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

While on the campaign trail and knocking on doors to connect with area residents, the number one concern incumbent Essex Riding Conservative candidate Chris Lewis has heard is the cost of living.

He has heard that “time-and-time again from all age groups.”

While campaigning, Lewis has visited a lot of senior homes and has heard that concern there. He also heard the same concern from middle-aged folks with young children who voiced they were not sure if they were going to be able to afford getting their kids involved in sports. Or, that there may not be too many extra presents at birthday or Christmas, because there is just no disposable income.

There is quite a bit in the Conservative platform, aimed at being able to reduce the cost of living, Lewis said.

One of those items is the removal of the Carbon Tax.

“The Liberals have tried to take ownership for this. We’ve been calling on it for about three-years,” Lewis said, believing it is not good enough to only take the Carbon Tax off of the consumer-side. It has to be taken off of industry, also.

“We don’t trust Mr. Carney in that he will not bring back this Carbon Tax,” Lewis said.

Another item in the platform is to make housing more affordable, Lewis said. Conservatives plan to take the GST off of new homes under $1.3M, saving homebuyers up to $65,000 on the purchase of an average home in big cities, it notes on the Conservative website.

Another is to reduce the lowest income tax bracket by 15%, which is estimated to save Canadians up to $2000 per year, Lewis said. Conservatives would also take the GST off of new vehicles built in Canada.

Conservatives, he added, would also retract all of the Capital Gains announcements the Liberals wanted to put in place.

One item in the Conservative platform in which Lewis is particularly proud is that it includes his Private Member’s Bill, C-241 a tax deduction for travel for tradespersons.

It passed its third reading in the House of Commons in March of 2023, and was sent to the Senate-level for further evaluation.

The Bill was drafted to apply to those who were required to pay for expenses in the amounts expended travelling to and from the site, at least 120-kilometers away, if the taxpayer does three things: was required under contract of employment to pay those expenses, did not receive an allowance in respect of those expenses, and did not claim those expenses as an income deduction or a tax credit for the year.

Lewis said it is really humbling to know he has Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s ear in that C-241 is part of the Conservative national platform.

“That is the passion I have always had for labour [when I was] Shadow Minister of Labour,” Lewis said, noting the next question is, if re-elected, what will his next Private Member’s Bill be and how he can help out the labour industry.

In speaking about Poilievre’s visit to Windsor on April 11, Lewis said the event – which attracted thousands – was “absolutely electrifying. It was remarkable. And for me, personally, it was humbling, because the outpouring of support from people [who] came out to support the very common sense, strong Conservative message and the energy in that building was second to none; something I have never been part of before.”

Lewis was impressed with the event outcome. He said it was an honour to introduce Karl Lovett, Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), which Local 773 endorsed Poilievre.

“It was a win-win night,” Lewis said, noting he believed Poilievre delivered a very positive message for Canadians.

While campaigning, Lewis also has heard a lot about US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, with the Essex Riding being close to the American Border.

In terms of tariff issues, Lewis said “we have to give backstops to labour first.” That goes back to making housing and making travel for work more affordable, and removing the Carbon Tax, so families can actually continue to survive and the labour force is not lost.

“I want to be part of the solution,” he said, noting another part of the Conservative Platform is to train 350,000 new skilled workers across the country.

He said his father taught him people come first a long time ago.

Lewis thanked all of his campaign volunteers and those who have had very respectful conservations, bringing fresh ideas for him to bring to Ottawa if elected.

The Conservative platform can be viewed at conservative.ca/news

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

Essex County Council did not direct Administration to provide a report on the cost estimate for engaging a consultant to perform a feasibility study for Regional Policing at its April 16 meeting.

The motion to get the cost-estimate for the June 4 meeting failed in a vote of 10-3, with Amherstburg’s Mayor Michael Prue and Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb, and Leamington Mayor/County Warden, Hilda MacDonald, in favour.

At the April 2, 2025 meeting of Essex County Council, Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy brought forward the Notice of Motion as a topic of discussion, when County Council was discussing the matter.

Last week, Bondy did not support her own motion.

“I would like to just say that I think we have had a healthy conversation here,” Bondy said, noting Essex Council had a similar discussion recently.

She did not want to ask Administration to spend any time on the matter.

That doesn’t mean there will not be desire to have this discussion in the future.

“I don’t want to slam the door,” she said.

“I want to say how disappointed I am that the mover is not supporting her own motion,” Mayor Prue said. He wanted to support the motion, because he believes it is not going to cost very much money to look at that report and see whether or not there are cost-savings going forward.

It could be ready for the next Term of Council.

“I think we should start the ball rolling tonight,” Prue said.

Prue originally got the topic discussed at the March 5 meeting, when he put forward two Notices of Motion in forms of options for County Council to consider.

Option 1 asked County Council to direct Administration of the County of Essex to work with local municipalities to explore options for traditional regional policing models for the County of Essex and that it be in place for January 1, 2029.

Option 2 asked County Council to direct Administration of the County of Essex work with local municipalities to explore possible options for a collaborative approach to policing in the long-term, where the Police Board, Command, and Corporate structures are held at the County-level and local communities are provided with options for flexible service delivery models to meet local needs and pricing.

Through his motions, Prue noted that the Town of Amherstburg Policing Contract with the

City of Windsor ends on December 31, 2028 and the City of Windsor has decided not to renew this contract with the Town of Amherstburg.

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

Since throwing his cowboy hat into the ring as the Essex Riding Liberal candidate for the Federal Election, Chris Sutton has had a lot of conversations with the auto sector and farming communities. Through those conversations, it’s not the tariffs that people are finding concerning, it is the uncertainty.

New Liberal Leader Mark Carney has already put strategies in place for the manufacturing auto sector to protect workers and ensure they feel minimal negative impact, and to minimize loss revenue in production or farming, he said.

“We can put together a plan or a strategy that will get us through this dark time, but at the end of the day, it changes tomorrow,” Sutton commented on the uncertainty.

A lot of the produce grown here goes south of the border, Sutton noted. If that is tariffed, it dips into the farmer’s means of living and their profits.

While connecting with voters, from a campaigning standpoint, Sutton said there has been a lot of positive discussions about “Carney being the guy with the resume that is going to get us through this.”

When he speaks to others about the Liberal Leader, he hears Carney has a calming effect on people in what many call a chaotic time, giving a sense that all will be okay.

“With a labour background…when I tell you, I know what you are going through, I lived it,” Sutton said, noting he came out of the Military and went right into a millwright apprenticeship. He worked in the industry for 35-years. “I’ve gone through recessions.

“We want to bring an everyday family, working family voice to Ottawa,” he said.

Windsor-Essex is the hub of the auto sector in Canada, and has a large farming community, Sutton noted. He wants to be able to take that voice of everyday working-class families – as someone who went to work, rolling up his sleeves to turn wrenches – and go to Ottawa to look at potential impact tariffs will have on the community and families.

Another key issue is affordable housing, and Sutton noted his Party Leader has noted that is one of the hot items on their platform. “We are going to take a very aggressive approach at building homes.”

There is a need to look at how to build massive amounts of homes per year, and that WW2 strategy needs to be used, where homes are built quickly and affordably. In 2025, technology innovation can create the opportunity to do that, Sutton said. Maybe modular designs are the way to go.

In his role as Director of Public Affairs and Strategic Initiatives with the Millwright Regional Council (MRC), Sutton said his role was to represent 10,000 millwrights across Canada. He sees similarities with the MP role, with only the number of people represented changing between the two.

With the MRC, his job is to engage the government on issues directly affecting members and working members. With the NextStar EV plant locally, he noted at one time there was a plan to have 900 immigrant workers doing the work that skilled trade workers living in the area do.

They engaged MPs, Ministers, and government to note that couldn’t happen.

Sutton also spoke of the expense of childcare. Through the MRC, they put together an initiative to create more childcare facilities across Canada, close to working sites. They were to provide childcare during the construction phases of big projects and then continue after the project to serve the community.

“We really have to look at the dynamics of this election,” Sutton said, noting this election is looking like a two-horse race, Liberals against Conservatives. What he would say to voters is when they fill out their ballot, “does the party you are voting for have your best interest at heart?”

To Sutton, once that question is answered, the choice is clear.

He said Liberals are focused on strengthening the economy, reducing the cost of living, middle class tax cuts to alleviate strain and stress, creating affordable housing, keeping the social programs the previous government – working with other parties – have created, such as the dentalcare program and pharmacare, and legislation that supports union workers.

At the end of the day, it is about doing the right thing for everybody, he said, noting people need to see that there is hope.

“This is going to be okay. We are going to get through it. We will survive, and we will come out on the other side stronger, more stable, and better off in the end,” Sutton said.

To learn more, log onto www.liberal.ca

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

Council for the County of Essex provided pre-approval of the 2026 Draft Budget for two additional ambulances to add to the Essex-Windsor EMS (EWEMS) fleet complement, at a cost of $586,870.

This adds to the 2026 order of seven ambulances approved back in November, bringing the total to nine units. The additional units are necessary to meet projected growth and ensure services levels remain consistent.

The funds for the two additional ambulances will be covered by the EMS Equipment and Vehicle Reserve, funded by the County and City based on weighted assessment at the time of contribution.

“This request is a direct response to enhancements identified in the 2025 ORH Master Plan refresh, which called for additional ambulance resources to address increased service demands and operational efficiencies,” Ziad Fatallah, EWEMS Deputy Chief, said.

Initially, a $173,961 deposit will come from EMS Equipment Reserve this year for the additional units, with the remaining balance due upon delivery in 2026.

Approval of this purchase will result in an increase in the 2026 EWEMS budget request to

partially restore the reserve, the Report to County Council notes.

Staffing and operational costs for the new vehicles will be addressed as part of 2026 Budge deliberations, along with other Master Plan recommendations, Fatallah added.

EWEMS currently has a fleet of 41 ambulances and 19 other emergency and logistics vehicles.

In answering LaSalle Deputy Mayor Mike Akpata’s question on if potential tariffs will impact cost of the EMS fleet, Fatallah noted EWEMS has not received any formal notification tariffs have been applied. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada, he added, is actively lobbying the federal government to exempt ambulances and essential life-saving equipment from proposed counter-tariffs.

By Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter

The Town of LaSalle is mourning the loss of longtime councillor Sue Desjarlais, who passed away Monday.

Desjarlais was known as a dedicated and compassionate public servant, recognized for her unwavering integrity, generosity and care. Her passing marks a significant loss not only for council, but for the entire LaSalle community.

First elected to LaSalle Town Council in 2006, Desjarlais served with distinction for nearly 20 years. She was known for her deep commitment to listening to residents, advocating for their needs and working collaboratively to build a stronger, more inclusive LaSalle. Her focus was firmly rooted in community—supporting those in need, fostering meaningful connections and ensuring LaSalle remained a vibrant place to live and grow.

In addition to her municipal service, Desjarlais gave generously of her time to several organizations close to her heart. She served on the board of the John R. Park Homestead, was a proud member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland and a longtime supporter of Community Living Essex County, where she once held the role of board president. She was especially passionate about the LaSalle Food Bank, consistently lending a helping hand to those facing hardship.

Desjarlais also served with the Essex Region Conservation Authority, where she advocated for environmental sustainability and the preservation of natural resources.

Her dedication, warmth and approachability made her a beloved figure in LaSalle. Whether at a community barbecue, council meeting or volunteering behind the scenes, Desjarlais’s heart for service was always evident.

The Town of LaSalle has extended its condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and all who had the privilege of working with her. Officials said she will be remembered with great respect, gratitude and affection.

Flags at all municipal buildings will be lowered to half-mast in her honour. Details regarding memorial arrangements will be shared as they become available.

By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

How to protect Canadian agriculture from Donald Trump’s tariffs dominated the talk at the Kent Federation of Agriculture’s all candidates meeting April 17.

Around 150 people attended the event at the Retrosuites Derby Room to hear from five candidates vying to become Chatham-Kent–Leamington’s next Member of Provincial Parliament. And while the submitted questions ranged from affordability to infrastructure to supply chain management, the discussion kept circling back to Trump.

Candidates speaking at the one-hour session included incumbent Conservative MP Dave Epp; Seamus Fleming for the NDP; People’s Party of Canada candidate Trevor Lee; Liberal candidate Keith Pickard and Green Party representative James Plunkett.

The staid older crowd was mostly quiet, with the loudest applause coming in response to comments from Pickard that Mark Carney is the man to lead Canada through the turbulent Trump years.

The mostly civil meeting that saw candidates answer seven prepared questions took a slight turn at the end as Epp and Pickard took shots at each other’s parties.

“This election by far is the most important election of our lifetime, ” Pickard told the crowd. “As I said in the beginning our sovereignty is at stake. We need a strong government. And Mark Carney is the person to negotiate a trade deal to support Canada. Without a doubt Poilievre will not be able to garner the respect that Carney will get with Trump. You will not get the same trade deal.”

Pickard never missed an opportunity throughout the meeting to point out that dollars flow to the candidate that has a sitting member of the governing party in power.

“It’s essential that we tell the story of Chatham-Kent–Leamington and bring those funds back,” Pickard said.

Citing a decade of “Liberal ineptness,” Epp countered that “common sense says you don’t put the arsonist back in charge of the fire that they lit.”

Using Pickard’s words that dollars flow to the governing party representative, Epp called the practice “pork barrelling” consistent with Liberal “corruption.

“Make no mistake, I’ll advocate for good business, sound policy for this region and for any region,” Epp said, pointing out the Liberals “never talk about” their fiscal record or their record in agriculture.

“Why? Canadians need hope and to be put first for a change,” he added.

Lee echoed Epp’s comments.

“I agree with Dave, we need hope,” he said. “It’s not good here in Canada. Families are split, people are struggling to put food on the table. People can’t find or buy homes. We need to get Canada back to a position where we’re strong internationally and nationally. And fight for everybody and our neighbours… the People’s Party will do that. ”

With the exception of Lee, who said retaliatory tariffs would just make things more expensive, the candidates agreed that strong measures are needed to counter the threat posed by U.S. economic policy.

Epp said the Conservatives would look at removing inter-provincial trade barriers, institute a robust plan to train 350,000 apprentices, maintain Canada’s agri-business supply chains and facilitate an east-west energy corridor.

“We need to improve our position and our ability to trade and build on our strengths with other countries so we can face Trump’s tariffs,” Epp explained.

However, Pickard said the Liberals will remove all inter-provincial trade barriers by July 1 and focus on expanding agri-business across the board.

All of the candidates laid out plans for protecting agriculture, with Fleming saying the NDP will ban foreign speculation on farms and increase spending and long-term loans to the agri-business sector.

Fleming said the Chatham-Kent area has been “let down” by government, particularly in the area of rural health care.

“This election is not just about tariffs, it’s about making way for the next generation of farmers,” he said, noting the federal government has supported big grocery corporations such as Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Lee said the farming sector needs to eliminate inter-provincial trade barriers, return to a smaller, more sustainable farming model and get rid of supply chain management.

Plunkett said Canada needs to hold back the resources the United States needs until Trump drops the tariffs, which will help farmers.

He said the Green Party will also focus on clean energy and affordability for all, reducing the use of chemicals to protect citizens and farmland.

By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

Following what officials call a “rigorous recruitment process,” Chatham-Kent has appointed its first deputy chief administrative officer.

Dave Taylor, the municipality’s current director of legal services, has been named to the post, according to a municipal media release.

Taylor, a lawyer who holds a law degree and a master’s degree in public administration from Western University, brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, according to a municipal press release. A Chatham-Kent employee since 2012, Taylor holds a certificate in long-term care leadership, and is also a municipal law instructor in the law government program at Western.

According to the release, Taylor’s new portfolio will focus on overseeing several divisions within Chatham-Kent, but he will also be tasked with advancing Chatham-Kent’s advocacy efforts with senior levels of government. This will include communicating C-K’s unique needs and opportunities to the provincial and federal governments, with a focus on financial sustainability.

The release stated Taylor has experience in municipal advocacy, having led parts of the efforts to lobby the province in the wake of the 2021 Wheatley explosion.

Taylor brings extensive volunteerism to the job as well and currently sits on the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance board.

Previously, he held seats on the boards of the Chatham-Kent Community Foundation, Restorative Justice Chatham-Kent and the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre.

Taylor said he’s looking forward to the job.

“I am thrilled to continue my journey serving our amazing community in this new capacity,” Taylor explained. “Throughout my career, I have been inspired by the passion and commitment of our mayor, council, and community groups to make Chatham-Kent a great place to live, work, and visit. I am committed to using my new role to continue the municipality’s goal of delivering quality services and improving Chatham-Kent for all of our citizens.”

The deputy CAO role was created following the retirement of C-K general manager of corporate services Cathy Hoffman, the release said. Her responsibilities will be redistributed amongst the executive management team.

Mayor Darrin Canniff, Entegrus president & CEO Jim Hogan, Oxford County CAO Ben Addley, Leamington CAO Peter Neufeld, Chatham-Kent CAO Michael Duben and Hoffman were part of the decision-making team that reviewed applications for the position.

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

During the recently held Provincial Election – and during other past upper-tier elections – the County of Essex used its website and social media to advance its priorities.

 

Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti, who is also the Deputy Warden for the County of Essex, asked if Administration had any plans to put out a list of its priorities during the current Federal Election.

 

Administration has had some internal discussions and a list of priorities has been created, CAO Sandra Zwiers noted at the April 2 meeting, when this matter was brought up.

 

Back in 2021, during the previous Federal Election, there were four priorities, Zwiers relayed. They included affordable housing, infrastructure funding, strategic business investment, and universal broadband internet.

 

“Today’s announcements have certainly changed the landscape and the influence of the federal government as it relates to tariffs and its impact on Windsor-Essex businesses,” Zwiers said. The announcement in which she referred was US President Donald Trump’s on automotive tariffs.

 

“This is something on top of everyone’s minds.”

 

She suggested updating the 2021 priorities to include the tariff conversation.

 

“I think it is very important that the federal government backstop and support local businesses who are on the frontlines of these decisions that are completely out of their control,” Zwiers said. “And we would be looking to advocate to the federal government – whichever party wins – to make sure Windsor-Essex businesses are fully supported in that.”

 

Other priorities could include removing interprovincial trade barriers.

 

“We want to have a country with federal leadership that understands Canadians’ economy should help fund itself,” Zwiers said. “And working together across our provincial boundaries, I think, is very important and something we should be advocating for, particularly for Essex County.”

 

From the 2021 priority list, infrastructure funding and affordable housing are things that are relevant for the County to advocate for in the present, she noted.

 

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara believes the Canadian government needs to maintain funding on the Great Lakes, let the US know the need to protect fisheries, and the importance of clean water and source water protection of the Great Lakes.

 

That will be added to the priority list.

 

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy hopes whoever is elected as the Essex MP will meet with County Council after the election.

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

How County of Essex Council could even start the topic of potentially exploring regional policing still needs to be determined, if Council even chooses to explore the option at all.

 

Essex County Council will be able to decide whether or not to direct County Administration to provide a report on the cost-estimate for engaging a consultant to perform a feasibility study for regional policing at the June 4 meeting.

 

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy made that a Notice of Motion at the April 2 meeting. She noted it is a big file, a big ask of County administration to explore, and something the Town of Essex is also looking at.

 

That will give time for County Councillors to go back to their municipalities and connect with their municipal staff and Councillors on the matter.

 

She would also want County Council to get any historical reports at the County-level on policing.

 

“I’m not even saying I am going to support the motion that I am going to raise, but I am all in favour of gathering information,” Bondy said. “I think it is diligent to actually have information.”

 

This was the outcome on the matter last week, after Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue initiated the conversation.

 

At the March 5 meeting, Prue put forward two Notices of Motion in forms of options for County Council to consider as it relates to regional police. They were introduced to County Council for discussion at the April 2 meeting.

 

He hoped County Administration could report on both options in the future, so County Council could consider them in the future.

 

Option 1 asked County Council to direct Administration of the County of Essex to work with local municipalities to explore options for traditional regional policing models for the County of Essex and that it be in place for January 1, 2029. Administration would report back as

soon as possible.

 

Option 2 asked County Council to direct Administration of the County of Essex work with local

municipalities to explore possible options for a collaborative approach to policing in the long-term, where the Police Board, Command, and Corporate structures are held at the County-level and local communities are provided with options for flexible service delivery models to meet local needs and pricing.

 

The Option 2 model should be built upon the premise that any municipality can opt-out of the program if they have other means of providing policing to their community.

 

In having the County coordinate, there would be one Chief of Police, one administration, and municipalities could opt-in or opt-out. LaSalle, in having its own service, may want to opt-out, for instance, Prue noted.

 

“This would allow the local municipalities to determine their wants and needs, and potentially save money for each one of the municipalities that currently uses the OPP,” Prue said.

 

The 2029 timeline would allow the County to discover if there is a better model going forward than the ones local municipalities are using at this point.

 

Through his motions, Prue noted that the Town of Amherstburg Policing Contract with the

City of Windsor ends on December 31, 2028 and the City of Windsor has decided not to renew this contract with the Town of Amherstburg.

 

“We in Amherstburg found ourselves in a particularly bad situation a few months ago,” Prue said when they learned the contract with Windsor Police Services will be terminated.

 

That follows the decision made a few years back, when Amherstburg decided to do away with its own police force. It does not have its own police equipment, cars, radios, and soon will be without its own police officers.

 

Council for the Town of Amherstburg wanted to look at five options: Ask Windsor Police to reconsider, see if LaSalle Police would be interested, create its own – though that was thought to be cost-prohibitive, approach the OPP, or approach the County of Essex to see if a new structure could be put in place to assist all municipalities of Essex County.

 

He also noted that five of the seven local municipalities in Essex County are currently receiving policing services from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

 

Because the County is not currently in the business of providing police services, Essex County CAO Sandra Zwiers suggested retaining a third-party consultant to unpack the options and work on the costing, instead of having administration create the report.

 

“This is not a new conversation for County Council,” Zwiers said, believing there are at least two feasibility reports on file that were created over the last two-to-three decades. One was completed prior to the 1999 amalgamation, the other a few years after amalgamation.

 

Funds could also be set aside in the 2026 Budget to get the consultant.

 

The Town of Essex was to discuss a report on policing at an April 7 special meeting, which Bondy will send to members of County Council.

 

“That report could give us awesome information as well,” she noted.

 

“We need to have a fulsome conversation, but I don’t want to have a knee-jerk [reaction],” Bondy said. “I think residents, generally, think we can do regional police and they think we can do it really easy. And they think we can do it cheaper.”

 

As someone involved in municipal Council for over a decade, she is a little more of a realist. Bondy noted the Town of Essex pays a little over $3M for its policing. The start-up costs alone will cost residents millions.

 

She respected Amherstburg’s position, and noted regional policing in theory makes a lot of sense.

 

“But I think it is going to be really expensive.” Bondy was also skeptical the opt-in, opt-out option would be sustainable for the County.

 

If County Council was going to talk about retaining a consultant at budget time, Bondy believes resolutions from the local municipal Councils would be needed first in addition to hosting public consultations.

 

In Essex, Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley said, nostalgia says there is a desire for the municipal police. But, it is not a reality, he said.

 

He believes what there is currently in terms of policing is working for Essex, and there is room to make it better.

 

Perhaps there could be a hub and spoke system that would better serve the community and allow for more policing, which residents would like to see.

 

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara said his municipality has had an OPP contact since 1947. A recent survey conducted in Tecumseh provided the OPP with a 90% approval rating.

 

To start a regional police department, it would cost astronomical dollars, he added.

 

Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers put forward a motion to postpone the matter to the May 7 meeting, and that the two previous reports on regional policing be distributed for Council review and consideration. This motion failed.

 

LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche thought this was an important conversation, and felt terrible for Amherstburg’s situation.

 

“We do love our LaSalle Police,” she said, noting LaSalle was not looking to change its model.

 

Hiring a consultant on this matter, Meloche anticipated, would be high.

 

If there are municipalities in the area interested in creating a regional police service, perhaps they can look into this together. LaSalle would want to opt-out at this point, as it knows it is not interested in changing its model.

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

Essex Council learned 2024 was a quiet year in terms of complaints lodged to the Integrity Commissioner.

Integrity Commissioner for the Town of Essex, Bruce Elman, presented his annual report for 2024 during the April 7 meeting.

“There was very little activity, and that is really good,” Elman told Council. “So, this is a positive development and pretty consistent with 2023, as well.”

Last year, Elman said he produced one letter of advice, but did not produce any primers, which provide guidance to members of Council and others to whom the Code of Conduct applies, so that they can avoid violations. He added there were three instances of brief advice that were provided.

When it comes to complaints, one was filed, Elman said. It was discontinued and no further action was taken.

There were also a few instances of brief service, as well.

The primary functions of an Integrity Commissioner are to provide education and training, advice to members of Council, investigate complaints, engage in complaint adjudication and resolution, and on occasion help to develop town policy when it comes to ethics and integrity, Elman outlined.

After the 2022 election, Elman spent time with Council members to go over the Code of Conduct Policy and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. He hopes that training will be extended to members of the community who volunteer on town boards and committees in the future.

In preparation for the 2026 Municipal Election, Elman said there are certain ethical rules and principles that govern municipal elections and govern the conduct of Council members when seeking re-election. In the fall, he intends to speak to the Town Clerk and CAO to arrange time to present a training program for current Councillors intending to run for re-election, as the rules are quite strict.

In answering Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley’s question on the typical turnaround for Elman to respond to an email from a Council member, Elman said the turnaround time is dependent on the situation. If the issue is a drawn-out matter, for instance, it may take a longer period of time to provide advice.

Shepley also asked about the complaint, and wondered if the Council member who had the complaint issued against them is notified about it, in addition to the result of the investigation. Elman said that typically, when a complaint is made, he tries to gather particulars, and then connects with the member of Council who is the subject of the complaint.