” Oake said. “Research shows that implementing strategies and programs that are proactive and focused on prevention and social development…not only reduce the financial burden of crime, but they also have significant return on investments.”

Not implementing a preventative Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan can place a large financial burden on society, she added. “Overtime, the cost of doing nothing would be significant. And, the long-term benefits of preventative CSWB are substantial.”

The City of Windsor and County of Essex evenly split the local CSWB plan of $1M.

The province, Oake added, has not provided direct funding opportunities to municipalities to implement CSWB plans. Strong cross-sector collaboration and community partnerships, however, have served as the foundation for millions of dollars of funding secured through CWSB-related grants.

“This funding is required to maintain momentum, ensure sustainability, and provide that return on investment,” Oake explained to County Council.

Oake explained the legislative requirements for the CSWB plan were revised last year, now requiring communities to revise their plans within four-years. Throughout the revision process, she noted they are willing and committed to work with the community to understand and prioritize new trends, as well as City and County Councils requests to address change in community needs, including intimate partner violence.

Utilizing partnerships, Oake explained the CSWB plan leveraged a total of $4.3M in grants, and its organizers are further seeking those types of opportunities that align with the plan.

“The revised plan will build on these strengths, applying lessons learned and adapting to our community’s evolving needs,” Oake commented.

In answering Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy’s question on opportunities for County Council members and members of the public to provide more feedback on the updated document, Oake said feedback opportunities have been provided through community focus groups, leadership focus groups, and a survey. Another RSLT meeting will take place, or County Council members can connect with her or County of Essex Director of Legal and Legislative Services, David Sundin, to forward ideas.

Bondy spoke of how there is a degradation of the local housing stock in Windsor and Essex County. She believes the problem is likely worse in the County as it has less resources. She explained that through Windsor Housing, and social housing, residents are getting placed in rural areas without housing supports and, in a building traditionally for geared-to-income residents.

She spoke of the need to have those geared-to-income housing stocks in the County a safe place for people to live.

“People that have diverse and complex needs sometimes don’t pair well in housing that doesn’t have supports in it,” Bondy noted. “That is something we really need to work on with the City and get it right, so people in our rural areas feel safe.”

Deputy Warden, and Deputy Mayor for Tecumseh, Joe Bachetti, was glad to see intimate partner violence attached to the revised document. The County has declared it as an epidemic, but the province has not yet done so. He said there was criticism that it was not in the CSWB plan previously.

For more information, log onto www.citywindsor.ca/residents/socialservices-/Social-Policy-and-Pathway-to-Potential/community-safety-and-well-being/Pages/default.aspx

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Gordon Orr, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI), told County Council at its June 4 meeting he recently completed the county-wide tour where he visited each of the seven local municipalities regarding the possible implementation of a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).

Essex Free Press files note Orr presented the idea to Town of Essex Council at its May 5 meeting. Essex Council directed Administration to bring a report to Council considering adopting the proposed Municipal Accommodation Tax. Orr asked all municipalities to respond to the request prior to August 31, 2025.

The purpose of implementing a MAT is to directly benefit the municipality and to support local tourism growth and development, while providing municipalities with another revenue source to do so, Orr noted.

“Overall, we received supportive comments and answered some really good questions,” Orr said. When looking at all of Essex County, Orr estimated the MAT could bring in around $42M in revenue, which would work out to $1.7M-$2.5M per municipality.

“It’s a new revenue stream that does not come at a cost to your residents,” he said. The MAT would be applied by hotels and possibly short-term rentals. 50% of the funds would go to TWEPI, with the remainder sticking with the municipality. This revenue stream, Orr noted, would not impact the annual funds it receives from the County of Essex.

Essex Free Press files noted that during 2025 Budget deliberations, TWEPI received $782,000 from the County of Essex as its annual contribution. It also receives funds from the City of Windsor.

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue asked if TWEPI anticipates American visitors to the region would increase or decrease this summer, in the wake of US tariffs.

“We are cautiously optimistic,” Orr said, adding tourism hinges on the economy. If individuals are cautious of spending, they will hang onto their dollars or perhaps take smaller trips.

He is thinking it will be an all-right year, as hotel accommodations have remained steady year-over-year.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

The Town of LaSalle is calling upon the Provincial government and Ministry of Health to establish a grant system similar to the Northern Health Travel Grant program in Windsor-Essex County.

The idea is to provide support to the regional residents who need to travel long distances for specialized medical services or procedures at ministry funded healthcare facilities.

LaSalle sent its stance via a letter to all municipalities looking for support, in addition to Premier Doug Ford, MPP Anthony Leardi, MPP Andrew Dowie, and Minister of Health and Deputy Premier, Sylvia Jones. The County of Essex will also send a letter of support to the Minister of Health, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and local MPPs.

LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche explained a resident brought this matter to her attention, who has to travel outside of the region to receive medical care for their child. After conducting some research, they learned of the Northern Health Travel Grant program, which she explained can assist anyone who has to travel more than 100km for medical care with costs in that region.

Meloche said, in looking at seeing the number of families traveling up the 401 for medical care, she would like to see the program expanded. She hoped the County would support approaching the province about the initiative, as well.

“Here in Windsor-Essex, even though we are not rural like the northern areas, our residents are still having to travel distances, and it is a very big burden on them when they are trying to deal with the health of their little ones,” Meloche said. “Hopefully, we can get someone at the upper-levels to listen to us and realize the need is this way as well.”

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy noted Town of Essex Council also supported LaSalle in its request. She spoke of how the County has sent an invitation to the local MPPs to attend a County Council meeting, and would like this issue discussed at that time. She sees this as a real issue.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Essex County Council approved a Housing Needs Assessment, in addition to receiving an update on the Regional Affordable Housing Strategy during the June 4 meeting.

County Administration has been working on developing a regional affordable housing strategy in partnership with the City of Windsor since the summer of 2021, David Sundin, Director of Legislative and Legal Services, explained.

SHS Consulting has been retained to complete that strategy.

One of the deliverables through this process was the creation of a Housing Needs Assessment. Sundin noted it is important to have such a document in place, as certain federal funding and opportunities require one.

Bahar Shadpour, Senior Manager of Housing Policy and Research for SHS Consulting, presented the Housing Needs Assessment, which provides a foundation for understanding of housing pressures in the County and will inform future directions for policy, investments, and planning.

Essentially, a Housing Needs Assessment is a tool for County Council and the community to use to understand who needs housing, what kind of housing is needed, and how much, Shadpour said.

A Housing Needs Assessment provides a systematic and quantified analysis of housing needs in the community, linking the housing supply with the need for housing. It uses census and market data, as well as insights from residents and stakeholders.

Key research questions asked include where does the greatest housing need exist in the community, how can a meaningful housing target be set, how can progress be measured to support the right kind of housing for all residents and how much housing is needed and at what size and price point.

The County “Must act quickly to meet the existing and future housing needs of its current and future populations,” Shadpour said of the high-level findings of the report.

Several key priorities are outlined in the report, she added, include increasing the supply of purpose-built rentals in the County. She said there is not enough rental housing in the community.

Another priority is ensuring housing is available across all income levels.

Current housing cost for households and future needs
“Almost 9000 households are spending more than 30% of their income on housing,” Shadpour said, adding that offering a broader mix of housing sizes and forms is needed as the existing stock is dominated by single-detached homes “that are not affordable to any moderate and low-income household.”

Through projections SHS Consulting completed through this study, Shadpour said it is estimated over 15,000 new units will be needed over the next decade, including a significant number of affordable and deeply affordable units.

During the forming of the Housing Needs Assessment, Matt Pipe, Manager of Housing Policy & Research, said SHS looked at three categories for housing indicators: housing demand, housing supply, and housing affordability.

This was applied at the county and local municipal level.

Eight emerging trends were identified through the Housing Needs Assessment. They included:

· Sustained population growth and aging population: The County’s population has grown and is anticipated to continue to grow according to projections, and the population is also steadily aging.

· Diversifying housing sizes and gradual shifts in tenure: One-person households remain most prominent, and renting has become more common. Two people and at least four people are the fastest growing.

· Continued migration to the region anticipated with economic growth: Windsor-Essex has long been a hub of migration from other areas of the province or internationally. That has continued over the years, impacting the economic vitality in housing conditions.

· Gaps in the supply of non-market housing: has left many low-income households with little options. Growing pressures for affordable housing has stressed the existing, insufficient stock.

· Historically homogenous housing stock: existing housing is mostly large, single-detached dwellings, which may limit choice for small households, seniors, and renters.

· Emerging growth in higher-density and rental development: Over the past few years, local municipalities have shifted to higher-density developments, and new housing has included apartments and rowhouses.

· Affordability challenges affecting low- and middle-income homesteads: While the County may remain more affordable than other parts of the province, housing costs have been rising significantly in recent years, creating unique housing pressures for the community. Low and moderate income earners, renters, lone parent families, and one person households face disproportionate housing challenges.

· Homeownership has become out of reach: This is true for many in the County, as prices to purchase a home continue to climb. Prices for newly constructed homes have increased to a price point that is only affordable for some of the top 10% incomes in the county.

A table outlining unaffordability SHS presented, based on a Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporations (CMHC) rental survey, noted that while a one-bedroom home may be considered affordable for some low-income households for rental, most municipalities have reported zero percent vacancy for these units in 2024, meaning access is very limited.

Other unit sizes are considered affordable for half of renters in the county, according to prices in the primary rental market (one bedroom $874 to three bedrooms $1650+). Prices seen in the secondary private market would be more expensive.

“Purchasing a home in the County of Essex is considered unaffordable for all households outside of those considered high-income,” Pipe said, adding even for those considered high-income, new housing supply is not considered affordable. Only some of the top 10% of the high-income households can afford new constructed homes in the county on average.

A data table provided notes that only high-income households with an income greater than $115,065 can afford resale homes of $645,800, and even this bracket cannot afford a new home averaged at $1,096,647.

Housing challenges to address
Pipe outlined the housing challenges to address include: the need for more purposeful rental housing, more affordable housing for a range of incomes, more diverse housing forms to match evolving household structures, more community housing, and greater support for those experiencing housing instability.

Knowing each of the seven local municipalities have unique housing needs, SHS created profiles for each to identify their greatest housing pressures and to support local planning and decision-making.

Needs for the Town of Essex specifically include the need for more purpose-built rental, diverse housing options, and community housing. The latter was a need highlighted for every municipality in the County of Essex.

SHS also created new housing benchmarks for the County and each local municipality that are anticipated to be needed by 2035. That was based on local population projections, and factoring in historical and emerging household trends.

Population projections

The data shows the County currently has 71,520 dwellings and 878 community units. That is projected to grow to 85,780 by 2035, showing a need of 17,360 homes. Home ownership is projected to be at 85%.

For the Town of Essex specifically, it noted there are currently 8,395 units (85% owned by owner), with 161 community units. It is projected to need to grow to 9,510 by 2035.

County Council comments

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said the information was interesting and was glad the County was starting to dig into the matter.

She asked if information from the City of Windsor and the Service Manager was collected to see how accurate the waitlist is for geared-to-income renters.

Bondy sits on the CMHC board and has asked for that data. She was previously told in 2024 there were around 9500 people on the waitlist for geared-to-income housing, and only 36 people got units. She wondered if that information was included in SHS’s data.

Shadpour noted that is the number SHS had for the Windsor-Essex region and would consider that for future, more regional studies. For the County, they used actual numbers for the County.

With the senior population growing at a faster rate, Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue asked if it would be better to concentrate on senior housing or single-person housing, rather than multiple bedroom units. Doing so would be a win-win situation, he was told by SHS.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara spoke of how the region gets a lot of folks from the GTA who sold their home at a huge profit to move to this area, which artificially inflates the cost of homes in Windsor-Essex.

“It basically excludes a lot of the entry market and young folks that are here,” he said. “That creates a bit of, certainly, an issue for us.”

When looking to create density, McNamara noted there is a “not in my back yard” response, because of the single-family homes that have been predominant for the past few decades in the region.

“This Housing Needs Assessment is really here for the County to have evidence to understand what is needed, and the greatest need, and what the projections are in the future. So, that you can use this as data to be able to then create policy, see what your local municipal priorities are, and your resourcing in terms of what the next steps would be, that are right for your local communities,” Shadpour said, responding to a list of challenges McNamara outlined, including how to incentivize upper-levels of government to help with funding.

“And, really take this as a tool to then be able to make those very important decisions… in terms of building actual strategies that are long-term,” she added.

Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers commented that local municipal Councillors are being asked to make decisions with local tax dollars and their residents may not benefit from it. He said there has to be a program of stay in your own community when it comes to community housing.

In answering Tecumseh Deputy Mayor/Deputy County Warden, Joe Bachetti’s, question on what has caused the housing crisis in the past three-to-four years, SHS noted it is a complex issue. Its genesis started during the pandemic that disrupted supply chains, while Canada was facing constant population growth internally and through immigration. That caused the housing supply to fall behind the demand which pushed up prices.

In addition, when there were restrictions on movement due to COVID, individuals started to look at remote communities from larger urban centres with their big dollars to find more affordable accommodations, which drove up prices locally. People also found the ability to afford day-to-day costs challenging, which had some look into renting, where there was little supply.

Bachetti added he recently went to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Conference, where immigration numbers to Canada were discussed.

According to Canada.ca, the federal government aims to welcome 395,000 permanent residents this year (a 21% decrease from 2024), 305,900 new students (a 10% decrease), and 367,750 new temporary workers (a 16% decrease). Bachetti spoke of how pre-COVID the number was in the 200,000 range.

He believes the federal government needs to be lobbied. He believes there will be programs and modular homes coming for single-family dwellings to make it more affordable. He is keeping fingers crossed to do that.

When it comes to investments, “those are my tax dollars. At the end of the day, you are asking me to tax for a problem that the federal government has – and again, for a lack of a better word – they caused this housing crisis. So, we got to work hand-in-hand. Yes, we will come to the table, but we also have to be realistic [about] who caused this housing crisis,” Bachetti continued.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy and Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley put themselves in the hot seat on Monday night, as the duo invited area residents to participate in an open mic night inside the Shaheen Community Room at the Essex Centre Sports Complex.

The open forum event gave residents an opportunity to weigh-in on any municipal matters they wanted, whether it was to ask questions, provide feedback, or forward concerns.

Councillors Kim Verbeek, Jason Matyi, Joe Garon, and Katie McGuire-Blais were also in attendance to help answer questions and gather feedback provided. So too was Essex’s new CAO Kate Giurissevich.

Amongst the topics discussed during the open mic night involved parking in Colchester, using town recreational facilities to their fullest potential in terms of programming and rentals, the importance of protecting the environment on public and residential lands and the need to ask the Province to repeal Bill 5.

Other concerns included potential standing water issues at certain development sites and concerns about future parking in the area, and how even small amounts of rain cover the sidewalk adjacent to Essex Public School.

Residents also applauded the new wayfinding signage, asked if the Town will host a municipal service open house like Kingsville recently did, voiced concern with overgrown weeds at the entrance of the ERCA trail, asked about plans for the former Harrow High School facility if it does not sell, and how the Town builds its reserves.

The local decision-makers were also asked if the Town will issue a residential satisfaction survey, for which Mayor Bondy believes the next Term of Council would be ideal to do so with a third-party conducting it.

Concerns with parking on Medora Avenue and Harvey Street, where vehicles end up getting parked any which way and can end up blocking sidewalks, was also mentioned. There are no lines to direct parking. Councillor McGuire-Blais noted the issue is the Town’s By-Law enforcement needs to be more proactive and start ticketing. Bondy added the Town underwent an organization review, where one of the improvements identified could be moving the By-Law Department under the Legal and Legislative Department, and she believes that will help.

Bondy and Giurissevich expressed the importance of using the Town’s online Report a Problem tool for many of the concerns brought up during the Open Mic Night. This online tool is currently being upgraded, giving residents who enter an issue the ability to track their file. It will also be more user-friendly.

In providing an update on the Essex Sport Fields, which the Town is in the process of developing, Giurissevich noted the Town recently learned it was denied a grant it applied for. So, staff will continue presenting phased-in approaches at budget time. The Town will continue to apply for grants in the meantime.

She also spoke of how the Town recently approved a Naming Rights and Sponsorship Policy, which will help in the process of garnering that type of revenue for this facility. Councillor Verbeek will have a Notice of Motion in the near future on the Essex Sport Fields regarding looking at a solid plan moving forward if the Town has to move ahead without grant funding.

Bondy noted that when the Town collects public feedback on budgeting, there is overwhelming support from residents to put dollars into roads, so it is hard to take money out of road funding to move recreational programming along faster. One resident wondered if residents were concerned about one particular road, and that was why the results weighted heavily to that service.

Councillor Garon added a lot of money has to be put into roads ongoing to ensure the Town doesn’t have to upgrade many at once.

Garon noted the Town is looking at a partnership with the Pickleball Barn development planned to share space at the Essex Sports Fields. An issue is getting power and water to the site. That all takes money. He believes the fields will be utilized starting next year. The Town has had trouble getting the grass growing without water at the site.

One concern involved getting on an agenda to speak as a delegate, and the possibility of getting turned down due to time if the topic is not already on the agenda. The Town issues meeting agendas on Thursday afternoons for the meeting the following Monday, which is a small window to register to speak on a matter included.

Giurissevich said the Clerk’s department is reviewing the Procedural By-Law to look at this matter. She added the Town does not want to issue meeting agendas too early as staff want to ensure information is as current as possible. Councillor Matyi will have a Notice of Motion coming to Council on this in the near future.