Windsor's mayor is seeing a lot of potential for the City following the announcement Tuesday of the 2024 Ontario budget.
As the City looks to increase its housing stock and get more shovels in the ground, Mayor Drew Dilkens is hoping to take advantage of the $1-billion that is budgeted for the province's new Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program,
Ontario has also quadrupled the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund to a total of $825-million to help municipalities repair and expand the critical infrastructure needed to reach their housing targets.
The mayor told WindsorNewsToday.ca that this is important in satisfying the need for growth in certain areas of the city.
"I think it's fair to say that when we look at where future growth in the city is going to happen, you can look at Sandwich South and other key areas of the city," said Dilkens. "We need to make sure that we can meet the demand of the development community. That is, making sure there's water and wastewater capacity as they move forward to develop."
Dilkens also said he would like to get Windsor involved in the $200-million that is budgeted by Queens Park for sports and recreation infrastructure, citing two pastimes that could greatly benefit.
"I know we have a huge demand in the community for indoor pickleball, so that's something we will consider, but we are also looking at a couple of turf fields to support growth in the soccer community out at McHugh Park," said Dilkens.
The spending plan also confirmed Ontario's commitment to creating transit infrastructure in Windsor, with the previously-announced connection between Highway 401 and Lauzon Parkway, as well as the Banwell-E.C. Row interchange.
Dilkens said he hopes to see construction begin on the latter project this summer.