Windsor’s mayor is disappointed in the news that Windsor-Essex will remain in Stage 1 of the province’s COVID-19 reopening framework.
As heard live on AM800, Dilkens called for Essex County farmers to get their employees tested.
He says he knows that we rise and fall as a region and it just won’t be possible for one community to move forward while others struggle, but he says Windsor cannot face another week of delay.
Dilkens is hoping other municipal leaders speak up.
"I don't mind being the voice for Essex County, it's a little odd the mayor of Windsor and the mayor of Leamington seem to be the loudest voices, where is everybody else in this conversation," says Dilkens. "I want my warden to speak up, I want all the mayors in Essex County to speak up, I want every single councillor out there to feel as passionate as I am fighting for their businesses."
He says the majority of the region is doing everything right.
"We may end up getting to a situation where we do not want to lose businesses, we don't want people to go bankrupted," says Dilkens. "This is what we're trying to avoid here and we're at the point where everyone in my community has done the right thing. The numbers prove that, we know crystal clear, we know where the problem is."
Dilkens says businesses are fed up.
"I hope we can get over the hump in a reasonable way without them having to become quote on quote law breakers, opening a patio but I'll tell you, if we don't see any traction, it would be my recommendation to city council that we don't under take any enforcement," says Dilkens. "So I don't want to get there, I'm not encouraging that."
In the past month, 82% of cases in our region are now located within Kingsville and Leamington.
Last week, city council voted to extend the services of the Isolation and Recovery Centre to the farm worker population.
— with files from AM800's Kathie McMann