Whether it's paranoia or standard operating procedure seems to depend on how you ask.
For Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, a request to Windsor Police to sweep his office, boardrooms, and anywhere else councillors meet to discuss municipal business is simply standard operating procedure, especially after listening devices have been found at other city halls.
"I have not been concerned at all about any other member of city council," said Dilkens. "I have no idea why that verbiage was placed in there with respect to this being a mayoral election year; in fact, the request came before a single candidate had registered to run in this election."
Windsor Police asked the Ontario Provincial Police Security Assessment Unit to conduct the sweep after the request came this past spring. The OPP carried out the "sweep" months after the request was made, said Dilkens. A letter, part of the agenda for the next Windsor Police Service Board meeting, states that Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens requested the sweep in June of this year.
A letter signed by Windsor Police Chief Jason Crowley said no such devices were found at that time.
"While there is little evidence to suggest that there may indeed be covert listening devices installed at City Hall, it is acknowledged that this is a Mayoral election year, and some of the incumbents are current City of Windsor counsellors (sic) who have liberal access to many areas of City Hall," the letter states.
Fred Francis, who has represented Ward 1 on city council and is one of eleven candidates running for mayor this October, says he took the letter from Crowley at face value.
"To suggest or even to think that any member of council would put bugs or listening devices at city hall is just completely ridiculous," said Francis. "After reading the letter from the police chief, that's exactly what it says."
"I've never seen anything like this," Francis continued. "I've never heard of anything like this. This is like a Hollywood movie at this point. It's ridiculous. It's weird, it's strange, and it's certainly not normal."
The City of Windsor would not comment on the investigation.
"In accordance with security protocols, the City does not comment on specific security measures or matters related to City properties. The City’s priority is ensuring the safety of City Council, staff and members of the public at all City facilities," said Michael Janisse, Senior Manager, Communications, Public Relations, and Customer Service.
However, Dilkens did explain.
"There have been other cities in Ontario that have had this service where bugs have been found. And mayors talk. There are mayors' WhatsApp groups and chats where we talk, and we share information, so many of us are aware of where they occurred," said Dilkens.
Dilkens did not share what cities have found listening devices in their municipal halls.
He also said the last sweep for listening devices was at the old City Hall, a decade ago.
"It's sad," said Dilkens. "The last person I'm worried about is Fred Francis. He doesn't come to my office. He stopped communicating with me four years ago as he started running for mayor then."
"There's staff in there. There's like five or six people in there at all times," said Francis.
The other candidates running for the position of Windsor mayor are: Benjamin Danyluk, Aaron Day, Dylon Graves, Tara Grayer, Nick Kolasky, Tristan Ty Morencie, Kat Pasquatch, Patrick Sutherland, and Louis Vaupotic.
- With files from Adelle Loiselle.
