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This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

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This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

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Graves proposes converting abandoned spaces into temporary housing.

• Campaign states 'Housing first is the solution.'
• Proposes converting Windsor's abandoned spaces into large-scale temporary housing that could later be converted to regular rental units.
• Argues housing the bottom of the economic pyramid reduces spending on hospitals, police encounters, encampment removals and street trash.
• Says keeping people at risk of homelessness housed is as important as housing the already-unhoused.

Confidence:High

Three homelessness goals: identify individuals' needs to reintegrate and succeed, identify obstacles to housing

• Identify individuals' needs to reintegrate and succeed
• Identify obstacles to housing and how to overcome them
• Ensure funding gets to the intended recipients

Confidence:High

Kolasky wants permanent small-home housing modelled on Peterborough.

• His top priority is homelessness: permanent housing, not overnight shelters that eject people in the morning.
• Would follow the Peterborough model of building small homes at about $5,000 per person, versus the $50,000-per-person cost he attributes to the Village at the Barn plan.
• Would create smaller homeless hubs outside the downtown (near transit, not in food deserts), possibly in vacant factories, with offices for counselling and a mobile outreach van.
• Said he would not have closed the supervised injection site, arguing public drug use has become more rampant.
• Argued moving homeless residents into smaller hubs out of the core would reduce crime, policing costs, open drug use and panhandling, and revive downtown business.

Confidence:High

Says capitalism will save Windsor's housing market, invoking a return to a 1990s-style market.

• Says "capitalism will save the housing market," invoking a return to a 1990s-style housing market.

Confidence:High

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

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Sutherland would adopt Helsinki's Housing First model and fund it with a local lottery.

• Would introduce the Housing First model used in Helsinki, Finland, calling it the most successful in the world, with a mandatory affordable housing component.
• Houseless people would be provided homes 'no questions asked' and dispersed across the county with supports; a share of rental units citywide would be deemed affordable.
• Would create a 'Freedom 60/40 Local Lottery' to fund housing for the homeless and supply food banks (winner gets 40%), topped up with provincial/federal assistance.
• Would donate 20% of his mayor's salary directly to housing the homeless.

Confidence:High

Dilkens claimed Windsor had the lowest tax increases of any Ontario city over the past four years.

• Pointed to what he called 'the lowest tax increase of any city in Ontario' over the last four years.
• Made affordability-through-low-taxes the core of his cost-of-living pitch.

Confidence:High

Francis pledges no new taxes, pay-as-you-go financing, debt reduction, and an end to over-budget legacy capital projects.

• 'No New Taxes': would fund the Asset Management Plan with existing capital dollars plus senior-government grants, reversing the 1.1% Asset Management Tax (2020) plus 0.25% (2023) that added $41M to the base budget.
• Would hold the line on taxes by measuring spending at the rate of inflation, not a blended rate.
• Would use a pay-as-you-go strategy to avoid debt, reduce city debt from $130M (2026) back down, and increase financial reserves.
• Would end costly legacy capital projects, citing the ~$10M trolley beacon project and ~$15M City Hall ice rink as over-budget examples.
• Would replace Strong-Mayor budgeting with people-based budgeting that puts councillors back into the budget process.

Confidence:High

Pasquach pledges a year-one 0% tax freeze, an end to vanity projects, and fines on landlords who leave properties vacant or derelict.

• Would commit to a 0% property tax increase in the first year.
• Would stop 'vanity projects' and overspending, citing $10M streetcar displays while housing and shelter needs are dire.
• Would explore grants, sponsorships and advertising revenue to fund Transit and Libraries before asking residents for more.
• Would pursue aggressive fines and increased taxation on residential and commercial landlords who leave properties abandoned or in disrepair.

Confidence:High

Francis would create a mayor-reporting downtown safety and outreach command unit.

• Would establish a Downtown Safety and Outreach Command Unit led by a Director reporting weekly to the Mayor, coordinating with Mobile Crisis Response Teams (police, mental health workers, Essex-Windsor EMS).
• Would designate downtown and the riverfront a priority enforcement zone.
• Would launch a Clean and Safe Streets Ambassadors Program and a 311-to-response guarantee for crisis reports.
• Would increase mental health and addiction treatment capacity via the HART Hubs model and add treatment beds with wraparound supports.
• Would facilitate 'no discharge to the street' protocols with hospitals, corrections and the province, and a voluntary Reconnection Program for return to home communities.

Confidence:High

Names women's safety as the single most important issue, repeated three times.

• Names "women's safety" as the single most important issue, repeating it three times.

Confidence:High

Pasquach would fund decentralized daytime hubs and supervised consumption sites.

• Would fund decentralized daytime hubs (bathrooms, showers, laundry, meals) and better fund lifelines like the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families.
• Would advocate for provincial/federal approvals for evidence-based supervised consumption services across the city.
• Would stop punishing the unhoused and focus on wrap-around supports for encampments.
• Crime: would implement volunteer youth mentorship programs as the primary crime prevention strategy.
• Would prioritize investment in multidisciplinary mental-health crisis response teams (social workers, nurses) before further discretionary police-budget expansion.
• Would embrace Vision Zero, focus police deployment on traffic enforcement, and terminate Project Greenlight and Flock-like surveillance cameras.

Confidence:High

Sutherland proposes 'S.A.D.D.' (Seniors Against Drug Dealers) to fully eradicate drug dealers in Windsor.

• Would initiate 'S.A.D.D.' (Seniors Against Drug Dealers) for the 'full eradication of drug dealers in Windsor.'

Confidence:High

Francis would bring back the Tunnel Bus, cap transit fares for two years, and re-establish the Transit Board of Directors.

• Would re-establish the Transit Board of Directors.
• Would maintain Windsor's connection to Detroit and bring back the Tunnel Bus.
• Would extend Transit Route 1000 into 2027 for Vincent Massey and Holy Names students and negotiate a permanent deal with both school boards.
• Would cap Transit Windsor fees for at least two years.
• Would review the Transit Master Plan with more public consultation and align it with the Canadian Public Transit Fund for greater senior-government funding.

Confidence:High

Pasquach would restore the Tunnel Bus, expand evening/Sunday service, and connect cycling and transit links between commercial districts.

• Would bring back the Tunnel Bus, citing its role in cross-border tourism.
• Would prioritize creating more efficient bus routes, expanded evening and Sunday service, and additional school routes.
• Would prioritize transit operators' working conditions to ensure reliable service.
• Would run rider satisfaction surveys and fix real-time tracking, optimizing routes around major hubs.
• Her 'Connected Windsor' plan (backed by Bike Windsor Essex) would work with all nine BIAs to connect cycling, transit, pedestrian and tourism links between commercial districts, building on the Gordie Howe Bridge pedestrian/cycling link.

Confidence:High

Vaupotic opposes the Amtrak plan and instead proposes a gondola/vertiport/ferry multimodal hub tied to the Gordie Howe Bridge.

• Opposes a once-daily Amtrak train to Windsor, arguing it would weaken the anticipated result for the city.
• Proposes a multimodal international transportation hub consisting of a gondola, a vertiport and a ferry, calling it 'the hands down correct path for Windsor.'
• Envisions a pedestrian pathway starting downtown, crossing the new Gordie Howe bridge and back, with the $2.24B redeveloped Detroit Ren Cen enabling the project.
• Says the vertiport would connect industry and educational institutions on both sides of the border.

Confidence:High

Says politicians come from wealth and don't understand everyday struggles like choosing between bills and food.

• Says politicians come from wealth and never had to choose between paying bills or buying food
• Says they either don't understand or don't care about everyday people's problems, visible in their decisions

Confidence:High

Dilkens pitches stability and experience over on-the-job training: proven leadership that makes difficult decisions and delivers.

• Frames the race as stability and experience versus a newcomer needing on-the-job training.
• Promises leadership that makes difficult decisions and delivers results.

Confidence:High

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

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Demands communication and transparency, asking where the money goes and calling for an audit.

• Demands communication and transparency: asks "Where's the money going?" and calls for an audit.

Confidence:High

Pasquach would govern by consensus and use Strong Mayor powers only in emergencies.

• Would lead through consensus and treat social service providers as partners, not just audited contractors.
• Would keep Strong Mayor powers only as a last resort: if council ignored substantiated evidence-based data to residents' severe detriment, or in emergencies.
• Would give councillors and the public at least one full week's notice on agendas to allow delegations and informed debate.
• Would make capital spending and procurement fully transparent and end unjustified sole-source contracts.
• Would publish neighbourhood data dashboards and run recurring third-party and resident-driven service feedback (e.g., pothole response times).

Confidence:High

Sutherland would renounce Strong Mayor powers, wear a body camera in office, and hire an outside Auditor General.

• Would not utilize Strong Mayor powers; all council decisions would be made 'the democratic way.'
• Would wear a video camera for his term as mayor (except in-camera meetings) and make in-camera meeting reports accessible to the public.
• Would work with council to hire an independent, objective Auditor General with no connection to the city.

Confidence:High

Dilkens points to his 8-Point flooding plan and the $5B, 50-year Sewer Master Plan (approved 2020) as his infrastructure record.

• In 2017 presented an 8-Point Plan to address flooding, including expediting the City's Sewer Master Plan.
• The $5B plan for 50 years of sewer investments received Council approval in 2020.
• Lists master plans approved under his leadership for roadways, public transit, active transportation, parks, recreation and culture.

Confidence:High

Sutherland would upload E.C. Row to the province and roll out solar motion-sensor street lighting.

• Would upload the E.C. Row Expressway to the province and spend the savings on city roads and infrastructure.
• Would install solar-powered motion-sensor street lights on all new subdivisions and gradually across the city, projecting millions in savings over a decade.

Confidence:High

Francis pitches a buy-local, low-business-tax economic plan with high-speed rail advocacy and airport expansion.

• Would launch a Buy Windsor Local initiative weighting local job benefits in city procurement, and create a Windsor-Essex business registry.
• Would reduce the tax burden on commercial and industrial businesses and offer tax incentive programs for growth.
• Would diversify the economy into renewable energy, technology, health sciences, aerospace and tourism, and support workforce skills development.
• Would expand air, sea and rail transportation and build a 401-corridor mayors' coalition to champion high-speed rail Windsor-Toronto.
• Would improve Windsor International Airport with more direct flights including Toronto connections, and invest in Transit Windsor.
• Would create a Chief Innovation Officer overseeing digital improvements, AI policy and entrepreneurial growth.
• Downtown: would maintain downtown as a development-charge-free zone, launch an office-to-residential conversion program, and establish a dedicated Downtown Development Concierge with set permit timeframes.

Confidence:High

Pasquach would leverage the Gordie Howe Bridge for Sandwich Town investment and fill vacant downtown storefronts.

• Would leverage the Gordie Howe International Bridge by expanding infrastructure to it and driving investment into Sandwich Town.
• Would foster the creative sector, integrate arts into economic strategy, and expand supports for social enterprises that hire locally.
• Downtown: would install self-cleaning public washrooms, fill vacant storefronts via strict by-law enforcement and escalating fines, and demand demolition/redevelopment of long-neglected buildings.
• Would pivot away from centralized models like the proposed Barn and the H4 model toward distributed daytime resources across the city.
• Small business: would expand the 'Bright Lights' hut model year-round along the riverfront, open permits for food trucks/vendors/artists, streamline permitting, maximize local procurement, and create construction-relief grants for businesses hit by long-term road projects.

Confidence:High

Vaupotic says his cross-border transit hub is the only plan that will revitalize downtown Windsor.

• Claims he is 'the only person that will revitalize downtown Windsor,' just as the bridge has started to revitalize Sandwich.
• Argues Caesars Windsor struggles to fill shows and the solution is widening its geographic drawing area via his cross-border transit proposal.
• Frames the choice as gondola versus observation Ferris wheel, noting both would cost tens to hundreds of millions, and says income generated could be redirected to other city uses.

Confidence:High

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

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Pasquach would make climate resilience and environmental impact mandatory criteria in municipal decisions and capital tenders.

• Would build climate resilience into every municipal decision.
• Would enhance stormwater management and snow removal protocols for extreme weather.
• Would make environmental impact a mandatory criterion when tendering all large capital projects.
• Runs the campaign itself as low-waste as a proof of concept for City Hall.

Confidence:High

Dilkens credits his 'Windsor Works' plan with landing the $5B NextStar EV battery plant, plus the Gordie Howe Bridge and new hospital.

• Credits his 'Windsor Works' economic strategy with securing the $5B NextStar EV battery manufacturing facility — 'the largest investment in Canada's auto industry, and one of the largest investments in Windsor in a century.'
• Points to the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the new Windsor-Essex Acute Care Hospital as major infrastructure projects tied to the plan.
• Frames his program around economic diversification and 'positioning Windsor as a destination of choice' for homes, careers and families.

Confidence:High

His reason for running is a vision to make Windsor the next New York City.

• States his reason for running is a vision to make Windsor "the next New York City."

Confidence:High

Pasquach would block Sandwich South and airport-lands sprawl until infrastructure is built, and enforce mixed-use development.

• Would not approve major outward sprawl such as Sandwich South or Airport lands developments until underlying infrastructure (roads, sewers, transit) is built.
• Would enforce the Official Plan to promote mixed-use development blending residential, commercial and institutional space.
• Would invite residents of affected areas into committee meetings early in the planning process.

Confidence:High

Francis would establish and enforce rules for e-bikes and e-scooters on streets, parks and pathways.

• Would establish and enforce regulations for e-bikes and e-scooters.
• Rules would apply on City streets, in parks and along pathways.
• Alternative slug could be bylaw-enforcement; filed under active-transportation as the issue area. Part of the Oct 16 platform finale — see caveats.

Confidence:High

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

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Francis committed to updating the Municipal Cultural Master Plan and evaluating arts funding against inflation.

• Would commit to reviewing and updating the 15+ year old Municipal Cultural Master Plan, plus a Blue Ribbon Panel to modernize all City Hall committee structures.
• Would evaluate arts funding against inflation so budget decisions reflect real costs.
• Wants Windsor to become a considered destination for arts and culture, tied to downtown revitalization and affordability (including housing).
• Sees returning the Tunnel Bus as important for Detroit arts, music and cultural connections, and would leverage University of Windsor and St. Clair College for professional development.

Confidence:High

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

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Sutherland would nearly double the arts budget, double the festival count, and make the cultural master plan update a first priority.

• Would increase the arts budget (says it should be 'close to doubled') and offer twice as many summer-to-winter festivals in city parks.
• Would market and promote all county artists globally, starting on the City website.
• Would make updating the 15-year-old Municipal Cultural Master Plan one of his first priorities, possibly via a commission to ensure artists are paid more fairly.
• Vision: dancing and singing in the streets, artists featured at the art museum, poets in parks, daily live performances on the Jackson Park Bandshell, plays in every school.

Confidence:High

Francis: focus on the basics — spend tax dollars so houses and basements don't flood and parks aren't overgrown.

• A mayor Francis administration would focus on the basics.
• Tax dollars should ensure houses and basements don't flood and parks are not overgrown.

Confidence:High