DILKENS, Drew

Candidate for Mayor

In their own words

mayordrewdilkens.ca — DILKENS, Drew’s campaign website, opens in a new tab

Where they stand

Every candidate in this race is shown against the same 16 issues, in the same order, whether or not we’ve found something for each one. Why we do it this way.

Housing

Will I be able to afford to live here?

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

At the CBC debate, Dilkens defended the 'Village at the Barn' project as transitional housing rather than a shelter.

Defended the proposed 'Village at the Barn' as transitional housing, not a shelter.
The project would include 102 private pod-style units with counselling, medical services and a safer-use space.

“It's not a shelter. It's transitional housing”

(reported remarks)

Source: In their words: closing pitches from Tuesday's CBC Windsor mayoral debate · October 6, 2026

Confidence:High

Dilkens: the $77.6M federal-provincial DCRP deal lets Windsor cut development charges 70% for three years, saving homebuilders and families.

IN-WINDOW: Government of Canada news release datelined 'Windsor, Ontario, October 23, 2026' ('Today') - three days before election day
Dilkens, quoted in his official capacity as Mayor of Windsor, ties Windsor's Housing Solutions Made for Windsor strategy and Provincial Housing Pledge to the federal-provincial Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP)
Windsor commits to a 70% development-charge cut for three years (Mar 30, 2026 - Mar 31, 2029) in return for up to $77.6M; release estimates up to $49,452 in savings per new home in Windsor
CAVEAT: this is a federal government announcement, not campaign material - Dilkens speaks as sitting mayor; keep only if Andreas wants official-capacity quotes rowed
Distinct from his banked housing rows (5,000-home pledge, Oct 8; Village at the Barn, Oct 6) - this is a new, specific development-charge-cut commitment
Copyright: verbatim excerpt is 47 words, within the 50-word per-source-work limit

“This significant transformational investment of $77.6 million from the governments of Ontario and Canada allows us to reduce development charges by 70 percent for the next three years, with direct and significant savings for those developers building and those families looking to create a home in Windsor.”

(reported remarks)

Source: Government of Canada news release: 'Canada and Ontario Making Homes More Affordable in Windsor and Tecumseh' · October 23, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Taxes & spending

What happens to my tax bill, and where does the money go?

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.

Show their words & source (reported remarks)

“the lowest tax increase of any city in Ontario”

Source: In their words: closing pitches from Tuesday's CBC Windsor mayoral debate · October 6, 2026

Confidence:High

Emergency services

When I call for help, will it come fast enough?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Transit

Can I get where I need to go without driving?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Government

Will decisions be made in the open, and will anyone answer for them?

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.

Show their words & source (reported remarks)

“This is a time for stability, a time for experience, a time for proven leadership, a time for someone who knows how to make difficult decisions and deliver results.”

Source: Windsor Star (via republication): Stability vs. change at Windsor mayoral debate · September 29, 2026

Confidence:High

Roads & infrastructure

Will the things I use every day actually get fixed?

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.

Show their words & source (several paragraphs)

“In 2017, Mayor Dilkens presented an 8-Point Plan to address flooding – including a push to expedite completion of the City's Sewer Master Plan; the $5B plan for the next 50 years of sewer investments received Council approval in 2020.”

Source: About | Mayor Drew Dilkens

Confidence:High

Economy

Will our main streets and local jobs thrive?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Environment

Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Healthcare

Will there be a doctor and a hospital when we need one?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Growth & development

How fast should we grow, and who decides what gets built where?

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.

Show their words & source (several paragraphs)

“helped secure a monumental investment of $5B for the first domestic EV battery manufacturing facility (NextStar) – the largest investment in Canada's auto industry, and one of the largest investments in Windsor in a century.”

Source: About | Mayor Drew Dilkens

Confidence:High

Social & community services

Who looks after the most vulnerable residents?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Active transportation

Can I walk and bike safely around town?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Arts & culture

Does the candidate value what makes this place feel alive?

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

Dilkens: a city needs more than good roads and sewers — back more festivals, public art and placemaking events.

Pledged a Chinatown gateway along University Avenue West.
Would make Experience Windsor, a summer program of free community events, a permanent annual attraction.
Fund it from municipal accommodation tax revenue, not property taxes (per article summary).

“People don't want to live in a city that just has the best roads and the sewers. That's a boring city”

(reported remarks)

Source: CBC News Windsor: 3 candidates, 3 visions — quality-of-life plans (Drew Dilkens) · October 18, 2026

Confidence:High

Dilkens committed to continued funding for arts facilities, festivals and grants.

Would continue funding city arts, culture and heritage facilities (Capitol Theatre, Mackenzie Hall, Willistead Manor, Art Windsor-Essex, Chimczuk Museum).
Would continue funding Bright Lights Windsor, Open Streets Windsor, Experience Windsor, Neighbourhood Nights and LIVE at the Square, all of which pay local musicians and artists.
Would continue funding the Arts, Culture & Heritage Fund grant program ($1.3M to 529 projects since 2014; increased 13% to $133,000 annually in 2025-2026).
Committed to reviewing and updating the 15+ year old Municipal Cultural Master Plan in the coming term with full consultation of the arts community.
Measures success by more public art, more arts/culture spaces, expanded Museum Windsor resources, and arts as a main element of the Strengthen the Core downtown plan.

“I will continue to support our arts, culture and heritage facilities like the Capitol Theatre, Mackenzie Hall, Willistead Manor, the building that houses Art Windsor-Essex and the Chimczuk Museum.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: What Are Windsor's Mayoral Candidates Saying About Arts & Culture - Arts Council Windsor & Region questionnaire · October 17, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Data centres

Should energy-hungry data centres be welcomed here?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Water & waste

Is our drinking water safe and our waste handled?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Bylaw enforcement

Are the rules fair, and are they actually enforced?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Think we got something wrong?

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