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Stern message for recycle bin exchange

WindsorOntarioNews.com Dec 15 2025

The unannounced rollout of giant 360-litre recycling carts this fall generated substantial controversy. And the private company charged with recycling beginning in the new year has responded. Yes, you can exchange the behemoths for a smaller 240-litre cart. But Circular Materials, which is taking over recycling from municipalities effective Jan. 1, wants you to be absolutely sure the smaller cart is the right one for you. And, in some stern language, it tells you how to exchange a cart if you absolutely must. “Currently, many residents use two recycling boxes on a bi-weekly collection cycle (which totals 320 litres of recycling capacity every two weeks). The new 360-litre recycling cart was chosen to support current and future volumes,” its website says. “With advancements in the recycling system, residents will now be able to recycle more materials such as hot and cold beverage cups, black plastic containers, frozen juice containers, ice cream tubs, deodorant and toothpaste tubes. This expanded list of materials will increase the volume of recyclable materials generated and collected from households.” It recommends using the larger carts for at least three bi-weekly pickups “to understand your needs before requesting a smaller size.” Moreover, "only one exchange" will be allowed and "requests for a second additional cart will not be permitted for households that have exchanged for a smaller 240-litre size cart." However, if needed, a second large carts will be provided to those who have not exchanged them. But "a second cart will not be provided for households who exchange for a smaller 240–litre size recycling cart." So there.

Image: Circular Materials

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Detroit less a target for "ruin porn"

WindsorOntarioNews.com Dec 2 2025

Soon there will be fewer places for tourists and “ruin porn” photographers from around the world to descend on Detroit to take photos of the city’s destroyed buildings. That’s because many of the notorious hulking ruins that have defined the rust belt city over the past 50 years are increasingly no more. Dozens of downtown abandoned downtown skyscrapers – some even with trees growing out of their roofs - have been rehabilitated by the Bedrock and Olympia development companies. The hulking ruin that was the old Michigan Central RR depot which greeted travelers from Canada off the Ambassador Bridge has been converted into a mobility research center by Ford Motor Co. And now the latest post-industrial eyesore will have new life. The City of Detroit yesterday announced the $50M conversion of the long decayed blocks of the 28-acre Packard plant on the city’s near east side to be converted into Packard Park (image). It will house 42 “make/live” (business and residence combined) affordable housing units, Detroit’s first indoor skate park, MODEM – the Museum of Detroit Electronic Music, “creative community” programming areas and more than two acres of indoor/outdoor public space and recreation areas. “Five years ago, the Packard Plant was still standing as Detroit’s most iconic ruin, continuing to drag down the surrounding neighborhood,” Mayor Mike Duggan said. The development is led by Mark Bennett and Oren Goldenberg, both of whom have track records with development including Dreamtroit, a mixed-use redevelopment of the original Lincoln Motor factory. 300 new full-time jobs for Packard are forecast. Completion is expected in 2029.

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Just what do those coloured utility co. markings on your property mean?

WindsorOntarioNews.com Nov 11 2025

Just what are those flags, stakes and markings that pop up occasionally on homeowners’ lawns? The gas company puts them there to designate work projects. “The coloured line markings, flags and stakes you may see from time to time on residential lawns indicate the approximate location of underground natural gas lines or other utilities,” Steve Presant of Enbridge says. These “locate” markings come in various colours “depending on the utility or purpose.” Yellow indicates natural gas, oil or steam lines, green means sewer or storm drains, and temporary survey markings are pink. There are five other colours depending on the type of utility. Even if the locates have been there for some time it’s best not to remove them. “If work has been initiated by Enbridge Gas or its contractors, natural gas locates will be painted on the property, and the homeowner will be notified separately about the start and estimated completion of the work,” the spokesman said. Homeowners shouldn’t “assume” work has started, ongoing or been completed and therefore remove flags or stakes, until the company ahs confirmed this.

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Most homelessness? Glengarry hood

WindsorOntarioNews.com Oct. 28 2025

Most of those facing homelessness are in Windsor’s inner city Glengarry neighbourhood, also a major focal point of crime over the past couple of years. According to a city report, 40 per cent of 112 people aided by a new social work team “reside” there, by far the greatest number of any area in Windsor-Essex. Only five per cent are in the county and 55 per cent across the rest of Windsor. “Nearly all” get some form of social assistance. They “typically experienced prolonged and profound life instability” with ”many navigating complex challenges related to mental health and substance use and often demonstrate significant deficits in essential life skills such as communication, self-regulation, and daily living skills.” A new Windsor Police initiative for the area has seen a 63% decrease in drug crimes, 45% drop in property crime and 38% drop in crimes against other people. Still, last month police arrested 31 people over a three-day crackdown. Most problems are associated with apartment buildings in the 300 and 400 blocks of the near downtown street.

Photo: Google Street View

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All that wildfire smoke? Blame Canada

WindsorOntarioNews.com Sept 30 3035

Three times is not the charm. According to an American columnist. James David Dickson’s finger is squarely pointed at Canada for its ineptitude in eliminating wildfires, which has been suffocating wide swaths of the US in smoke over the past three summers. “Any one summer of smoke can be understood, even excused, things happen” he writes. “Perhaps the second was a coincidence. But the third, as Ian Fleming would say, feels like enemy action. In just three years, America’s friend to the north has become a bad neighbor.” The Michigan native was adamant: “Smoky summers were not a fixture of my childhood and cannot become a new normal for Michigan’s children.” The Michigan government has issued air quality alerts. “In addition to pollutants like fine particulate matter carried in the smoke, there are gasses containing the chemicals that — when combined with sunlight — form ground level ozone,” the state says. But “that’s not exactly the proactive response we’re looking for,” the columnist says. Some politicians have sent Canada “a strongly worded letter.” But “Canada can’t be trusted to put out the wildfires. The provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have banned camping and hiking rather than fight fire with water. Canada has taken an active disinterest in managing its problem.” For the columnist the ultimate solution is for President Trump to take action. “When Trump gets involved, there won’t be a problem.” And the kicker, tongue in cheek: “Either Canada puts out the wildfires ASAP, or the US military will, perhaps en route to Canada’s annexation as the 51st state.”

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Major expansion of bike parking on tap

WindsorOntarioNews.com Sept 15 2025

It would cost $1 million to upgrade city bicycle parking infrastructure, says a report going before Windsor’s transportation committee. That would be $310,000 for improved short term bike parking and $703,000 for long-term parking. Short term includes bike racks – 56 at $1,750 each – and concrete pads at 53 locations costing $4000 each. Long term includes bike lockers – 30 at $15,100 each – and concrete pads – 26 at $8600 each. Additionally, there would be six bike racks at four locations. Short term parking is usually for visitors at a city facility for a few hours whereas long term is for building occupants - facilities can be covered and secured lockers. All municipal sites were evaluated, and it’s proposed that parks and splash pads should have 145 parking facilities (no long term), libraries and art galleries 11 along with seven long term, pools outdoor and in – six and six, city hall and administrative offices – seven and 12, community centres and rec complexes - 11 and nine, transit terminals and stops – three and three. Currently short-term parking is at 127 of 183 city-owned sites; the proposal would add 56. “Notably,” the report says, two long term spaces exist at Parking Garage 2 (Park St. W & Pelissier) (photo) and 17 short term spaces. The same holds for Parking Garage 1 (Pitt and Goyeau Streets) for long term but only one rack (seven spaces) for short term. Both garages have 24-hour surveillance. To expand long-term downtown core bike parking the city proposes Parking Garage 2 have a security gate and electronic access.

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This week's major civic donations are tied to people with the Narmco Group

WindsorOntarioNews.com August 14 2025

The two local philanthropic families that made headlines this week with significant donations to local institutions have connections to the same company, Narmco. But their names are likely unfamiliar to most people. The biggest donation – certainly the largest in local memory – came from the Fancsy family, who donated a whopping $40 million to the new regional hospital on County Rd 42 near the airport. That also granted them naming rights and the acute care hospital, slated for construction beginning next year, will be called the Fancsy Family Hospital. The money comes from the estate of John Thomas Fancsy. But who was he? Fancsy died last year at 65. He was an engineer with Narmco, for 80 years a family-owned auto parts manufacturer with operations locally, the USA, Mexico and Germany. Founded by Matthew Rodzik in 1945 the name stands for National Auto Radiator Manufacturing Company. The headquarters is at 2575 Airport Rd. Today a third generation runs the company that does metal stamping, power trains and modular assemblies, employing hundreds. And it has long contributed to local charities. Fancsy was also a musician, an oenophile and co-founder with other family members of Viewpointe Estate Winery on the Lake Erie shore in Harrow, one of the earliest and larger area wineries. Meanwhile, John and Pam Rodzik this week contributed $100,000 to Art Windsor Essex (formerly Art Gallery of Windsor) to provide “increased accessibility to the gallery's programs and exhibitions.” AWE director Jennifer Matotek said the donation will go a long way to staging 10 exhibitions in 2026 and “facilitate over 400 community and education programs.” The Rodziks have been long-time contributors to the gallery most notably founding the Artrageous gala, a major fundraiser. Also connected to Narmco ownership is the Don Rodzik Foundation which has donated significantly to the community including the new Rodzik Hall residence at the University of Windsor and the university’s revamped law building.

Photo: Google Street View

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This city hall committee wants to have its own baseball caps and T-shirts too

WindsorOntarioNews.com July 28 2025

Not content to be just another city hall advisory committee, the city’s environment committee wants to up its game and take on a higher public profile. Most committees, which advise city council on everything from transportation to housing, usually remain under the radar though their meetings are often held in public. But, perhaps in a nod to the priority the city wished to put on environmental issues, this one wants to show itself off in a big way. Partly it’s to advertise a new name, The Environment & Climate Chance Advisory Committee. The committee has already contacted local design firm Spotvin Design Co. (Shane Potvin), who has proposed three logo concepts. The logo would be used widely for social media and banners and even on T-shirts, baseball caps and water bottles. The first concept would have an “icon graphic wrapped in a leaf with a water droplet to convey that the committee is trying to make a difference and to nurture the environment.” The second, "still working with the hands in a different context and loosely looks like an eye and a leaf bringing attention to the environment.” The third, "simple graphics that includes the leaf working with the other concepts. The 3 leaves form the shape of a 'w' as in Windsor and created a containment circle to tie it all in.” Concepts 1 or 3 “are preferred” with the “opportunity to potentially mix and match elements,” says Minutes from the coommitte's May 22 meeting. But before approval any design must “follow” the city’s “brand standards.” No cost was included. But the committee chair, Ward 9 councillor Kieran McKenzie stated that “operating budget dollars were allocated to create a new logo and design esthetic for the newly named” committee.

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Besides NextStar, several battery-related plants lead city investment

WindsorOntarioNews.com July 9 2025

The City of Windsor saw 12 major industrial and several commercial developments begun last year, the city’s 2024 draft financial report says. These were led by NextStar Energy’s $5B battery plant, already producing modules with cell production scheduled for this quarter. But that was the tip of the iceberg for EV-related manufacturing. Taiwan-Canadian Minth Group is spending nearly $300 million for an almost 400K sq ft plant located on 54 acres creating almost 1100 jobs. It will produce EV battery housing units and plastic exterior parts such as bumpers, grilles, and tailgates. South Korean DS Actimo - supplier of battery cell module cases with wiring components, is building a $60M plant to employ 96. Bobaek American is constructing a $35M plant to make battery insulation panels and cell sheets for EVs and employ 144. NEO Battery Materials – producing specialized coatings and silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, a first for Canada – is investing $100M to create 130 jobs. And Kautex Textron is investing $23M to make battery casings for EVs using advanced composite materials. Non-related EV investment includes west side ADM-Agri Industries new $76M roadway and “kiosk system” that will improve truck loading capacity. Ennova Facades, a curtain wall manufacturer, is building two plants in Windsor and Amherstburg, backed by $1.15M federal money and creating 13 jobs. Chemical manufacturer Dimachem is spending $2M to expand its Windsor facility adding 16 staff. APAG Co Syst opened an R & D facility employing 14 to grow to 30 in 2025. Amazon opened its new distribution centre emplo1ying 70. Landmark Cinemas opened on the former Silver City site. Several new restaurants and retailers opened including Nauti V Oyster Bar and COBS Bread. Michaels opened in Tecumseh Mall and Loblaws chose Windsor for three of its new No Name stores. Meanwhile, local development officials are in talks with “15 high and medium-priority clients” which “could result in an additional 4,600 jobs and $6 billion in further investment.

Image: Google maps

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UM in toxic substances scandal

WindsorOntarioNews.com June 12 2025

Windsorites love wearing University of Michigan insignia, from sweatshirts to ballcaps. But the university - one of the largest and most prestigious US public universities with over 50,000 students in Ann Arbor, just outside Detroit - finds itself in a serious international scandal. It involves Chinese individuals allegedly bringing toxic substances into the United States. And it also involves Wuhan, China, considered the source of the Covid-19 pandemic with widespread conclusion that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. In the current issue Chengxuan Han, a doctoral student, was charged this week with smuggling four packages of "concealed biological material" both this year and last, to individuals associated with UM. She's the third Chinese national to be so charged and in just over the past week. She was questioned upon landing at Detroit Metro Airport. The US Attorney General's office said she initially had lied about the contents and then said she'd made "false statements." The toxic material related to roundworms, a parasite that can cause human illness including diarrhea and nerve problems. “The alleged smuggling of biological materials by Chengxuan Han is a direct threat to public safety and national security, and it severely compromises the integrity of our nation’s research institutions," the AG's Detroit office said. Earlier this month Yunqing Jian, a UM scientist and Zunyong Liu, her boyfriend, were also charged with smuggling a toxic fungus for potential agroterrorism. The FBI found Jian and Liu had worked on the same pathogen in China and Jian had received direct Chinese government funding for the research.

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Stellantis rates last in supplier relations

WindsorOntarioNews.com May 29 2025

Stellantis rated last in a Plante Moran North American Automotive OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index Study, released last week. Six assemblers participated with Toyota ranking first, followed by Honda, GM, Nissan, Ford and then Stellantis. The maker of Chrysler vehicles ranked last in six categories including timely transparent and adequate communication, buyer accessibility, responsiveness and help with reducing costs and improving quality. This is the survey’s 25th year and ranks the relationships between auto assemblers and their suppliers. Three of the six OEMs improved relationships despite “unprecedented market volatility” due to factors like changing government policies and EV cancellations. While Toyota jumped 18 points to 386, Nissan fell six and Stellantis dropped 11 to 141. “Between Toyota and Stellantis, there is a gap of 245 points — the largest gap since 2008,” the survey says. Angela Johnson, principal in Plante Moran’s management consulting supplier relations analytics, said “Suppliers want balanced financial risk, and they want to know where they fit in OEMs’ future market strategies so they can align accordingly.” Also, “They perceive OEM behaviors — fairness, equity, accountability, and then trust — through the impact of OEM decisions to their bottom line. What separates the top three from the bottom three OEMs is their ability to help suppliers reduce their costs to serve the OEM and manage uncertainty.” Car companies at the top scored better on communication, responsiveness and engagement skills that “help suppliers operate more efficiently and, in turn, create strong relationships. Stronger relationships enable OEMs and suppliers to work together and better navigate industry uncertainty with more equitable risk and cost sharing.” The survey was based on 665 Tier 1 supplier executives’ responses from 398 firms. Plante Moran is an audit, tax and consulting firm.

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Big bucks in ticket offences

WindsorOntarioNews.com May 13 2025

There’s a lot of money in them there fines such as motorist traffic violations. Since the province downloaded administration of so-called Provincial Offences Act (POA) such as traffic tickets to municipalities in 2001, Windsor-Essex has realized $51.5M in revenue, split among the municipalities. In 2024 offences totalled $1.4 M, an increase of just over $400,000 or a whopping 41% from the previous year. “This increase was driven by an increase in tickets issued (up 4.83% from 2023 or almost 30,000 tickets) and more court hours being made available (up 22.8% from 2023),” a report says. A “weighted formula” saw $690,000 go to the city and $735,000 to the County and Pelee Island. More “automation and improved processes” are being implemented this year, presumably to generate even more revenue. Overwhelmingly it is Windsor Police which lay most of the charges but other agencies such as OPP and town police, and bylaw officers, do as well. Interestingly, of all the local town police services, Essex OPP issued the most tickets at 7318 followed by LaSalle at 1256. This compared to under 300 for all other towns. Comparisons between Windsor and other provincial regions showed the city had a 4.83% increase in volume in 2024. Barrie had a 149% increase, London 6.7% and Thunder Bay saw a decline of 15%.

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Local officials may want to take page out of Nanaimo's book & attract Yanks

WindsorOntarioNews.com April 28 2025

Local tourism officials may be promoting another Windsor-Essex “Staycation.” That’s particularly in light of US President Donald Trump’s “51st state” rhetoric and many Canadians eschewing holidaying in the US in protest. But they may also want to consider what another Canadian community is doing, especially in light of our extreme proximity to the US border. In British Columbia, the city of Nanaimo (photo) on Vancouver Island, as far 120 km and more than three hours away by car from the mainland border point of Blaine WA, made a point by inviting US residents to visit its fair city of 106,000. Local digital marketer Tod Maffin created a Tiktok video and got the ball rolling when he implored Americans who disagree with Trump “put money where your mouth is, come on up to Canada, come to my hometown, and spend your money.” This stated the so-called Nanaimo Infusion, an official tourist campaign that took place last week. Perhaps as many as 500 Yanks showed up, according to the Nanaimo News Bulletin. Jennifer Brickner, from Missouri, came with four friends. "We just hope that everybody understands that what our government is doing is not what the majority of people want,” she said. “We love Canada, and we will always think of Canada as our friends.” The City of Nanaimo assisted Maffin, who admitted he's too exhausted to try this again. But the thought of another event piqued Mayor Leonard Krog. “It's a great project for Tourism Nanaimo, with the support of the city. I'm quite intrigued by the concept."

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Twice accused now IDs as a cat?

WindsorOntarioNews.com April 13 2025

Only in Windsor, you say? Cody D’Entremont, whose latest incarnation apparently is that he identifies as a cat, was last month found not guilty by a judge of assault. The charges for assault causing bodily harm and assault causing choking stem from January of last year. This after charges were earlier dismissed against him for sexual assault on a woman at a local women’s shelter. A Windsor Police press release from April 2023 stated: “On April 18, Windsor Police put out a call to the public for information regarding a suspect after a female victim reported that she had been sexually assaulted while staying at a Windsor women’s shelter. The suspect, who has been identified as a trans-identified male going by the name of Desiree Anderson, was also residing at the shelter at the time. The victim alleges that Anderson climbed into bed with her and sexually assaulted her.” Police also said “the suspect has been identified as 32-year-old Desiree Anderson, who may also be known as Cody D’Entremont. The suspect is described as 5’7”, 141 lbs, with brown eyes and brown hair. The suspect is alleged to frequent the downtown area.” But the judge found the accused not guilty because while that complainant was “credible” she was “not reliable.” But, now, two court cases behind her/him, according to Rebel News, “eyewitnesses” say the former accused is now identifying as an animal - a cat. “Apparently, he dons some dollar store props (pointy ears, tail, etc.) and walks the streets of Windsor as a feline.” And, saucily, the news site says, the individual “hangs out behind a Wendy’s drive-thru menu board these days, popping out every once in awhile to solicit donations while scaring the bejesus out of motorists in the process.”

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And what about that long abandoned OLCO gas station in west Windsor?

WindsorOntarioNews.com March 27 2025

One of those streetscape peculiarities in the city is located on Sandwich St. in west Windsor. The one time OLCO station was a kind of last stop gas station for commuters before leaving the city heading en route to LaSalle and Amherstburg. But for years, perhaps more than a decade, it's been closed. Yet the station's buildings remained intact with its overhead canopy and small sales both still standing. Even the OLCO brand sign remained, as if the station was still pumping fuel. So why the abandonment and its current status, located as it is in a bleak industrial patch near where Sandwich St. meets the Ojibway Pkwy? It turns out the gas station is now owned by the City of Windsor. "The property was vested for tax arrears in May 2017," city spokesman Mike Janisse said. And, "there are no immediate plans for the site." Janisse didn't respond to other questions about the upkeep of the site and what plans the city may have for it, somewhat isolated as it is. As for the petroleum company, OLCO is a still active firm based in Montreal, owned by TMG Canadian Holdings LLC and founded in 1986. However, most of its stations have now been converted to other brands. At one time it has 319 franchised stations, all in Ontario and Quebec. But in 2007, 60% of the company was sold to a U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley. The wind still blows through the west Windsor site, however.

Photo: Google Street View

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Ontario wants "stronger" penalties for elected officials' code violations

WindsorOntarioNew.com March 13 2025

The province introduced legislation last December to streamline and make consistent the process to remove elected municipal officials for egregious conduct. It died on the order paper when the election this winter was called but could be resurrected. The new standardized system would apply to all municipal councils and certain boards across the province rather than the individual municipal protocols that now exist. It also includes mandatory code of conduct training for members of council. There would be a complaints mechanism and reporting requirements. The Integrity Commissioner of Ontario would also train local integrity commissioners and review all local reports recommending an elected member be removed. It would also, according to a press release, create a "stronger penalty" for council and boards, that being removal for four years for "serious violations." Criteria must be met including that the code of conduct is contravened, the violation is serious, the member's conflict "resulted in harm to the health, safety or well-being of persons" such as berating municipal staff. The behaviour must also affect "public confidence in the ability of the member to discharge their duties, and, of the council or local board to fulfill its role, including meeting its legal obligations." There are three steps: a local inquiry, that recommendation sent to the provincial commissioner who conducts a second inquiry, and a recommendation to remove. But the local council must vote unanimously to do so. Michael Bondy, a Chatham-Kent councillor, is fighting it. “I don't believe that bureaucrats, unelected people, should be able to un-elect people that have been elected. If you don't like me, or anybody else, that's fine, don't vote for me," The Chatham Daily News reported. On the other hand, says Hamilton municipal blogger Joey Coleman, the bill doesn't have safeguards to end "council retaliations against integrity commissioners – who often find their contracts terminated when they enforce rules."

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One area police department has had it with illegally tinted vehicle windows

WindsorOntarioNews.com Feb 27 2025

In Dearborn they're not messing around when it comes to enforcing the law against motorists with cars with illegally tinted windows. Since Dec. 26 the police crackdown has netted 850 violations up to Feb. 18. “It’s against the law, and it’s something that we’ve really started to focus on, and I don’t see us stopping anytime soon,” police chief Issa Shahin told the Detroit Free Press. Motorists in Windsor-Essex - for whatever reason - are notorious for having heavily tinted windows. But cops say they're a huge safety hazard. Police complain it's hard for them to enforce the law because they can't see inside a vehicle during a traffic stop, leaving officers unaware of how many people are in the vehicle or if someone is armed. For pedestrians they rely on the motorists being able to see them properly, which dark tints can prevent. The tints also reduce nighttime driver visibility. Tinted windows are becoming epidemic. Said Shahin, “I’ve been on the job for 27 years. Five years ago, you very, very rarely saw tinted windshields. Now, it’s just becoming so prevalent that we had to step up and do something,” Even Dearborn mayor Abdullah Hammoud took to social media to implore motorists to remove tints. Why do drivers tint up their vehicles? One said it's for safety reasons. “I decided to get my windows tinted because I value my privacy. As a young woman who wears jewelry, I prefer not to have people looking inside my car; that could make me an easy target.” Ontario window tint laws allow any darkness of tint on back side windows and rear windshield. However, front windshield or front side windows cannot be tinted.

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What is the New Blue Party?

WindsorOntarioNews.com Feb 13 2025

"Ontarians are realizing that Doug Ford's PC Party are simply progressive liberal authoritarians." That might be the theme of Ontario's New Blue Party, so far running close to 100 candidates in the Feb. 27 provincial election (deadline today). The statement was written by ex-Tory MPP Belinda Karahalios (photo), kicked out of the PCs for opposing the government's 2020 Reopening Ontario Act which would have expanded government Covid authority, she says in her bio. A month later she and husband Jim, a former PC party activist and leadership contender, were removed from their local Tory Cambridge riding association. They quickly started their new party that fall. The New Blue Party, which has candidates in Windsor-Essex, is positioned to the right of Doug Ford's Tories and views itself as having truer conservative and small government principles. "Ontario's establishment parties are entrenched in radical left-wing ideology that seeks to socially re-engineer our province through tax-and-spend economics, government overreach and crony capitalism," the manifesto states. This is actually the second go-round for the party, first running in the 2022 provincial election and getting a "greater share of the vote than any other political party in Ontario has in its first election since the 1930s!" The party takes dead aim at polices like DEI and other "woke" issues, wants to cut the HST from 13 to 10%, put an an end to the "Doug Ford carbon tax", rid the landscape of wind turbines "to reduce electricity prices" and cancel all EV subsidies.

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Heinz still buys Leamington tomatoes and makes ketchup in Canada - in QC

WindsorOntarioNews.com Jan 29 2025

Many may think Heinz abandoned southwestern Ontario when it closed its Leamington plant in 2013. But a newspaper ad last weekend indicates quite the opposite, at least in part. Perhaps as a proactive bid to have Canadians buy its products prior to a possible 25% American tariff the Pittsburgh company ad’s headline was “Made in Canada. By Canadians. With Canadian Tomatoes.” It goes on: “From our growers in Leamington, Ontario to our team in Mont Royal, Quebec – Heinz Ketchup is made for Canadians by Canadians. We are proud to be the biggest buyer of tomatoes in Ontario, and to employ over 1,000 Canadians at out plant. When it comes to great-tasting Canadian ketchup, it has to be Heinz.” The ad come s after the company claimed “misleading” statements by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Heinz ketchup “is not made in Canada.” The company employs 1000 workers at the suburban Montreal facility under the Kraft Heinz brand in Canada. “With the exception of the five years from 2015 to 2020, we have made HEINZ Ketchup in Canada for more than 100 years.” It buys tomatoes “grown in Leamington, Ontario.” It adds, “We were resolute in our decision to bring the production of HEINZ Ketchup back to Canada in 2020 and are proud that HEINZKetchup is made in Canada, by Canadians, using Canadian tomatoes.” Heinz says the prime minister indicated the ketchup "may be a potential target for counter-vailing tariffs.”

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Eastside transit terminal moving from Tecumseh Mall to across the street

WindsorOntarioNews.com Jan 15 2025

The City of Windsor is moving its long-established eastside transit terminal from Tecumseh Mall to city-owned property across the street at the northwest corner of Tecumseh Rd. E. and Lauzon Pkwy. currently a vacant lot. A public hearing was held last June and an environmental report is under public review until mid-February. While public comments indicated the move is less convenient and more dangerous because of pedestrians crossing the busy multi-lanes intersection, the city says it has no choice than to move as the mall site is “no longer feasible…The design of this facility considers future growth and provides greater capacity than what is currently required.” As for traffic and pedestrian safety the city replied, “signage and pavement markings” will be introduced and pedestrian crossing “solutions will be considered” at upcoming budget talks but “not planned to be implemented at this time.” For public comfort, Terminal seating is “being reviewed” and a bike locker station is planned. There will be no public parking or car drop offs. Buses will access from Catherine St., one block north of Tecumseh and immediately south of the RONA store parking lot; high-visibility Tecumseh Rd. is too busy. Some people wanted to know if the stand-alone terminal will be more visible to crime and homeless people. The city replies there will be lighting, “access controls” and video surveillance. Some wanted to know how the existing natural site, virtually a woodlot, will be changed such removal of trees. “The City plans to plant new trees offsite nearby with a 1:1 replacement ratio at a minimum.” The city also says it may "incorporate art or other aesthetic improvements.”

Photo: Good Satellite View

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Detroit homicides and shootings down significantly in crime prevention areas

WindsorOntarioNews.com Dec 23 2024

Detroit is touting “community-based solutions” for dramatic drops in crime in several historic crime-ridden neighborhoods. The six districts have seen crime drop 35 per cent between August and October with one area on the east side having an 83% reduction. The “ShotStopper” zones have tailored programs to prevent crime and the stats encompass shooting and homicides. The stats also reflect a comparison with the previous two years. “These results show we have cracked the code in a significant way and now cities around the country can look to the Detroit model for reducing violent crime,” Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement. Police Chief Todd Bettison says he expects that overall, 2024 city crime data to “shatter” last year’s results, which had already seen a 57 per cent decrease in homicides. The city has had 17 per cent fewer homicides through the month of November and 25 per cent fewer nonfatal shootings. ShotStoppers works directly with residents to address root causes of violence, mentoring at-risk individuals and attempting to resolve conflicts before they escalate. “By investing in people and fostering trust, this proactive approach is a game-changer in how we build safer neighborhoods across Detroit,” Councilmember Fred Durhal said. Each ShotStoppers group gets a $175,000 base budget per quarter to implement their violence prevention strategy. They can also earn up to $175,000 more in “performance grants” each quarter by achieving targets. “While each group’s strategy varies, many use staff with lived experience of violence to intervene and peacefully resolve disputes before they turn violent, as well as mentor at-risk individuals to help them pursue other paths,” the city says.

Image: City of Detroit

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WPS accused of not "listening" to judge's decision in Brisco case

WindsorOntarioNews.com Dec 12 2024

A national legal defense organizations says the Windsor Police Service “had not been listening” to a judge who stated the 2022 Ottawa Freedom Convoy “was legal.” Instead, says the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, “they had been listening to how politicians and newspaper headlines were characterizing the protest.” The centre is providing legal help to WPS Const. Michael Brisco (photo) in a case that has made national headlines. Brisco was convicted of discreditable conduct “a serious blemish on an otherwise perfect record of service” for privately donating cash to the Freedom Convoy, though there is “no evidence” it went to the protesters who blocked the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor at the same time. His punishment was losing 80 hours of pay. The legal group is in Ontario Divisional Court today to overturn the conviction. “The conviction of Constable Brisco sent a chilling message to all Canadians: illegally hacked information can be used against you. If you donate to the 'wrong' cause (as determined by your employer, the government or other authorities), you can be publicly exposed and punished.” Brisco’s name was revealed when a GiveSendGo donor list was “illegally hacked,” the group says, noting Windsor Police are “apparently condoning this illegal activity.” In a fundraising appeal the Centre says Brisco “should have the same right to donate privately and confidentially to the causes of his choosing, like every other Canadian, regardless of his profession.”

Photo: Justice Centre

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Tradeoffs converting one-ways to two

WindsorOntarioNews.com Nov 18 2024

Converting streets from one-way to two-ways is easier said than done. City staff responded to a question from downtown councillor Renaldo Agostino who wondered if two-ways would help bring business back downtown and improve road safety. There are nine such streets. First, says the report, “a two-way conversion should not be implemented to prioritize vehicular transportation and businesses while not considering the impacts on other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.” One-ways carry 10-20 per cent more traffic and “congestion and delay are reduced” but encourage higher speeds. And they “do not pose a major inconvenience” since “regular” drivers know the network. Converting could eliminate some traffic signals due to less traffic. There’s a “high possibility” on street parking could be eliminated because more centre turn lanes would be required and need for new bus stops. One-ways also provide “high quality” cycling because of width, such as new bikeways for Victoria and Pelissier. “Another benefit to maintaining one-way street systems is that they limit the number of motor vehicle movements at intersections and simplify decision-making for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, especially the elderly and those with accessibility needs.” But studies haven’t concluded one type is safer than the other. Truck and transit might have to be rerouted on two-ways and “may limit the ability of motorists to pull over and move out of the way of an emergency response vehicle.” But one-ways tend to produce more pollution since they have “out-of-direction travel, which increases the average driving distance between any paired origin-destination points.” However, with one-ways, “coordination of traffic signals is more easily attained for one-way streets; this results in improved traffic and bus transit flow with fewer stops, less idling, and lower emissions.” But, yes, research indicates “two-way streets create higher levels of economic activity and improve the livability of downtown areas” because drivers can see storefronts better and traffic signal timing slows traffic “giving drivers more exposure to local businesses.”

Photo: Google Street View

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