Facing mounting expenses in the next five years, Essex County mayors pledge to work even closer together to get more funding from the province and the federal governments.
Mayors across the region have met before, but Tuesday's meeting was a first for new-elects Aldo DiCarlo in Amherstburg and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. Only Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos was absent.
Coming out from behind closed doors at Willistead Manor, Dilkens says the mayors spoke about a number of issues of mutual concern including the need for greater infrastructure dollars, funding expectations for the proposed new acute care hospital and the end of nationally-subsidized social housing.
Asked if municipalities are facing a perfect storm in the years ahead, Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara says, "that's a good analogy."
In the absence of a governing-party MPP in the region, County Warden and Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain says it's all the more important mayors present a united front. He says other regions are doing it, and it's paying off. "You can look at high-speed Internet," says Bain. "Look at Northern Ontario, the Eastern Wardens Association. They got their project five years in advance of what southwest Ontario is. They're advanced to us."
Neither Dilkens or Bain would say if the mayors disagreed on any topics, but Dilkens says they all agreed there's a need for sustainable, predictable funding from senior governments. He says the current piece-meal grants aren't helping municipalities address their infrastructure needs. "Where they can plan projects, and get projects in a cue, and fund those projects in a sustainable way, instead of guessing what the number might be year over year."
