Latest news with #DrewDilkens
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Windsor recognized for climate action worldwide
The Welcome to Windsor sign on Riverside Drive in Windsor, Ont., on Sunday, May 3, 2020. (Melanie Borrelli / CTV Windsor) The City of Windsor has been recognized as part of the top 15 per cent of cities in the world for its climate action. Windsor is one of 112 that have made the list, recognized for leadership in environmental transparency, climate action, and resilience planning. 'We are proud to announce that the City of Windsor has once again achieved an 'A' grade in our 2024 CDP climate reporting, maintaining our strong commitment to environmental sustainability,' said Mayor Drew Dilkens. 'Since we began reporting in 2016, we've consistently demonstrated leadership in addressing climate change, earning a leadership level score of A minus or higher each year.' Dilkens added the accomplishment 'underscores the hard work and dedication' the team puts forth in impactful climate actions to help the environment. 'Congratulations to Windsor for earning a spot on CDP's A list,' said Katie Walsh, head of climate finance for cities, states, and regions and North America lead at CDP North America. 'Windsor is leading by example, by disclosing transparently how it is prioritizing and integrating climate resiliency and sustainability across their city.'
Globe and Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Mayors in border communities call on Ottawa to boost support for duty-free shops
A group representing Canadian land border duty-free stores has released an open letter signed by 15 mayors from border communities, calling on Ottawa to provide more support for the shops. The strain on the Canada-U.S. relationship has led to a drop in border traffic, and the stores are struggling to stay afloat as a result, said Barbara Barrett, executive director of the Frontier Duty Free Association. The shops had previously faced down the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor, Ont., said that duty-free shops in his region are seeing a 40-per-cent drop in sales. The letter also says that many stores are reporting revenue losses of 60 per cent to 80 per cent in just the past few weeks. The letter urges the federal government to provide immediate liquidity for the hardest-hit stores; to issue a ministerial directive that would reaffirm the export status and remove regulatory uncertainty; and to align excise tax policy with the export status so stores can fairly compete with their U.S. counterparts. How a Canadian suit maker got slammed by Trump's China tariffs Ms. Barrett said they would need to figure out the specific details of the liquidity ask, but she pointed out that the industry is small and 'we don't need much.' Mike Bradley, the mayor of Sarnia, Ont., said 3,000 jobs at independently owned duty-free stores across Canada are at stake. 'The message is very, very simple – this is a crisis,' he said. 'This is not a fat cat industry. The people we've spoken to who have these particular operations across this country are ordinary working people who live in their community, employ people in their community, and give back to their community.' Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CTV News
7 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Curling will not return to Roseland: Windsor mayor
A committee named The Future of Curling Windsor-Essex has launched a petition to save the Roseland Curling Club in Windsor, Ont. on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Bob Bellacicco/CTV News Windsor) Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens said curling will not return to Roseland. Speaking on AM800's Mornings with Mike and Meg, Dilkens said the refrigeration system at Roseland is inoperable and has been decommissioned. The mayor is commenting on a report going before council on Monday that calls for curling rink at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex to convert back to a skating ice pad to accommodate user groups who are impacted by the fire at the WFCU Centre in April. Dilkens said it's an unfortunate situation and added the pad at the AM800 ice rink is expected to be closed for 10 to 12 months. 'We're only here and this is only a temporary measure, we're only here simply because of the fire that happened and the need to fix the roof and the WFCU Centre,' said Dilkens. He said the site at Roseland has been decommissioned. 'The refrigeration systems have been made inoperable,' he said. 'So, it would take considerable money if you were going to look at doing that but Roseland as everybody knows is on a different trajectory and that spaced is closed.' Dilkens said the clubhouse at Roseland could be demolished this fall. 'The administration is preparing everything right now to get it in front of city council for their approval,' said Dilkens. 'It has to be decommissioned so there's some asbestos that has to be removed and typical things you have to do in a building of that age before you can bring in the wrecking ball and take it down.' The fire at the WFCU Centre happened on April 28, causing $1 million in damage. Curling started last fall at Capri after council voted to end curling at Roseland in 2023. - Written by Rob Hindi/AM800 News.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
City of Windsor defends hiring mayor's wife for project manager role
Social Sharing Windsor's Chief Administrative Officer said all rules were followed in the recent hiring of Jane Deneau, the mayor's wife, for a permanent, full-time, project manager role with the city. According to Ray Mensour, Deneau was the top-scoring candidate for the job in the parks, recreation and facilities department, which has a posted salary range between $96,000 and $116,900. The job opening was listed for six days, from April 4 to 10. The CAO said Deneau was one of 278 people who applied for the position, and then one of three shortlisted candidates — who were all external submissions. "This position does not have any direct reports and is not considered a manager level employee," said Mensour. "Therefore, the recruitment does not require or involve mayoral participation or approval." CBC News reached out to Deneau for comment, but did not receive a response. Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens confirmed on AM800 that his wife had been hired, and said in a statement to CBC News that he "cannot speak to a recruitment process with which I was not involved." Strong mayor powers can raise concerns A municipal government expert believes that strong mayor powers have "muddied the waters" when it comes to hiring people who have a relationship with the mayor. "The crux of the issue here relates to strong mayor powers over administration and how they could undermine the CAO-Council model that most municipalities in Ontario and Canada have adopted," said Joe Lyons, Director of the Local Government Project at Western University. Strong mayor powers give Dilkens the ability to hire and fire nearly all staff members within the City of Windsor. However, Dilkens has delegated that authority to the CAO for any position below manager. Lyons said the mayor's control of the employment of the people who lead the department that Deneau now works in, can create worrying perceptions. "What this situation elicits, you know, is also concerns about how the powers over senior members of administration could leak kind of deeper into the organization, or affect the behaviour of people deeper within the organization when they're doing things like hiring people," said Lyons. All paperwork and processes were followed, says CAO In a statement issued to media on Tuesday, Mensour wrote: "As part of the recruitment, all required paperwork and processes were followed, including completion of a family relationship form." "This process is in place to ensure that there is never a direct reporting relationship between related parties." Mensour said that Deneau had applied to two other positions with the city in the past but was not hired. On Deneau's LinkedIn profile, she lists 27 years of experience working as a project manager with a company called Creative Realities, Inc. — an IT consulting firm based out of Kentucky. As a project manager with parks, recreation and facilities, Deneau "will provide overall management for every aspect of the design, development and implementation of Recreation & Facilities project management initiatives," according to the job posting. The posting said that Deneau will be expected to create reports that she may be required to present to senior management or city council. Deneau's first day of work was May 20.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Wife of Windsor mayor hired by city following competitive process
Drew Dilkens and his wife spoke to reporters at Windsor Regional Hospital in Windsor, Ont., on Aug. 27, 2015. (Chris Campbell / CTV Windsor) The City of Windsor has hired the wife of Mayor Drew Dilkens as a recreation and facilities project manager following an open competition. In an email, the city says the position was posted both internally and externally on April 4, and attracted 278 applicants. Three external candidates were shortlisted and interviewed by a panel of three members from the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Management team. According to the city, the successful candidate scored highest with all three interviewers and was offered the job based on merit. The city says the selected candidate has 27 years of relevant project management experience. The role was created as part of a departmental restructuring, does not include any direct reports, and is not classified at the managerial level, meaning it does not require mayoral approval. Mayor Drew Dilkens addressed the hiring Tuesday during an appearance on AM800's Mornings with Mike and Meg, saying he had no involvement in the process. 'She applied to a position that was posted like any other person in the city could apply,' said Dilkens. 'She was interviewed like any other person would be interviewed and she was offered the job. I'm completely disconnected from it.' He added that hiring processes at the city are handled by administration and follow established protocols. 'Anyone who applies to the city, if you have a relative working there you must sign a form and declare any relationships that you've had,' he said. 'So my wife has done that. She's done everything appropriately and properly and frankly she's extremely qualified for the job that she has.' Dilkens emphasized that all rules were followed. 'I'm completely disconnected from that process and anything you need to get comfort on with respect to hiring at the City of Windsor — unless it falls under my bailiwick — you should really go to the chief administrative officer,' he said. The city confirms all required documentation, including the family relationship disclosure form, was completed in accordance with hiring policies. ~ With files from AM800/Rob Hindi.
