Latest news with #JoAnneGignac
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Windsor Police Service reporting $2.5 million deficit for first half of 2025
A $2.5-million deficit is reported for the Windsor Police Service halfway through the year. A second-quarter variance projection, as of May 31, 2025, showed that the police service will experience a $2,575,000 deficit by the end of 2025 – or a two per cent budget deficit. $575,000 of that deficit was due to a reduction in grants and subsidies, while $2 million was due to salaries and benefits. Over $1-million of that $2 million was due to overtime pay alone. Much of the overtime recorded comes from a number of protests held throughout the city that Windsor police staffed to ensure public safety, as well as a number of calls to assist with mental health situations. An update was provided during the WPS Board Meeting, where mitigation efforts were spoken about to reroute this deficit before December, such as pulling officers from other duties to help staff these incidents and looking for provincial grants. Board chair and ward 6 councillor Jo-Anne Gignac said there isn't a lot of funding for police entities to deal with additional responsibilities surrounding mental health. 'Tracking those costs a little more accurately in terms of what percentage of your budget goes for issues that municipal police forces were never identified as being responsible for, we have an opportunity to be able to approach our partners and say 'listen, this is getting to the point where we need sustainable, reliable funding',' she said. She said there are consistent protests held in the city. 'As a result of those things I think becoming so publicly visible, we've experienced a number of others. It's a growing city concern, and a diverse city concern.' Gignac said looking at comparator costs to the OPP did not go as expected due to the rising costs. 'Municipalities that have OPP policing choose the services that they're going to pay for. There's a vast difference between the City of Windsor's municipal police force and what we are doing every day in terms of response with whether that be dog teams, specialized drug teams.' The WPS was allotted $111 million for the 2025 budget, which was 22 per cent of the municipal tax levy for the year. The service also recorded a nearly $3.8 million deficit for 2024, a $72,000 deficit for 2023, and a surplus of $620,000 for 2023. - Written by Meagan Delaurier/AM800 News.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Homelessness climbs in Windsor-Essex, city officials call for upper-level support
The number of people experiencing homelessness in Windsor-Essex continues to rise, according to a new report received by Windsor City Council Monday. The 2024 Point in Time Count identified 266 people as experiencing homelessness locally. That's up from 251 the last time the count was conducted in 2021. The survey — conducted over 24 hours in late October — captured a wide range of contributing factors, with respondents citing everything from job loss and addiction to conflict at home and domestic violence. More than half said they'd been homeless for at least six months. Mayor Drew Dilkens acknowledged the growing pressure the issue puts on municipalities. 'We want to provide help and assistance to the people who need help and assistance to get back on their feet,' he told reporters after Monday's meeting. 'But recognize that we can't do this all from the property tax base.' Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac highlighted the millions Windsor has already poured into housing and shelter supports in recent years — a point echoed by Dilkens, who questioned if Provincial and Federal governments could do more. 'We're spending a lot of money to help those folks,' he said. 'But the other partners have to dial it up as well to make sure that there's enough housing, to make sure that the treatments for mental health and addiction are there when people need them.' Council unanimously supported a motion from Ward 8 Councillor Gary Kaschak directing administration to continue engaging with upper levels of government for funding and policy support.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Windsor police not responsible to pay for new helicopter
An RCMP Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter lands at the Canada Border Services Agency Lansdowne Port of Entry in Lansdowne, Ont., on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby Windsor police will be off the hook for the cost of a new helicopter for the service. The update was provided during Thursday's Windsor Police Services Board Meeting. A letter from the Ministry of the Solicitor General, dated back to early June, states that the service would not be responsible for any of the costs associated with the procurement and operation of the helicopter. The announcement that Windsor would be receiving the new helicopter was made in mid-May when the 2025 Ontario Budget was released. The budget included $57 million for two new H-135 helicopters to support Niagara Regional Police and Windsor police with increased patrols, security, and enforcement at key entry points at the U.S. border. The letter from the Solicitor General also states that the helicopter will be owned and operated by the OPP. Its operation in the Windsor area would include five Tactical Flight Officers from the Windsor Police Service and all associated costs will be funded by the province. Board chair and Ward 6 councillor, Jo-Anne Gignac, said it's good news to see. 'It's been made very clear that the province is in partnership with us, willing to supply this tool, and all of the ancillary costs that go with it. So, off we go.' Windsor police service letter A portion of the letter written by the Ministry of the Solicitor General dated back to early June stating that Windsor Police would not be responsible for any of the costs associated with the procurement and operation of the helicopter. July 24, 2025. (Windsor Police Service website) She said those in the helicopter will be staffed locally. 'Five police officers would be utilized in the use of that particular resource, so it's important to have a local knowledge-based person in a helicopter like that in order to carry out the functions. So, 100 per cent covered by the province of Ontario.' Gignac said this helicopter will be a great tool. 'Missing persons, vehicle traffic, a number of things. But as we get closer to the date of the delivery of the item, I'm sure that we're going to get a more comprehensive list of exactly what the province is expecting of us,' she said. She added that at this time, she's not sure where the pilot for the helicopter would be contracted from. As reported at the end of May, the helicopter is slated to be in Windsor by 2027. - Written by Meagan Delaurier/AM800 News.
CBC
14-06-2025
- CBC
Will Windsor relocate Sandpoint Beach or shut it down permanently?
Social Sharing Windsor could be without a beach to swim in this summer after city council unanimously approved shutting down Sandpoint Beach and Stop 26 until a corner's report into the latest drowning is complete. The corner's office says that could take months to finish. But some on council wonder if the city should ever allow people to swim in the area again now that at least 9 people have drowned in the area since beach opened in 1980. "There is no way that I think we can offer to the public a safe swimming environment," said Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac during a city council meeting this week. Gignac made the comments before council unanimously agreed to indefinitely close the beach while staff revisit the master plan to redevelop the beach. The most recent drownings have occurred before the beach officially opened for the season and without lifeguards at the beach. Safety officials blame a sudden underwater drop off and strong whirlpool like currents immediately west of Sandpoint Beach for the drownings in the area. Gignac said the initial plan to relocate the beach further east was done in good faith but said "it's not going to be presented to the public as a safe place to swim. Ever." Coun. Kieran McKenzie said ending swimming in the area is something to consider. "I don't want to signal to the community that I'm prepared to eliminate swimming altogether in that space but it's on the table," said McKenzie. Coun. Angelo Marginani, who has advocated to have the beach moved even before being elected to council, agreed to close the beach until the coroner's report is finished. But he wants to see council fund the $15 million master plan to redevelop the area to keep Windsor's only beach open. "I believe the cost is not what we spend but what we fail to gain," said Marginani. Windsor city council earlier this week opted to close Sandpoint Beach pending the outcome of a coroner's investigation after a 15-year-old died swimming at the beach in May. But why is the water so dangerous? The CBC's Chris Ensing explains. A spokesperson for the corner's office said that the final report will not be made public because of privacy laws and will not be shared with the city. However, if the investigation turns up any recommendations, those will be shared with the city. Council reviewed a safety audit about the beach in 2013. It recommended council consider relocating the beach to a safer area because of the sudden shift in the water currents and depths on the western side of the beach. Here's how the idea to relocate Sandpoint Beach has moved through council over the years: 2012: City council lists the redevelopment of Sandpoint Beach and Stop 26 in the capital budget for after 2017 2013: City council receives a safety audit from the Lifesaving Society that recommends the city "consider closing the beach in favour of moving it eastwards" and "at a minimum" fence off the western portion. The city installs a metre tall fence for $10,000. 2014: The budget earmarks $5 million for the closure of the western side of Sandpoint Beach and new water access further east. The timeline is sometime after 2019. 2018: Council asks how much it will cost for preliminary study to relocate Sandpoint Beach. Staff suggest it will cost $250,000 to study. 2019: The capital budget sets aside $250,000 for the study in 2024 and $5 million for the relocation beyond 2026. 2021: In May, a 24 year old drowns while swimming at Sandpoint Beach, the sixth person to die while swimming in the area since the beach opened in 1980. At a press conference weeks later, Mayor Drew Dilkens calls the relocation a high priority. Council decides to pay for the study to start in 2021. 2022: Public consultations start which shows a relocation design that closes western edge of the beach and lengthens beach access on the eastern edge of the beach. The expected relocation costs doubles to $10 million. 2023: The budget earmarks $1 million spread across 2024 and 2025 for the relocation of the beach with an additional $900,000 from 2028 to 2030. A master plan for the redevelopment of Sandpoint Beach is completed in November. 2024: In May, two young men drown near Sandpoint Beach, the seventh and eighth people to die in the area while swimming. Council installs taller fences at the western edge of the beach. An updated master plan is presented to council but deferred to early 2025. The city's capital budget shuffles the money around so that there is $1.5 million between 2029 and 2030. Relocating the beach is now expected to cost $15 million. 2025: In January, council approves the master plan, which will close of the western portion of the beach and extend the eastern beach. Council directs staff to consider funding as part of future capital budgets with Dilkens saying it will take years to complete. In May, a 15 year old boy drowns while swimming at the beach. City council decides to close the beach until a coroner's report is complete.
CBC
09-06-2025
- CBC
Council votes to close Sandpoint Beach following drowning death of swimmer
Social Sharing Windsor city council has decided to close Sandpoint Beach following the drowning death of a 15-year-old last month. Councillors say they want to wait until a coroner's investigation into this death is complete before deciding next steps. "Before we make any decisions on this, I'd really like to see that report and see some of the recommendations," said Coun. Gary Kaschak. On May 19, OPP divers recovered the body of a 15-year-old who disappeared in the water near the beach the previous day. Police said two teenagers were swimming just west of the beach when one went under the water and did not resurface. The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario has confirmed it will be investigating the teen's death. Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac, who agreed with Kaschak on the need to look at the recommendations, put forward the motion to close the beach pending the outcome of the report. "We have to stop and take a sober second look at whether or not the area will be ever be safe. And I'm not convinced of that," she said. 9 deaths in 4 decades Nine people have drowned while swimming in the beach area since 1986. The western edge of the beach, which has signage and fencing to deter swimmers, drops off sharply in depth and there is a strong undertow. The city has approved a $15-million long-term plan to relocate the beach a short distance to the east and make other enhancements to the area. Coun. Angelo Marignani, who represents the area, put forward a motion to accelerate that plan, which failed. Kaschak said that he appreciates Marignani's intent to keep the beach open, but without knowing if the area is ultimately safe, he suggested council could be "throwing good money at a bad situation." The city hasn't said when the closure will start, and it's unclear if the entire beach will be shut down, or just access to the water.
