Windsor's mayor has mixed feelings after the federal government revealed its 2023 budget.
Drew Dilkens was pleased to see Ottawa get in the driver's seat with clean energy and investment but was disappointed that no attention was given toward inflation-based increases in the price tag for an ambitious east Windsor sewer mitigation project.
The mayor told WindsorNewsToday.ca that the spending plan did not address the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), an important issue for Windsor-Essex residents.
"I'm really disappointed," said Dilkens. "I think Windsorites, having heard the story earlier this week when we recognized that LaSalle and Windsor have some of the highest homeowner insurance rates in the country, need to see these types of investments so we can get these rates lower."
The 16 different projects were originally approved for funding through DMAF. Windsor is responsible for 60 per cent of the costs, and the federal government would cover the difference. But to date, Ottawa has not come forward with additional funding to cover inflation.
The federal budget made clean energy and investment a top priority in the next fiscal year, and Dilkens said he is encouraged by the support for clean energy and how it will benefit Windsor in the future.
"Having Nexstar here in Windsor and having Volkswagen up in St. Thomas is actually really good news," said Dilkens. "It creates this pipeline down the 401, so that type of investment, wherever it happens on the 401 corridor, will benefit Windsor in some way."
That investment includes the new EV battery plant, which is under construction in the Banwell Road area with a targeted date to begin operations by late 2024.
---with files from Maureen Revait