County Council Highlights for May 21, 2025

Warden praises Essex-Windsor EMS during Paramedic Services Week

Warden Hilda MacDonald praised the “remarkable men and women who work for Essex-Windsor EMS” for providing compassionate care and being community champions to mark Paramedic Services Week.

“Paramedics with Essex-Windsor EMS show up without hesitation and offer compassionate care during some of our most harrowing, vulnerable moments,” said MacDonald. “Their calm and expert interventions during incredibly stressful situations improve patient outcomes and sometimes mean the difference between life and death.”

MacDonald invited members of the public to hear some of those incredible life-saving stories at the annual Survivor Day event at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts on Friday, when Paramedics will be reunited with patients whose lives they saved last year. The event begins at 1 p.m.

MacDonald praised Paramedics for the work they’ve done mapping AEDs across Windsor and Essex County and “empowering residents to act quickly during cardiac emergencies.” She also lauded Essex-Windsor EMS for an innovative partnership with Trillium Gift of Life that is already working to improve lives and promote increased organ and tissue donations.

“To every member of the Essex-Windsor EMS team: Thank you. Thank you for your compassion, your courage, and your tireless service,” said MacDonald. “You remind us every day what it means to care — for everyone.”

Next week is National AccessAbility Week – a time to celebrate the successes we’ve had in removing barriers, said MacDonald, and a time to acknowledge there is still much work to do.

The Warden invited the media and public to attend an Accessibility Flag raising event at the County of Essex Administration Building on Monday at 10 a.m. 

She also promoted the second annual Accessibility Fest-for-All event, which takes place this year at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg on Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Learn more about the event and apply to be an exhibitor!

Council amends Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team agreement

Council approved amendments to the Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team agreement that will result in the Steering Committee having three County of Essex representatives. The County representatives will include the Chief of Essex-Windsor EMS, the Administrator of Sun Parlor Home and a member of the County’s administrative team, recommended to be the Chief Administrative Officer.

The Windsor-Essex Ontario Health team is comprised of more than 40 healthcare organizations, community support services, hospitals, home and community care providers, lived experience partners and primary care providers throughout Windsor-Essex.

Leaders with the WEOHT delegated before Council and explained the pivotal role the organization plays in supporting health care providers and promoting positive health outcomes for regional residents.

“The WEOHT is a collective that is committed to collaboratively developing a Windsor-Essex model that builds on our strengths, honours our differences, and recognizes and meets the unique and diverse needs of our community,” said the WEOHT presentation to Council. “The WEOHT will enable patients, families, community agencies, and healthcare providers to work together in a new way, which over time will develop innovative, locally driven solutions to meet the healthcare needs of our region.”

Learn more on the Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team website!

Provincial Offences Act program annual report

County of Essex municipalities received $731,769 in 2024 from the Provincial Offences Act program.

The program saw a year over year 4.83 per cent increase in charges – a total of 29,577 charges were laid in 2025 – and fines collected totalled $6.18 million, a 14.2 per cent increase from the previous year, according to a council report.

The net operating profit of $1,426,322 earned by the program was split between the partners based on weighted assessment, with County of Essex municipalities receiving 51.4 per cent, the City of Windsor receiving 48.3 per cent and Pelee Township receiving 0.285 per cent.

Since 2001, the POA program has generated about $51.6 million in net revenue, benefitting local taxpayers across the region. The Treasurer warned that red light camera revenue generated in Windsor is likely to be dedicated solely to the city in the future once anticipated changes take effect.

Treasurer provides investment update

Investments by the County of Essex generated $18,152,705, a return of 5.79 per cent, and totalled $313,553,306 at the end of 2024, according to an investment update provided by Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services, Treasurer.

“The revenue generated from the Corporation’s investment portfolio is allocated between the operating budget and contributions to reserves in support of long-term financial sustainability,” said the report. “In 2024, $1,653,000 was retained within the operating budget, with the remaining investment income transferred to various reserves.”

Significant gains were returned in short-term and medium-term projects in 2024 and long-term investments yielded modest gains. Bank of Canada interest rate cuts played a “pivotal role in shaping investment strategies,” said the report.

The investment strategy in 2026 will continue to adhere the County’s Investment Policy, “emphasizing a balanced approach to navigate the evolving market landscape.”