Why not Windsor-Essex?

Windsor’s population has been falling for the past five years and community leaders are searching for a solution.

According to a report made last year by The Conference Board of Canada, Windsor ranked the second lowest in population growth in Canada. The publication also explains how population growth shows equal growth in economic health. With the Municipal election on the
horizon many candidates have put job creation and tourism on the forefront of their campaigns.

Mayoral candidate Larry Horwitz said he believes job creation and quality of life is the next step in
economic growth.

“I moved back to Windsor 20 years ago from New York which is a vibrant city,” said Horwitz. “Windsor was supposed to diversify the economy 10 years ago and it never happened… Windsor has such a potential of being a great city and I have been looking at the population growth and we haven’t grown much in 20 years.”

Horwitz added that people are moving to the east coast of Canada and taking their families because of the lack of employment in Windsor. In his campaign he plans on promoting entrepreneurship in youth and is hoping to start an apprenticeship program that has youth in direct contact with the community’s major decision makers.

The Yknot Windsor-Essex is a Trillium funded group that encourages young people to be a part of the community. The group promotes the youth making connections with local decision makers. Dan Brown is the coordinator of the Yknot campaign and says youth are important for the future of Windsor Essex. The Yknot group helps youth with employment and promotes entrepreneurship as well as volunteering.

“The biggest reason people leave is employment, career opportunities and jobs,” Brown said. “It’s definitely not the only reason and in a city that was hit probably the hardest by the recession and manufacturing automotive withdrawal, people– when their jobs disappear so do they.”

The Yknot group attempts to show youth alternative ways to be successful in the community. Every third Thursday of the month Yknot holds a networking mixer to promote meeting people in Windsor.

Ward 9 candidate Kieran Mckenzie is involved with various programs in Windsor and said he takes pride in his community. One of Kieran’s main goals in council is to improve Windsor’s quality of life.

“I want to continue to contribute to improving Windsor and improving the quality of life in this entire region,” said Mckenzie. “We are well positioned to improve the economy and I have been working on a lot of these issues in my capacity as a legislative assistant to our member of parliament Brian Masse.”

Windsor’s population growth from 2008 to 2012 averaged about -0.1 per cent. In correlation with lack of the population growth Windsor has the second highest unemployment rate in the country.

According to a Canadian research group, population growth is a critical factor in every city’s economic health.