County Council Highlights for Jan. 19, 2022

County Calling on Province to Give More Support to Small Businesses

Small businesses in Windsor-Essex struggling under the weight of pandemic restrictions need more financial support from the provincial and federal governments, said Warden Gary McNamara.

The county has written a letter to Premier Doug Ford urging the province to quickly make available to small businesses a $10,000 grant to help cover the costs of the current modified Step Two restrictions. The provincial grant for qualified businesses was announced in early January.

McNamara told Wednesday’s Essex County Council meeting that ongoing costs of public health restrictions are costing small businesses money and customers.

“This grant will help if it gets to the businesses that need it efficiently and expeditiously. But it is not enough,” the warden said.

The county is urging the federal and provincial governments to reinstate the commercial rent assistance program. It is also calling on the province to provide financial assistance to businesses for implementing vaccine certificate protocols, such as adopting the use of QR code readers and adding staff to check vaccine passports.

“Small businesses and their employees in Windsor-Essex need a lifeline. Their survival ensures a better future for this region,” McNamara said.

He thanked residents for supporting the Support Local campaign spearheaded by the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce and encouraged them to “keep it rolling.”

Windsor’s Call for More Funds to Address Homelessness Supported

County council is unanimously backing a Windsor city council resolution asking the federal and provincial governments to provide more funding for housing and homelessness support programs, as well as mental health and addiction services.

The resolution calls on the two higher levels of government to declare homelessness a provincial and national crisis. It points to a lack of resources to support addiction and mental health programs as a leading cause of homelessness.

Chatham-Kent and Huron County councils have endorsed similar resolutions.

County Adding 12 km to 2022 Road Construction Program

The county will be able to rehabilitate an additional 12 kilometres of regional roads in 2022 after being informed it is receiving $2 million from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund.

The county wasn’t told how much funding it would receive until after council set the 2022 Budget, which allocated $11.7 million to road rehabilitation projects.

The additional funding will be allocated to six projects, says a report approved by council.

Amherstburg Mayor Appointed to Board of Health

The Striking Committee of Essex County Council appointed Amherstburg Aldo DiCarlo to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Board of Health.

DiCarlo was appointed to serve out the balance of this council term after a vacancy was created due to the resignation of the mayor for the Town of Essex.

The Board of Health is the governing body that oversees delivery of mandatory programs and service guidelines set by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Ministry of Children and Youth Services under the Health Protection and Promotion Act legislated by the Government of Ontario.