Are residents being denied another opportunity to provide input on policing?

Council’s December 5, 2022 recommendation and subsequent council motion was to extend the Windsor Police contract deadline to renew to March 31, 2023 so public consultations could be held.

Mayor Prue made a point of ensuring the public understood the town requested an extension ‘so that we can hold public consultations’ on the police contract which would take place between December and March.

No public consultations were held.

Then, before the extended March 31 deadline, on February 8, 2023, council directed the CAO to renew with Windsor for a five year period commencing January 1, 2024 to end December 31, 2028. 

I requested members of council defer the February 8 decision pending promised public consultations, to no avail.

Councillor Linden Crain’s response was, the February 8 “open public meeting is the consultation as promised. The Windsor Police Service also completed a telephone survey in Amherstburg.”

I don’t believe public consultations are the same as a 5 minute delegation, if one is allowed to delegate or one might receive a random phone call.

Crain is the one who is quick to deny residents the opportunity to speak from the gallery.

Has Crain indicated an unwillingness to hear from residents on other occasions?

• He was the sole opposition to a residents’ Open Air survey, stating they’ve done an Open Air survey for residents and businesses so he felt it would waste staff time. CAO Critchley confirmed there was no resident wide survey. 
• Crain was part of the team that created the THRIVE Open Air white paper; from the THRIVE website, ‘We believe that it should be a permanent summer feature.’ 
• During the 2022 campaign, Crain said yes to removing barriers during Open Air. If there are particular barriers in place, I am more than willing to investigate further and help find a solution. But he voted in favour of it.
• Crain also said he didn’t even think Open Air should have been a topic of discussion, that they shouldn’t even be discussing this every year because eventually it’s going to be nothing.
• During the November 21, 2024 Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting Crain moved, McArthur seconded That: 
  1. The report on the Open Air including the Business Survey and Open House BE RECEIVED for information; and
  2. Council SUPPORT the continuation of Open Air, in the same format, same times, and same duration, for the remainder of the current term of Council.
• During the November 25, 2024 council meeting, when residents would not have had an opportunity to delegate, Crain moved, and McArthur seconded That:
  1. The report on the Open Air including the Business Survey and Open House BE RECEIVED for information; and
  2. Council SUPPORT the continuation of Open Air, in the same format, same times, and same duration, for the remainder of the current term of Council.

During the February 8 meeting, council learned that the 5 year average cost for policing Amherstburg with Windsor Police was 5.4 million; LaSalle’s was 7.8 million; Amherstburg saved a 5 year average of $1,742,205.

Compared to savings of $1,742,205. over 5 years with Windsor, savings of around $10 million with the OPP would’ve been significant. 

With significant savings residents could’ve seen more investment in our crumbling infrastructure instead of half assed projects like partially paved parking lots and exclusive playgrounds. 

During an August 2025 council meeting, Prue said the town will continue to provide updates on policing as it becomes available.

But, now policing is back on the in camera agenda for March 9 – still no public consultations and no updates.

Municipal council members have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the municipality and its inhabitants. They must act honestly, in good faith, and avoid conflicts of interest, a duty often reinforced by the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and local codes of conduct.