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COMMENT

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Dilkens, Costante and city hall jobs

WindsorOntarioNews.com July 8 2025

Two recent public hires have raised controversy, one more than others. The hiring of Mayor Drew Dilkens’s wife Jane Deneau, for a project manager for the city’s parks and rec department (salary $96 to $116K) has brought uproar including of course among the mayor's long-time critics. It's understandable why some people may see malfeasance. How, after all, can the spouse of the city’s top official be hired for a city job? It simply must be nepotism, corruption and more evidence of the Dilkens’s “Strong Mayor” powers! This, despite Deneau’s wide experience for the job and the fact she was rejected for two other city jobs; didn’t even get interviews. Critics should be careful. The Ontario Human Rights Code protects marital status, and that's exactly what's at stake here. And that applies to everybody, from the spouse of a day labourer to that of a top politician. Meanwhile former Ward 2 councillor Fabio Costante announced he is jumping from city council to a new job heading the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation. The job in 2016 (last available date) paid $136,000+. A city councillor is paid a minimum of $52,000. Costante was a lawyer in private practice and it calls into question how much he was earning as a sole practitioner to go for the government job. Regardless, he isn’t fulfilling his council mandate to fill his term. Now the city is faced with calling a byelection. The last one to fill Irek Kusmierczyk’s seat - another who jumped for federal politics - cost $120,000. Maybe that amount can be deducted from Costante's new salary.

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School board violates elected trustees' freedom of speech

WindsorOntarioNews.com June 19 2025

When it comes to local elected bodies the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) takes the cake for being the most officious, authoritarian, censorious and some might even say, fascistic, organization around. This seems to be par for the course for school boards in many areas, stuffed with self-appointed little dictators who want to ban parent participation in everything from public meetings to informed transgender student identity, the cause de jour. And even their own trustees face punishment if they dare step out of line. According to the Windsor Star this has happened to three trustees this term alone. Their crime? Speaking to the media, the supposed perogative of the board chair. In some bizarre twist they violated the board's "code of conduct." But these, after all, are elected officials, not appointees doing a leader's bidding or rubber stamping decisions. Of course the subject matter of the rebukes is suspicious, having to do with school naming and transgender issues, both which cross into politically correct territory. A code of conduct seems highly subjective. What does “discredit or compromise the integrity of the board,” and “inspire public confidence in the abilities and integrity of the board” mean? Trustees, like other elected officials, should be free to speak their minds, period. If others don't like it they can criticize. But stamping out freedom of speech is one of the first signs of a dictator.

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Curlers get the shaft again

WindsorOntarioNews.com June 4 2025

Why should Windsor curlers be made the scapegoats for a fire at the WFCU Centre? The April 28 fire engulfed hundreds of one of the WFCU community rink's solar panels and that arena is now inoperable for as long as a year until repaired. On a side note it's interesting that the solar panels caught fire and no conclusion has been drawn as to the cause; it leads to the question of how safe are solar panels - especially industrial size - on roofs? In any case the city is recommending curlers give up an ice pad at the smaller Capri Pizza rink in south Windsor, to make way for the skaters and hockey teams that are displayed by the damaged WFCU rink. Admittedly their use is much greater than that of the curlers - 56 hours (53 are prime time) per week total. The two other WFCU community rinks are almost fully booked. Meanwhile on the Capri rink much less time is booked, leaving available 74% prime ice time and 60% non prime. The damaged rink reduces overall city facilities' ice time by 53 hours. "This would force some user groups to reduce their programming and others not being able to rent ice time," a city report says. But, it admits, "curling would be displaced." Money is also a big factor - the city made $441k from the WFCU rink and only $155k from the curlers. But let's pause. Curlers have already been forced out (some would say "kicked around") of their long time home at the defunct Roseland rink just last year and now are confronted with this. Second, if it's only going to take a year for repairs why can't skating groups sacrifice? (The report is mum.) Alternately, curlers could do the same, so long as the city guarantees their future - with some sweetener thrown in for making the sacrifice.

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Let's just fly the four official flags

WindsorOntarioNews.com May 28 2025

The city’s updated flag policy is still confusing. City staff recommended flags shown at city hall be limited to the Canadian Flag, Ontario Flag, City of Windsor Flag, and the Franco-Ontarian Flag “while also providing flexibility to recognize visiting official delegations,” whatever that means. According to Mayor Drew Dilkens during a raucous debate on the issue brought by an out-of-town gay activist (who was kicked out of the meeting for being unruly) it has “nothing to do with Pride or LGBTQ.” Meaning presumably those flags will continue to be hoisted. Otherwise, requests will be denied “to avoid approving displays that could be perceived as divisive, political, or otherwise controversial.” With due respect to the LBGTQ community their flag and any others not of the four specifically named entities should not be flown. While the mayor says the city supports that community, as it should, it doesn’t mean it – or any other civic, social or advocacy organization – should have special privileges no other group has. And while supporting LBGTQ rights is a given flying the flag does indeed affront the city’s policy as it can be “divisive, political, or otherwise controversial.” Take a look at some of the reactions across Ontario to flying the flag and Pride month, especially by religious or conservative groups. The York Catholic board chose not to fly it. A Niagara trustee compared it to the Nazi flag. And some London Christian and Muslim parents kept students at home at the start of Pride month. So mayor, let’s eliminate all confusion – and controversy - and just fly the four named national and provincial flags.

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Recount, Bandshell, tourist tax and anti-racism - a pot pourri of opinions

WindsorOntarioNews.com May 14 2025

Perhaps we’re missing something but why did a judge order a recount for the federal election results in Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore? The law requires a recount when there is a less than 0.1 per cent difference (seven votes; the diff was 77). Why wasn’t this good enough for the Irek Kusmierczyk campaign, the Liberal incumbent who lost to the Conservatives' Kathy Borrelli in her second run at him? The claim is that too many ballots were incorrectly rejected. Don’t be surprised if Kusmierczyk pulls this out, putting the Liberals in striking distance (with other national recounts) of a majority, and symbolically claiming that our region hasn’t turned inky blue…..Just when the region is trying to attract more tourism, wouldn’t you know it? The local tourism agency is proposing that county hotels and Airbnbs start charging a so-called Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) because…well, just because. (The city already charges it.) CEO Gord Orr says the tax (after all, lots of big cities have it) would support tourism growth through marketing and “product development”…..And no surprise that Windsor City Council has been advised that the derelict Jackson Park Bandshell – one time home of Emancipation Day celebrations and which was last used almost 40 years ago and wedged into an awkward piece of property – is now facing an increase in costs for a feasibility study from a proposed max of $100K to $300K. But of course! That’s let alone the millions needed for actual restoration. And the fact the neighbouring Windsor Stadium site may now be redeveloped for housing complicates matters further…..Finally why is the eastside Safety Village (image) engaging in politics? The one time “Children’s Safety Village” with charming street safety replicas has embarked on a “No Place for Hate” campaign. It’s to prevent “hate-motivated” crimes and support human rights. The province is funding to the tune of $160,000. But why? Has there been an increase in these crimes locally? And shouldn’t this be the job of organizations that deal with human rights? Or is the Village simply jumping on society’s current fashionable race-obsessed bandwagon?

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Absurdities abound in election results

WindsorOntarioNews.com April 30 2025

The fed election results abound with absurdities. The Tories lose in a tight race when only a few months ago they were 30 points ahead of the deadhead Liberals. Thanks President Trump! And the NDP are decimated, their worst showing in history. Yet they still may hold the balance of power because the Liberals didn’t squeak out a majority. How’s that for irony? Pierre Poilievre losing his seat after holding it for more than 20 years can’t be that Ottawa turned their backs against the incumbent so much as they hated Trump and the city’s well fed middle class civil servant demographic fled. The NDP’s Jagmeet Singh went down to flaming defeat as did his party. Yet his election night speech sounded celebratory, as if he didn’t have a care in the world and the party was victorious. But he got his long-sought pension and now probably a Liberal appointment. Locally, Windsor-Essex was swept by a wave of blue. Yet our area is Ground Zero for US auto tariffs, the very thing that the rest of Canada feared for choosing Liberal red. It’s indicative that the Conservatives have genuinely become the working-class party, a claim the NDP hasn’t been able to make – except rhetorically – in years, and now it’s vanquished. And shockingly both Lib incumbent Irek Kusmierczyk and NDP placeholder Brian Masse - the latter a veritable Windsor West institution - went down to defeat, and embarrassingly so. Kusmierczyk’s numerous photo ops and funding announcements obviously had no impact – he must be cursing the electorate through gritted teeth. And Masse came third! Obviously a sign of the NDP’s wipeout. The same, to a lesser extent, could be said about the NDP’s Lori Wightman in Essex who garnered a pitiful 4000 votes, a reflection perhaps of her failing to secure a good contract as union leader after a prolonged strike by library workers several years ago.

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Tories the way to go

WindsorOntarioNews.com April 24 2025

There’s less than a week before the federal election. There was record voting this past long weekend – 7.3 million cast ballots or almost 40% of the 28.2M electorate. According to experts a strong advance vote could signal the electorate is eager for change. That would boost the Conservatives’ fortunes with so many voters fed up with the Liberals’ pitiful track record of the last 10 years. But not so fast. This year, with the Trump trade tariffs hanging like a sword of Damocles, it could also mean Canucks are alarmed about their future and want to vote for the party which could best protect them from the trade fallout, so it could go either way to the Conservatives or Liberals, which have the two top polling numbers. Let’s hope it’s for the former. The Liberals should be kicked out of office after the party’s deplorable record on immigration and consequent housing, fiscal mismanagement (deficits and debt), investment climate (miserable GDP and resource industry killing policies). Not to mention the arm’s length list of scandals - from Blackface to SNC-Lavalin to Aga Khan to Kielburger brothers to ArriveCAN - the list goes on. And unelected PM Mark Carney had advocated even mor gross government spending and anti-energy policies by refusing, for example, to remove Bill C-69, a review process which effectively blocks new pipelines. Meanwhile the Conservatives are promising less wanton government spending, supercharging resource development (including axing C-69), eliminating the non-competitive English CBC, lower taxes, cutting government waste, tougher on crime policies, even eliminating the single use plastic bag and straw ban! Let’s hope the Conservatives under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership prevail.

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Anti four-unit protests bound to happen

WindsorOntarioNews.com April 10 2024

It shouldn’t be surprising that residents of Tecumseh are rising up against the “as-of-right” (essentially fiat) policy of allowing four unit housing wherever the town wants them. The question is what took them so long? Or were they utterly unaware of previous public meetings discussing this? That said it was predictable that residents, whenever they got wind of the policy, would turn out vociferously against. Yes, there were only about 30 at the council meeting but those 30 probably counted for many more as online supporting comments can attest. After all, Tecumseh is a suburban community identified by single family homes with exceptions along business corridors. The town signed on to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund last year, giving it $4.4 million to allow greater residential density, all part of Ottawa’ desire to build critical housing in a country starving for it. But four units has been a unit too far for many people, not least the City of Windsor, which came up with its Housing Solutions Made for Windsor, which seems to make a lot more sense. Four units, sure, but on main streets or transit corridors which already have denser properties as well as several large areas ideally suited for densification like the Caron Ave. parking lot and former Grace Hospital site. But the city’s eminently sensible plan didn’t meet Ottawa’s stricter guidelines so it missed out on $30 million. Sorry, but the feds’ - and its supporters like Tecumseh town council’s – fixation on trendy “densification” just won’t cut it in all cases, especially in longtime middle class single-family commuter communities like those in Essex County.

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Don't fall for the Carney-val Barker

WindsorOntarioNews.com March 26 2025

The federal election campaign is off. And it couldn't have come soon enough. Former PM Justin Trudeau's proroguing of Parliament did a major disservice to the country, with no leadership at one of the country's most critical times, threatened by massive US tariffs. Mark Carney's (photo) anointment as new PM is also one for the books - a globalist (three passports) who has spent many years outside Canada - he recently suggested Canada was the "most European" of non-European countries - and bizarrely unelected (though it has happened rarely before). The Liberals found a convenient excuse to oust its Nepean seat incumbent Chandra Arya so Carney could run in a safest-of-safe ridings. Even before the election Carney positioned himself to the right of Trudeau, even mimicking the Conservatives and stealing policies like axing the consumer carbon tax and lancing the increased capital gains inclusion rate, even recommending fast-tracking energy projects (though speaking out of both sides of his mouth, in Quebec & English Canada, on pipelines commitment). It just shows how far the Liberals were out of touch with voters, which polling showed the Conservatives 20-30 per cent ahead of the Grits, and now the parties neck and neck. Carney has also retreated on immigration (to sustainable levels) and is offering - heaven forbid! - a tax cut. But voters shouldn't fall for these blandishments, which may or may not get implemented. (Don't hold your breath because these are the Liberals, folks.) What they should examine is the failed policies of the past 10 years - half of which Carney informally advised Trudeau - the lack of GDP output (Canada second worst of OECD nations at 1.7%) and energy (pipelines) diversification, that would have provided more trade outlets while facing tariff threats. Moreover the growth in the bureaucratic state has been astounding - 43 per cent - and doubling the debt to $1.2 trillion. Carny's name reminds of a Carney-val Barker. Hopefully voters aren't ringed-in.

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Let this newfound patriotism connect with traditional Canadian values

WindsorOntarioNews.com March 12 2024

While Canadians' new found patriotism is to be applauded ironically it took an American to bring it out. Donald Trump's threat of 25% tariffs have generated the kind of flag-waving rarely scene in this country, at least in the post World War II era. Which raises a lot of questions. Until recently, patriotism was seen as almost embarrassing. And in the postmodern world of now-resigned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, something to be shunned or feel guilty over. After all, what to him did Canada really have to offer? It was a "post-national" state with no "core" identity, as he offered a "level of admiration" for China's "basic dictatorship." Until the threat of tariffs kicked in, that is. And then it could be used as kind of an offensive weapon and for political purposes for politicians to wrap themselves in. Trudeau scorned the flag, flying it at half staff for six months during 2021 as a sign of guilt over Indigenous residential school graves, the evidence of which has still not been shown. Then members of the Freedom Convoy, who occupied Ottawa and Windsor in 2022, and their supporters, were considered beyond the pale for waving the Canadian flag, as the flag, in Liberals' and their ilk's view, took on the trappings of reaction even fascism. The flag had become such a negative symbol that newspapers gave trigger warnings over its use on Canada Day (hello Halifax Chronicle Herald). Some politicians now shun Canada Day celebrations because, after all, a country settled by "colonialists" has nothing to celebrate over how it has treated its native population, its racist politicians like first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, and values celebrating God, the imperialist Commonwealth, world war militarism, and the economic system - capitalism - that built the country. The federal government even overhauled the Canadian passport to erase traditional images. In his final days in office, Trudeau stooped again and in an interview on US television, defined a Canadian as a negative - "we're not Americans." Enough. Let's hope this newfound patriotism will renew our historic endearing values.

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Ford - best of a bad lot

WindsorOntarioNews.com Feb 26 2025

Premier Doug Ford is the best of the three main party candidates to lead the province again. And that is said reluctantly. Ford has generally been a disappointment as premier. He had done absolutely nothing to control government spending even increasing it to 18.2% of GDP compared to the Liberals' 17.3 or $10 billion. The net debt now stands at $430 billion almost $100 billion more since he took office in 2018. Ford seems to be a "conservative" in name only. He has done absolutely nothing to combat the rampant wokeism that has seeped into virtually all facets of civil society, from land acknowledgements at every municipal meeting and beyond, to DEI throughout government and government funded institutions such as the education system. Speaking of which, Ford has done nothing to rein in the soft tyranny of school boards, including locally, which have treated public dissent with contempt and even closed meetings to the public over issues like gender identity. Symbolically, he had done nothing to unlock the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald, still boarded up on Queen's Park, a shameful cave-in to illiberal forces. His recent imprimatur as Captain Canada to combat US President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Canadian exports (reaffirmed today to kick in April 2 later corrected to the initial March 4) - and the prime reason he called the quick election - has been all bombast and no results, as per the reaffirmed April 2 date! Still, compared to the other parties, he's the best of the lot. The Liberals, who initiated modern era big government spending and the woke policies that now infuse the province, no doubt would make things worse. And the NDP would be Liberals on steroids. So Ford, unhappily, it is.

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Nix to tariffs but Canada has much to answer for

WindsorOntarioNews.com Feb 12 2025

Canadians may wail about the Trump tariffs – and Windsor-Essex is ground zero – but there are many other aspects of his nascent presidency we could copy. For this is an administration that has taken on wokeism point blank, eschewing DEI in government departments, calling out trans(men) in women’s sport as unfair competition, putting its full weight behind carbon development and sealing its southern border as opposed to allowing millions upon millions to illegally cross as happened during the Biden years, a matter alone for which Biden should have been impeached. It’s also cracked down on criminal gangs and gone to war against the fentanyl trade. What's not to like? Yes, Canada shouldn’t be so penalized with a 25% tariff as opposed to Mexico with its abysmal record on the border and policing drug cartels. But Canada has been guilty of not sufficiently policing its border. More than 12,200 people were apprehended crossing illegally in 2023 — 241 percent jump from 2022 - and US Customs and Border Protection shows a majority on the terrorist watchlist came from Canada. And we’ve been more that recalcitrant in not adhering to NATO military commitments. And engaging in unfair trade by not allowing more US competition into Canada (banks, airlines, dairy). No wonder Trump says we’re freeloaders. It's to laugh that the likes of Justin Trudeau are now wrapping themselves in the flag when the woke PM derided our nation as being “post national” and having no “core” identity – speak for himself. Hopefully the general tariffs won’t come to pass though steel and aluminum are now pinching. Trump is great at rattling people to get action which seems to have worked with the provinces announcing stepped up border security despite Premier Doug Ford talking tough on retaliation. Yet Ford, like most Canadian politicians, says and does little about other issues like unsustainable immigration and wokery.

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Chamber award to Reidel questioned

WindsorOntarioNews.com Jan 29 2025

The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce should have been more circumspect before awarding Helga Reidel the female-oriented 2025 ATHENA® Leadership Award. “Helga’s distinguished career spans both public and private sectors, where she has exemplified strategic vision, operational excellence, and community leadership,” the chamber says. “Helga’s distinguished career spans both public and private sectors, where she has exemplified strategic vision, operational excellence, and community leadership.” Reidel indeed is a seasoned corporate executive having served as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Windsor and former President and CEO of ENWIN Utilities. What the chamber doesn’t say is that Reidel was also the board chair of controversial health care IT firm TransForm Shared Service Organization, which oversaw data files of several regional hospitals including those in Windsor and Leamington, during an extensive cyberattack in October 2023. The attack shut down hospital systems, delaying procedures with the hackers posting patient information on the dark web after the hospitals refused to pay ransom. This included more than five million patient visits at Sarnia’s Bluewater Health and SINs of more than 1400 employees at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. Reidel along with other Transform officials have never commented on the incident leading to charges of stone walling. Reidel also chaired the University of Windsor board of governors during two controversies last summer. These were the UW’s decision to close the legacy University Players public theatre and signing of a controversial agreement with a pro-Palestinian encampment. The university, led by Reidel - whose term ended last fall - and president Robert Gordon - who is taking early retirement - remained tightlipped over both decisions. The ATHENA award will be presented May 15 at the chamber’s Business Excellence Awards.

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Mayor's bus arguments make sense

WindsorOntarioNews.com Jan 16 2025

Leave it to happenstance that just after WON posted its editorial yesterday criticizing a plan to kill the Windsor-Detroit tunnel bus - and possibly other transit services - than Windsor's mayor posts reasons for the cut. And they make sense. But with some caveats. Mayor Drew Dilkens explained that for each $10 fare city taxpayers subsidize the route a whopping $35. The union never pointed that out. And why? Because in its (not so) infinite wisdom the federal government some time ago changed employment regulations regarding “federally regulated” employees including those who work for agencies that have international services. It allows employees to claim up to 10 sick days a year and not just for those operating the tunnel bus but for the entire 300-strong network. Result: more than eight days a year are claimed. That’s a hammering of taxpayer dollars: $1.5 M worth. Until that time the system was “breaking even.” Well, thanks once again, Liberal Trudeau government! This subsidy compares to the $3.33 per passenger within Windsor. As for further cuts Dilkens said the plan is to add services by eliminating special school runs, putting nine buses into the regular system “to serve the entire community.” Yes, the tunnel bus is unique, as are many things about living in a border area, something the feds (witness the shortfall of compensation for policing during the trucker convoy Ambassador Bridge blockade and further back the killing off of the onetime “Big 8” CKLW radio station format) don’t get. Can this iconic service still be viable? Dilkens hinted at the “private sector” helping subsidize especially for “special events” like Detroit sports. Zehrs has subsidized transit fireworks night service. He’s not hopeful the county will chip in having just cut 15% from economic development even though county residents pile on for Red Wings, Tigers and Lions games. But what about Detroit? It pays nothing. And yes, the Motor City benefits from Windsorites' spending, especially big money Detroit sports teams. And just saying, transit employees might, just might, be taking advantage of those sick days.

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Two hairbrained ideas: one in Essex County, the other in the City of Windsor

WindsorOntarioNews.com Jan 15 2024

Two recent proposals that have come out of the blue are enough to tell proponents to give their heads a shake. One is to turn Colchester into a massive residential and vacation development. The Town of Essex’s “secondary plan” would see as many as six major developments including almost 500 condos and 400 homes near neighboring Lake Erie beaches. Residents seem unanimously opposed to the plan, which would take place over the next quarter century. A local opposition group Colchester Matters has sprung up and denounced the “vision” that would create “excessive tourism, extreme residential intensification, and unwarranted commercial expansion.” They say the plan would convert the quiet but engaging area with its limited beaches and wineries into a “tourist mecca” like honkytonk Grand Bend. Besides disrupting the way of life there are few infrastructure supports with just the narrow two lane County Rd. 50 and minimal services in the rural bucolic hamlet. Who came up with this plan and what were they thinking? Second is the City of Windsor’s proposal to cut Transit Windsor funding and possibly eliminate the tunnel bus between Windsor and Detroit, the only such international city-to-city route in North America and an iconic symbol of the two cities’ connectiveness. It could be part of a $1.4 million cut to transit services. This ironically when post-pandemic Windsor has been one of the few Canadian cities to see substantial growth in transit use. Transit Windsor ridership went up seven per cent = 463,368 more rider trips — in the first nine months of 2024. A 2022 report found ridership "rebounded to approximately 95 per cent of the pre-pandemic average (and) while other transit agencies in Ontario continue to struggle with ridership Windsor seems well-positioned to continue into 2023 with a strong recovery."

Photos: Shutterstock & the City of Windsor

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This government should be thrown out

WindsorOntarioNews.com Dec 18 2024

Enough already. It is time for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign and take the government with him. With his popularity at an all time low and the latest two – and key – ministers quitting just days ago, Trudeau is long past his best before date. In fact, his party has been trailing in the polls significantly since summer 2023 and a CBC poll Dec. 16 showed the party would gain only 50 seats to the Conservatives 218 should an election be held. The government must call an election by law by next October anyway. But government mishaps have been piling one on top of another and the country is suffering – badly. Count the ways. This week’s fall economic update was an insult with a $62 billion deficit after projecting $40 billion which was bad enough. On top of a steady stream of deficits when the government originally promised to balance the budget by 2019 ($20B deficit actually) when it came to office almost 10 years ago. Immigration is wrecking the country. In 2022 Canada’s population surged by 1.05 million alone. That’s not a problem itself but when the medical system, housing and general infrastructure (hello GTA) can’t support it, it’s major for people trying to find accommodation and paying outrageous home prices. More indication of the party’s deep unpopularity was the three byelection losses this year – Toronto, Montreal and this week BC. And of course, there has been the general offensive tenor of this government - scandals from Aga Khan to Blackface to SNC-Lavalin to the fascist-like suppression of dissent (freezing bank accounts) of Covid 19 trucker convoy protesters. While Trudeau’s arrogance and narcissism won’t let him quit his partner in crime is New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh who refuses to pull support for this minority government, with widespread speculation he’s holding firm until his personal (as well as numerous MPs) pensions vest next year. For a party that claims virtue at every turn, this selfishness alone is an outright scandal.

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Shameful arrest of peaceful journalist

WindsorOntarioNews.com Dec 2 2024

The arrest of Rebel News director Ezra Levant should bring shame to the Toronto police department – and other police services that use the same modelling – and news media, writers and human rights organizations. Two weekends ago the head of the video news site dared to walk into a crowd of pro-Palestinian/Hamas/anti-Israel demonstrations in north Toronto and was promptly arrested by police for “breaching the peace.” Levant, who is Jewish, slammed cops for targeting him because of his religion. Released after only two hours the fact he was even detained is a stain on the police service. And where were other journalistic institutions and human rights groups in support? Nowhere. WON’s survey of several Toronto and national publications found no editorials denouncing Toronto police for authoritarian-style human rights violations, though a few columnists spoke out on conservative sites. The Toronto Star or The Globe and Mail had nothing. Some newspapers (ditto) didn’t even cover it. The arrest came as a few other journalists, like Toronto Sun’s Joe Warmington, Rebel’s David Menzies and journalist Caryma Sa’d have also been pushed around by the police. No was there official support by groups like the Canadian Association of Journalists, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression or PEN Canada whose motto is “free expression matters.” Meanwhile, it appears anti-Israel protesters can protest or “incite” with impunity, walking into a nearby Jewish neighborhood with vile signs and chants. In fact, earlier this year cops even brought them coffee. “Why are they allowed into a Jewish neighbourhood to harass those at a peaceful gathering?” city councillor James Pasternak asked. “If a Jewish man (Levant) wants to take a picture of pro-Palestinian protesters, it's a breach of the peace,” American podcaster Tim Pool said. Levant was not dissuaded and went back to the same street corner this weekend, where cooler heads – even of police – prevailed, and he was able to “take back” a street that rightly belongs to him, and to all peaceful Canadians.

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Do they know it's Christmas?

WindsorOntarioNews.com Nov 21 2024

"Do They Know It's Christmas?," the song to raise money for Ethiopian famine relief and performed by Band Aid, was originally recorded in 1984 with subsequent versions including one this year. The fact the word “Christmas” is even in the title might be a bit surprising, even if it’s the original reason for festivities this time of year, given how secularized the feast has become. After all, don’t tell anyone, but the event is rooted in the birth of Christ. Yet in our postmodern Canadian – and Western – world, this defining aspect has all but been extinguished, supposedly because of ever-so-politically-correct-not-wanting-to-offend-anyone-else’s-values, religious or not. For example, in Windsor-Essex, we see myriad joyous celebrations but where is the word “Christmas”? Windsor’s otherwise praiseworthy Bright Lights in Jackson Park makes no mention of the word Christmas. Indeed, a look at the event’s map comes close to saying Christmas but, sorry, no magic cigar! There are descriptions like Winter Wonderland, Candy Cane Lane, Merry and Bright, Wish Upon a Star and Enchanted Children’s Village. But notice these are all secular descriptions of Christmas. There’s even a – whisper it – what looks like a Christmas tree though it might, absurdly, be called "Holiday." There is the W.E. Made it: Holiday Market. There’s the “holiday-themed” Transit Windsor bus which otherwise is decked out in, uh, (secular) Christmassy images. It’s similar in other communities. Amherstburg’s laudible River Lights Winter Festival, from what we can tell, makes no mention of the word. The closest it comes is the Super Santa Run. Then there’s the annual Windsor visit of the CP (now CPKC) “Holiday” Train. The closest any of these descriptions come to acknowledging the real reason for the celebration is the word “Holiday” or embracing the non-religious version of the feast – "Santa Claus" or secular seasonal carols not religious ones. But do they really know it’s Christmas?

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Cycling lanes well and good, but

WindsorOntarioNews.com Nov 7 2024

It’s all well and good to have dedicated cycling lanes on city streets. But at what cost versus their utilization? This is not so much a problem in Windsor as Toronto where Premier Doug Ford just announced bike lanes on three major thoroughfares be ripped out because they increase congestion. Meanwhile new legislation would require any city that wants to install a bike lane to get provincial approval if it removes a car lane. Municipalities will also have to provide data to justify lanes installed in the past five years. That hasn’t gone well with the organized cycling community. Bike Windsor Essex says Ford’s decision is “perpetuating a myth and a lie” and “the ONLY thing that will fix congestion is fewer cars on the road.” It makes several arguments: cycling is “more efficient at moving people quickly than lanes moving cars,” “cheap to install and maintain, especially when you consider the billions spent on car lanes,” “increase traffic and sales to local businesses” and “deliver what car ads promise: freedom and mobility.” Those arguments can be countered. Obviously motorized traffic moves faster when not backed-up and commercial streets are more vibrant with car traffic. Yes, bike lanes are much cheaper ($50,000 - $200,000/km in Windsor) but how much are they utilized? Locally in 2021, 7.4 per cent of all trips were made using the bus, walking, or cycling. Anecdotal evidence suggests ironically few cyclists use lanes, cyclists ride on adjoining pedestrian sidewalks and in fact on opposite sides of the street against traffic - in other words, a free-for-all. Cycling might be healthier but not terribly practical in all types of weather or even going to work unless the workplace has showers. And “freedom and mobility?” Sure, but so do cars and arguably more so. Cycling may be pleasant and a tonic but it can be tiring and time-consuming, even boring. One aspect advocates fail to address: flagrant rule violations even by the sophisticated “latex set.”

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Will a new generation, councillor & arts initiatives finally revitalize downtown?

WindsorOntarioNews.com October 9 2024

There are signs of new energy downtown. From new and re-opened bars and restaurants – including The Manchester, Panache Ultra Lounge & Restaurant, Auto City Hamburgers & Poutine, Saila Vibes, Thyme Kitchen, Cucina 360 and Smoke’s Poutinerie – to a renewed vigor shown by local councillor Renaldo Agostino, there’s a real possibility downtown Windsor could now turn the tide after decades of being in the doldrums. Agostino, as an impresario and businessman, knows the downtown like the back of his hand, and seems to be everywhere promoting even the smallest event as a downtown booster extraordinaire. City Council’s $3.2 million Strengthen the Core initiative obviously backs downtown including more round the clock policing and homeless aid. But pouring tax money into the downtown won’t do it alone. What will do it is more private individuals investing in vacant storefronts and creating retail, eating and drinking establishments, and hospitality like the Chatham group’s conversion of the Paul Martin building into a boutique hotel, modelled after Chatham’s’ successful Retro Suites. Initiatives like the very popular farmers and night markets and art-inspired installations like WIFF Alley and Art Alley at the Pelissier St. parking garage are reviving vacant areas into captivating walkways and performing art spaces. This really isn’t brain science. Downtown’s footprint is ideal as a walkable people place – or “walkable urban environment” as the DWBIA calls it - with a narrow street grid and a fantastic natural riverfront setting with an astounding skyline view other cities would kill for. Finally, there’s the model of Amherstburg. For decades this historic town also had a bleak and vacant core, now filling with whimsical boutiques, eateries and the first of two boutique hotels. Perhaps it’s a generational thing and younger entrepreneurs see the potential older ones didn’t. Let’s hope it’s the same for Windsor.

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U Windsor president's resignation leaves a dark cloud over campus

WindsorOntarioNews.com Sept. 24 2024

The announcement of University of Windsor president Robert Gordon’s – early – retirement -is all a piece. This president, whom the public hardly knew because of his low profile – almost a ghost president – is being handled quietly. No press conference. In fact, Gordon is out of the country. The announcement was made in the university’s official daily news platform, hardly an objective news site where reporters can ask the details of the resignation (just after his term renewed for six year!) and reflect on his tenure, good or bad. It also comes immediately after he took leave of absence for “health” reasons. This follows a tumultuous summer when the university should be on down time. But wasn’t due to two storming controversies. One was the cancellation of the dramatic arts school’s venerable public theatre, after more than half a century. That created alarm bells throughout the country, including among many of Canada’s acting elite who graduated or worked with graduates from the esteemed program. The other was the university’s shameful agreement with a ragtag group of pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel johnnies-come-lately protesters who set up an “encampment” on the campus, and the U caving in to their demands, an anomaly among Canadian campuses and condemned across the country. The U is now reaping the harvest with numerous donor cancellations amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention a huge chunk of Canadian and local donor goodwill and support. Gordon oversaw all this and was virtually silent throughout. What was wrong with him? He may have accomplished certain things (although eulogies always exaggerate) though some are par for the course for today’s woke university administrators – i.e., “carbon neutrality,” “equity, diversity and inclusion.” And some of the building and community initiatives (the new – and partly woke – law school with its masonry Land Acknowledgment) and downtown campuses were or likely already underway. So, say goodbye to a rather ineffective president hardly anyone knew who leaves a dark could on his way out.

Photo: University of Windsor

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No excuse for Negev Dinner protest

WindsorOntarioNews.com Sept. 12 2024

There was no excuse for the cruel and uncalled for harassment of attendees at last month’s time honoured Neved Dinner at the Caboto Club. Windsor’s Jewish community has celebrated the dinner for decades and it has nothing to do with the current War in Gaza, which protesters accused it of. What the protest amounted to was an attack on Windsor’s Jewish community simply because they are Jews. This is called antisemitism or racism. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a strong supporter of Israel, was guest speaker. The dinner raised funds for a community in Israel devastated by last October’s ceasefire-breaking Hamas attack on Israel. Protesters were more than obnoxious – with insults, blocking traffic and pressing up against cars. The protest organizer was the usual suspect, Jana Alrifai, who led this summer’s “encampment” at the University of Windsor. “I think a lot of Zionists are walking into their fancy party and they're pretty annoyed that we're over here. We will call you, we will name you and we will shame you,” she reportedly said. Joe Schnayer of the local Jewish National Fund rightly called the protesters out for spreading “false information.” He was “disgusted” by the event, which called for more police protection, saying it had “nothing to do with the war going on in Israel right now, (the) event is simply raising money for Kibbutz Kissufim.” The problem with this and scores of other protests across Canada since Oct. 7 is that ignorant and belligerent protesters are attacking innocent Jews, conflating them with the Israel government. In other communities Jewish organizations have been shot at, firebombed and otherwise vandalized. Moreover, in Windsor, this marks a sad turn in the longstanding peaceful coexistence between Windsor’s Jewish and Muslim communities.

Photo: Windsor Star

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Good first move, but school boards are in need of more comprehensive reform

WindsorOntarioNews.com August 9 2024

It’s good to see the Ontario government is finally acting to rein in school boards, at least partially, though it hasn’t been quick enough and new policies should be retroactive, especially in relation to a gross local incident. The ministry is taking investigation and sanctioning powers out of the hands of local school trustees, a glaring conflict of interest if there ever was one. Now a provincial integrity commissioner will investigate matters like violations of boards’ “codes of conduct,” a sledgehammer wielded to quell dissent. Such codes have been used by the Greater Essex County District School Board, for one, to unfairly sanction trustee Linda Qin (photo). Qin was outrageously banned from school board committee meetings and even the full bard itself, for questioning board policy on transgender issues, school library books, and incomprehensively, speaking to the media. Has the board never learned the democratic principle of free speech? Qin has had long time disagreements with other board trustees and that’s all to the good because as many diverse opinions should be expressed at public bodies as possible. The board, ironically, should take lessons on the importance of civic democracy and that trustees are elected by the people to represent their views. This is beyond ironic. Unfortunately, the changes won’t help trustee Qin because they won’t take effect until January. The government’s removal of local powers is a good first step in totally reforming school boards, which have operated under the radar for too long due to public apathy and therefore have been able to get away with such nonsense. But the province must move on other issues, such as taking away boards’ right to implement gender-affirming policies where parents are not informed of students’ desire to change sexual identities. The Ford administration has been woefully abysmal on this matter.

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