FRANCIS, Fred

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

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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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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