Ward 4 candidates square off in debate

by Justin Prince

Windsorites in Ward 4 have a lot to think about after hearing from candidates for city council at a recent debate in the ward.

The six candidates hoping to become the next city councillor to represent Ward 4 participated in the debate at the Walkerville Brewing Company Sept. 21. The participants, Remy Boulbol, Brian Caza, Adriano Ciotoli, Victoria Cross, Chris Holt and Howard Weeks, answered questions on topics ranging from arts and culture to retail businesses in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the brewery. Alan Halberstadt, the current Ward 4 councillor, is not running for re-election after being part of city council for more than 15 years.

“I was really impressed by the number of people that came out and the number of citizens engaged in this municipal election. It’s huge,” said Remy Boulbol. “I think it’s fascinating that more than 200 people showed up to a municipal debate in Windsor. I think that’s unprecedented and I’m so happy to be running here and to be working to represent these people.”

The debate, which was held by the Windsor Philosophical Arts Association and the OldeWalkerville Residents Association, had questions prepared from multiple local organizations and businesses. The first question, involving the proposed Windsor mega-hospital being placed in Ward 4, sparked different opinions to start off the night. According to The Windsor Star, land for the new hospital was being offered by different companies and residents in Windsor, Tecumseh, Essex and Lakeshore as recent as July 23, 2014. According to the City of Windsor’s website, Windsor Regional Hospital’s Metropolitan Campus is currently in the ward’s jurisdiction.

“Wherever this new facility is, we have to ensure it has accessible transportation,” said Caza. “For example, you look at the new jail (South West Detention Centre) that’s been built, it’s just outside Windsor … it needs to be built somewhere where it’s going to be accessible.”

Cross, a local activist and former lawyer who has been involved in multiple organizations throughout the years, had stronger opinions on the topic. She said if the new hospital was built outside of Ward 4, it would “tear the heart” out of the community.

Coun. Halberstadt was in the audience and asked candidates their stance on having an Auditor General on-staff in the near future. All the participants showed strong support for bringing back the position. The city’s audits have been outsourced to other companies since former AG Todd Langlois was fired by the city February 2012. Halberstadt also asked what the candidates would do regarding urban planning or design proposals.

“I was very overjoyed by the resounding answer with regard to the Auditor General because there are some politicians, obviously not in this ward, who don’t want to bring back the Auditor General,” said Halberstabt after the debate. “They want to go with the status quo, which really is not doing a very good job of auditing what the city does.”

Halberstadt said he’ll be still running for the General Essex County District School Board Trustee position in Wards 3, 4 and 10.

“As I’ve told most people, I’ve had my fill of city council,” Halberstadt said. “I did the best I could and I think it’s time for me to move along and for new people to come in. That’s why we had this exercise to help people choose … I do think they’re a really good group of people and they’re well-informed.”

Windsorites will be going to the polls Oct. 27.