County Council Highlights for June 17, 2026

Sizzlin’ Summer Fun Abounds in the County, Warden Reminds Us

Warden Hilda MacDonald in her opening remarks to Council reminded everyone that, with the first day of summer only days away, there’s something cool to do in every corner of the County over the coming weeks and months. Most people know about the County’s cherished, signature, large-attendance events to come each summer – such as Canada Day celebrations, the Caldwell First Nation Pow Wow, the Tecumseh Corn & Music Festival, and the Harrow Fair just for starters. “But the approaching Summer Solstice is a good time to remind everyone,” the Warden said, “that amazing events take place each and every summer week, and in each municipality, across this great County of ours – events that reward us all for getting outside, and getting together to celebrate this hot and happy time of year.” The Warden then provided proof over the next 2-3 weeks alone:

• In LaSalle, hot on the heels of another delicious Strawberry Festival, their free, popular LaSalle Night Markets continue on the final Sunday of each summer month, next up on June 28;
• In Tecumseh, the Taste of Tecumseh goes this weekend, and Lakewood Summer Sounds a week from Sunday;
• In Lakeshore, the Parks Concert Series begins this coming Friday – showcasing free, family-friendly musical performances in the early evening;
• In Amherstburg, Ribfest takes place this coming weekend on Ramsay Street;
• In Essex, hot on the heels of another popular Colchester Walleye Derby that saw more than 80 boats head out from Colchester Harbour, the ever-growing Essex Fun Fest goes from July 2-5;
• In Kingsville, the Hello Summer! Cottam Block Party goes this Saturday, and the Kingsville Highland Games the following Saturday;
• And in Leamington, Big Shiny Toons: The Ultimate Tribute to the 90s – part of the town’s Music Onthe42 Summer Concert Series – takes place on Canada Day.

“My advice to all County citizens who can, is to get out there and enjoy as many of these wonderful events as possible!” the Warden said.

Council Backs Hilda MacDonald’s Bid for AMO Board of Directors

Council voted to endorse a Resolution from the Municipality of Leamington, regarding its nomination of Hilda MacDonald for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Board of Directors for the 2026-2028 term.

Read the Nomination letter!

CWATS Signage Changes Follow Review of 13 Route Segments

Council voted to approve a number of signage changes in the County Wide Active Transportation Systems (CWATS), as recommended in a report from Administration. This, after a review regarding continued application of CWATS signage on select roads. CWATS is the County of Essex’s long-term active transportation plan focused on improving cycling and walking connections across all seven local municipalities. Signed routes were introduced in the 2012 CWATS Master Plan as a way to identify segments where cyclists and motorists could share the roadway without requiring dedicated cycling infrastructure, such as a widened, paved shoulder. These routes were intended for roads with lower traffic volumes and/or vehicle operating speeds (e.g., quieter residential streets, core urban areas, and lower order rural roads). Signed routes provide a cost-effective means of enhancing network connectivity and supporting route continuity. In many cases, “Share the Road” signage has been used as an interim measure, or where pavement width is limited.

Since the original CWATS Master Plan was developed, however, updated guidance documents have placed a greater emphasis on providing higher quality cycling infrastructure where feasible. As a result, the appropriateness of existing signed routes within the CWATS network was reassessed, particularly in segments where traffic conditions may no longer align with original intent of the designation.

Based on Administration’s review of 13 signed route segments, only one is recommended to remain. The other 12 have been identified as not meeting provincial criteria, including six signed route segments that were previously identified through the CWATS Master Plan Update, and six additional segments identified through this review. Of the six segments previously identified as not meeting provincial criteria, five have since been implemented as paved shoulders. The remaining segment is planned for implementation through the State of Good Repair’s Road Rehabilitation Program; signs will be removed until such time that the paved shoulders are implemented.

Read the report!

Council also approved a recommendation to establish a CWATS financial reserve for the lifecycle renewal, rehabilitation, expansion and replacement of CWATS infrastructure assets. This reserve establishment includes the reallocation of existing reserve and reserve fund balances, including transfers to and from the Capital Reserve.

Read the report!

Council Discusses Homelessness Program Funding Shortfall

Council received a report from Administration providing an update on the Community Services budget, as it relates to the County daytime and overnight program administered by Family Services Windsor Essex (FSWE), through the Essex County Homelessness Hub (ECH2). This includes current funding pressures and the potential service reductions required to remain within the approved 2026 budget.

As background, the County consults with the City of Windsor (as the City is the entity tasked with receiving and distributing provincial and federal funds for social services for both the County and the City) regarding the intended use of Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funding allocations. This, to help ensure coordination and alignment with homelessness services delivered across the region. The County furthermore is responsible for delivering homelessness-related programming within the approved HPP funding envelope, and any additional municipal funding approved by County Council. The County’s total annual levy-supported contribution toward homelessness-related and service programming is now approximately $1.2 million. The County’s overnight program administered by FSWE had received a combined total of approximately $260,000 in federal funding from funds administered by the City from 2023 to 2025, but this spring County Administration was advised by the City, that the anticipated $70,000 in federal Reaching Home allocation would be allocated for use in the City and would not be made available by the City to support the County’s overnight program for 2026-27.

Administration reviewed the operational, financial, and service-delivery impacts associated with this funding loss and, in consultation with FSWE, determined that the County overnight program could no longer operate 365 days per year without additional funding support. In its report to Council on Wednesday night, Administration estimated that approximately 60 overnight service days would need to be reduced, in particular from July 1 to September 1, to offset the removed Reaching Home funding alone. This time frame was suggested because, historically, there is a lesser need for overnight beds in summer months.

In addition to the overnight program reduction, Administration identified a further estimated shortfall of approximately $70,000 related to daytime operations at ECH2, primarily associated with the continued requirement for on-site security services necessary to maintain safe operations for clients, staff, and community partners. Thus, to stay within budget, FSWE further proposed removing the day program on Saturdays and Sundays from July 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026.

These proposed service reductions represented the “only viable option” for Administration to remain within the approved 2026 budget for this sector, in the absence of anticipated Reaching Home funding or any other sources of additional funding. The report said that to avoid overnight program cuts and maintain existing service levels without cessation, “an additional funding source of approximately $140,000 would need to be identified.”

In light of the report, County Council decided to utilize $70,000 from the County’s Rate Stabilization Reserve, on the condition that the City also provide $70,000 to address social services and homelessness issues in the region, in order to maintain service levels at the Essex County Homelessness Hub.

As part of the same motion, Council also agreed that this one-time, conditional $70,000 contribution shall not be construed as an ongoing annual funding commitment by Essex County; and, further, that Administration be directed to work with the City of Windsor and regional partners to develop a coordinated advocacy strategy to the Provincial and Federal Governments, seeking sustainable, multi-year funding for homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, housing stability, outreach, and supportive housing services throughout Windsor-Essex.

Administration will report back to Council at a future meeting on the outcome of discussions with the City.

Read the report!

County Provides Annual Update of Asset Management Plan

Council received as information a report from Administration providing the annual update on the implementation of the County’s Asset Management Plan (AMP), in accordance with Ontario Regulation 588/17. An Asset Management Plan is a systematic approach to managing infrastructure assets through their full lifecycle, including operation, maintenance, renewal and disposal. It integrates technical, financial and operational considerations to maximize asset value, manage risk, and deliver sustainable service levels in a fiscally responsible manner.

The 2026 AMP annual review outlines how the County will continue managing its infrastructure assets in order to maintain service levels, support future needs, and improve long-term financial sustainability. This annual review identifies an ongoing infrastructure funding shortfall of approximately $13.1 million annually, reflecting the gap between current investment levels and the funding required to sustain the County’s asset base over its full lifecycle. The AMP update estimates an average annual capital requirement of approximately $60.4 million to maintain the County’s $1.25 billion infrastructure portfolio. Current funding levels remain below this requirement. The report said Administration continues to recommend the previously endorsed inflationary funding strategy, which provides for gradual increases in annual capital investment through the budget process, to better align funding with lifecycle requirements while maintaining affordability.

Read the report!

Clean Audit Opinion of Consolidated Financial Statements for 2025

Council received as information a report from Administration on Consolidated Financial Statements for 2025, which details the consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the financial position of the Corporation on December 31, 2025. Consolidated Financial Statements for 2025 include the operations of the Essex County Library Board and Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority. KPMG LLP conducted the mandatory 2025 audit, and has expressed a clean (unqualified) audit opinion following its examination of the accounts of the Corporation. An unqualified audit opinion is an auditor’s judgment that the Corporation’s results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2025, and its financial position as of December 31, 2025 are fairly and appropriately represented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the Consolidated Financial Report.

Read the report!

County Applying to Ontario’s Development Charge Reduction Program

County Council voted to support Administration’s intention to submit, by this coming Friday’s deadline, an application to the Province of Ontario’s Development Charge Reduction Program.

As background, in March the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada co-announced the Development Charge Reduction Program, under the Canada–Ontario Partnership to Build – to support housing-enabling municipal infrastructure. The program is intended to help municipalities advance eligible infrastructure projects that support new housing, while committing to residential development-charge reductions. To participate, municipalities must commit to qualifying residential development charge reductions for a three-year period.

The County had already taken significant action in this regard, with Council approving a phased development charge reduction strategy consisting of:

• 100% reduction in 2026 and 2027; 
• 75% reduction in 2028; 
• 50% reduction in 2029; 
• and 25% reduction in 2030. 

This phased implementation approach exceeds the minimum program requirements. And, per the report, it furthermore demonstrates the County’s commitment to supporting housing affordability and residential growth throughout Essex County.

Furthermore, Administration identified five roadway expansion projects for inclusion in the Development Charge Reduction Program application. These would align with housing growth and program requirements.

Based on preliminary estimates from the Development Charges Background Study, the County's application requests approximately $41.3 million in provincial funding, toward $45.9 million of development-charge-eligible infrastructure costs.

Read the report!

Public Petition ‘not requesting elimination’ of Green Bins

Carolyn Crankshaw, a resident of Essex County, delivered a Presentation to Council, speaking to the Public Petition listed as Correspondence Item 10.1.6 on Wednesday’s Council Meeting agenda. The petition urges “that Essex County Council review and amend the Regional Green Bin Program to implement fair and reasonable opt-out provisions for seniors, low-income households, residents who actively compost at home, residents with disabilities or mobility limitations, and rural or minimal-waste households. We respectfully request Council exercise its authority under the Municipal Act, 2001 to ensure the Regional Green Bin Program is administered in a manner that is equitable, accessible and financially fair, while maintaining environmental objectives. We are not requesting elimination of the program; we are requesting reasonable flexibility within its administration.”

Read more about the Green Bin Program!

Read the petition!