State of the City address centers around unifying and persevering

U.S. president Donald Trump has been lauded by many for the aggressive start to his second term in office, but the threat of tariffs has soured countries like Canada, who are close trading partners with their American neighbours.

“Donald Trump and the tariff issue has certainly taken over the discourse and it’s something we have to be alert to,” said Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens, who feels the threats can’t be ignored and can’t be controlled.

That’s why he focused on uniting stakeholders from the city and county during his address Wednesday afternoon.

January’s unemployment rate was 9.1 per cent, which according to Workforce Windsor-Essex, is a result of more people moving to the region, outpacing the number of jobs available.

“Which is something we’ve never had to deal with in my entire life in the City of Windsor, so it speaks to our geography,” said Dilkens.

“It speaks to the excitement that is happening here in Windsor-Essex. When we look at what we’re doing and the things that are under our control and the way we’re moving things forward, we’re making great progress as a community.”

Dilkens said there are projects in the works that could bring up to 4,600 jobs to the region.

“I have a good relationship with the warden, and I’m happy that they’re reconsidering the investment in Invest Windsor-Essex at a time when this work is more important than ever,” he said.

“Invest Windsor Essex, the City of Windsor, the county, have done outstanding work in making sure that we are prepared for right now and in the next ten, 20 years for economic development and job growth and job creation,” added Ryan Donally, CEO and president of the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce.

Dilkens also highlighted the importance of the Sandwich South lands near the airport.

“We’re getting some of that investment at the airport right now because we do have service land there,” noted Ward 9 City Councillor Kieran McKenzie.

“But where’s the next investment going to go? If we don’t have a place for a company to be able to build whatever thing that they might want to build, to be a part of that supply chain, then that investment is going to go somewhere else.”

When it comes to the Paul Martin building downtown, Dilkens said the hope is to move the library out by the end of this year.

The owners of the Paul Martin building have told the city the sooner they can move the library out of the building, the faster they can get started on their boutique hotel.

Originally planned to be a staggered build over time, the owners feel that it would be economically efficient to do it all in one phase.

Dilkens said interior demolition is complete and the city is currently looking for a temporary location for the library.

“We’re coalescing around one spot pretty close to City Hall, but we don’t own the land so there’s processes to go through there. It’s going to take us a couple of years to get through all the processes we need to get through.”

Dilkens said if the city gets the property they want for a permanent site, it would be a demolition and rebuild project.