Four Windsor mayoral candidates faced off at the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce debate Thursday.
Benjamin Danyluk, incumbent Drew Dilkens, Matthew Giancola, and Chris Holt all spoke on their vision for public transportation, the new hospital, and economic diversification.
Dilkens spoke of this record over the last eight years and said with so many new investments on the horizon like the new battery plant and the hospital now is not the time to take a risk on a new mayor.
"Now is not the time to risk all that we have accomplished together but it is the time to be bold and take decisive action to clean up our streets and put a renewed emphasis on community safety," said Dilkens "Today we have the wind at our backs and boy, it feels great. But what's propelling us forward is the grit and determination of every Windsor resident, the folks that work hard, that pay their taxes, and play by the rules. I am in it for them."
Meanwhile, Holt told the crowd it is time to focus on building better neighbourhoods, and safer streets.
"Protecting the status quo only serves a small minority of residents whose sole concern is plowing their roads and collecting their garbage," said Holt. "My Windsor builds things and creates opportunities for everyone. My Windsor is big-hearted and caring, knowing we're all in this together. My Windsor plans for the future and claws its way there."
Giancola spoke about ending mandates throughout the city, hiring employees back, and creating more services for children with special needs.
"My campaign is based on ending the mandates, they've been destructive to families, to businesses, and to the economy. I would like to be a mayor who will push for what is in the best interest of Windsor," Giancola.
Danyluk spoke about creating better services for workers and supporting employers.
"We are a manufacturing city and we have to put the workers first. They are the heart and soul of our city," said Danyluk.
According to the chamber, all seven candidates were invited to participate but only those who responded within the time frame given were allowed to take part.
A big point of contention during the debate was when the conversation of public transportation was addressed.
Danyluk said his focus on increasing frequency and ensuring there are bus routes that cover the major manufacturing centres in the city.
"We are a manufacturing town, we have limited access to some of our manufacturing work areas. We see job postings and a lot of them are saying not on a bus route. We need to do better for the people, they need to be able to get to work," said Danyluk.
Giancola also supports increasing transit routes throughout the city and into neighbouring municipalities.
“We do need more bus services, we need more frequent service. We can also help by removing mask mandates and inviting back workers who were laid off due to vaccine requirements," said Giancola.
Dilkens spoke about the investments made in transit over the last four years, but also defended his position to not fund the next step in the Transit Master Plan that was approved in 2019. He said the tough decision was the right one because of plummeting ridership during the pandemic.
“To ignore these facts and to continue to push forward with investments in transit, with the net increase to your bottom line and your tax rate. All of this stuff costs money. To push forward at that particular time, I thought and I still think today was a terrible, terrible business decision," Dilkens
Holt said this decision to not fund the next step of the masterplan was poor leadership.
"He said that because residents can access anything they want as long as they have cars, as long as they can afford $2/L fuel. This is the kind of transportation basket that my opponent has put all his eggs in. He doesn't care about transit, he doesn't care at all. The ability to have transportation options is critical to us moving forward as a community. It's critical to our business community to have their employees get there on time," said Holt.
The debate will be aired on YourTV Windsor at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Also running for Windsor mayor are Aaron Day, Ernie Lamont, and Louis Vaupotic.
Election Day is October 24, 2022.