Latest news with #Windsor

CBC

5 hours ago

Judge will rule today in a Windsor police officer's sexual assault trial

Coming Up Staff Sgt. Ken Price is charged with 4 counts of sexual assault A Windsor judge is expected to rule today whether a Windsor Police Service staff sergeant is guilty of four counts of sexual assault. Justice Jennifer Myers is scheduled to give a verdict in Ontario Court of Justice in the case of Ken Price, who's pleaded not guilty. In the week-long trial last week, only two people testified — Price and the complainant, who claims Price sexually assaulted her when they both worked at the service between 2011 and 2015. Defence lawyer Dan Scott focused last week on the complainant's memory, as she was unable to recall seasons or even years when the alleged incidents happened. The complainant, meanwhile, testified that the incidents were too traumatic to record in her notes. Crown attorney Nicolas de Montigny argued that the woman was "credible and reliable" and "unshaken in cross examination." There is a publication ban on the identity of the victim.

City wants its departments to 'tighten the belt strings' as Windsor starts work on its budget

CBC

6 hours ago

Business
CBC

City wants its departments to 'tighten the belt strings' as Windsor starts work on its budget

Windsor taxpayers will get a first glimpse of next year's taxes when city council meets in two weeks. And the city's treasurer warns it'll be a challenging budget that once again asks departments to put forward some options that could see internal budgets cut between 5 and 10 per cent. "We're sending the message that we do have to tighten the belt strings," said Janice Guthrie. "The mitigating measures we have put into place, some of those are drying up, so we are going to have to look deep." Councillors and taxpayers were shocked last summer when warned of a potential 12.9 per cent tax hike because of budget pressures. But that number went down after administration combed through some recommended service enhancements and cut costs. Council eventually passed a 3.07 per cent hike after losing the fight to save the city's tunnel bus service to Detroit, which Mayor Drew Dilkens decided to cut. Guthrie told council she'll bring forward a high-level budget report on July 28. "I can tell you the pressure this year was not as large as it was last year, but it's not far off," said Dilkens. "I'm not saying we're breathing a sigh of relief. We still made a commitment. I made a commitment to bring the budget in at or below the rate of inflation. That's still my goal." Dilkens will not be splitting council into public budget committees this year to search for savings like he did in 2025. "I spoke to every member of council and most of them actually said they didn't find it that helpful," he said. Guthrie has asked city departments — as well as agencies, boards and commissions that are funded with taxpayer dollars — to bring forward recommendations that cut costs by 5 to 10 per cent. That's been a standard practice for city departments in recent budget years, but it's new for the agencies, boards and commissions like Windsor Police Service, the Windsor airport and the library. "Are we sending the wrong message if we're pegging that at 5 and 10 per cent reductions?" Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac asked Guthrie during Monday's council meeting. Guthrie said it's a useful practice to outline where the pressures are, which can be used to ask Ottawa and the province for more money. "I think we have to ask for potential budget cuts just as city departments are subject to those cuts. I think we have to take a look at it now. It may not be something that will be recommended," said Guthrie. "And not necessarily in terms of service cuts, but perhaps alternative service, making sure that one of the messages is that we cannot continue to operate without support from upper levels of government." Holding the line 'extremely challenging' She said with inflation and tariffs, it will be difficult to run the city the way taxpayers expect at a cost they can afford. City staff warned council last year that holding the line on taxes at or below inflation has been an "extremely challenging process." "It is no longer possible to find sufficient savings within the city-controlled budgets to offset the annual budget increases without a significant impact to existing municipal services," wrote David Soave, a member of Windsor's budget staff, after the 2024 budget process. City staff expect to table the budget in the first week of 2026.

Women's Skilled Trades Workshop provides opportunity to explore future career path

CTV News

10 hours ago

Business
CTV News

Women's Skilled Trades Workshop provides opportunity to explore future career path

WEST Inc. of Windsor in partnership with UNIFOR Local 444 is hosting a week-long skilled trades workshop for women at the union HQ on Turner Road in Windsor. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor) An in-depth look at learning a skilled trade is the focus of a week-long workshop in Windsor for women. It's a free event this week for women aged 18 and up allowing participants to get an idea of trades training, apprenticeship opportunities and career paths. This project is a collaboration between Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST Inc.) and UNIFOR Local 444. On Tuesday, students were writing tests on some of the hands-on instructional work. 071525 WEST Inc. of Windsor in partnership with UNIFOR Local 444 is hosting a week-long skilled trades workshop for women at the union HQ on Turner Road in Windsor. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor) Stephanie Allen is the program manager of skilled trades at West Inc. Allen is pleased with the turnout so far and excited to see women interested and engaged in this opportunity. 'So they will be with other women that might want to pursue this and build a community of women in the trades and how they can support each other,' said Allen. 'And they can work together to help break down that barrier of what has been seen for a long time as a male dominated workplace, and how to create a safe space for women to do that.' So far this year, WEST has celebrated a milestone, helping 376 women gain technical skills and empowering them to pursue careers in the skilled trades locally and abroad. WEST Inc. has been educating, mentoring and supporting women in Windsor Essex. Their programs aid women in enhancing skills and securing employment. On average each year WEST Inc. assists over 3,000 women in preparing for the labour market. The organization's programs are funded in part by the government of Canada and the government of Ontario.

Toronto man in $36M cross-border drug operation sentenced in Windsor to 16 years in prison

Yahoo

13 hours ago

Yahoo

Toronto man in $36M cross-border drug operation sentenced in Windsor to 16 years in prison

A Toronto man sentenced on Tuesday for his involvement in a $36-million cross border cocaine and meth operation told Windsor, Ont., court he needed to get arrested as a way out of the criminal activity. Superior Court Justice Paul Howard sentenced Marvin Watson to 16 years in prison, which was a joint submission by the Crown and defence. The time behind bars will amount to 14 years and five months after deducting time served, crowded jail conditions and strict bail rules. The 32-year-old expressed remorse while speaking briefly to the judge. "I don't want anybody to think I'm just some money-hungry guy. I just got myself in a situation and thought the best way to get out was to get arrested," said Watson, who didn't have a prior criminal record. In September, Watson pleaded guilty to: Importing meth and cocaine. Two counts of possession of meth for the purpose of trafficking. Laundering proceeds of crime. Possessing property obtained by a crime. In January, Howard allowed the sentencing to be delayed until July because Watson was about to become a first-time dad. The woman carrying his child, Maria Kiguru, was also part of the criminal drug ring. She pleaded guilty on Sept. 6 to laundering proceeds of crime and was given a conditional sentence of two years. CBSA found meth at Windsor-Michigan bridge It all started in March 2023 when Canada Border Services Agency officers found 300 kg of meth inside a semi-truck at the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit. RCMP began an investigation and later found 120 kg of cocaine inside a van they said Watson was driving. More drugs were found at a residence. "There's no fentanyl. There's no heroin. There's no guns or weapons of any kind," said defence lawyer Frank Retar in court on Tuesday. Both sides also agreed that Watson was more than a courier in the drug operation, but less than a mastermind Retar shed some light in court on how Watson got started in the drug industry, pointing to difficult employment opportunities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Retar said his client "innocently enough" began in the "marijuana distribution business." Loads of cannabis would come from California and would be pressed in Watson's home, Retar said. 'Arrested or what's the other alternative' At one point, there was a theft, and Retar said Watson became "indebted" to the person who was giving him direction. Eventually, the operation evolved in Watson handling harder drugs, such as cocaine and meth. "He was stuck," said Retar. "Arrested or what's the other alternative. "It's a sad commentary when an accused has to say I had to get arrested so I would be able to continue and hopefully be released from custody and live my life with my family."

Why have some mature trees been cut down behind the Adie Knox Recreation Centre?

CBC