Windsor-Essex should fight tariffs like it fought COVID, warden urges

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Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald, in acknowledging the dark clouds of tariffs hanging from the horizon, introduced her recent global pandemic experience and treatment to express her confidence in how the region will navigate the upcoming economic turmoil.

“We have to admit this (the deal mess) but we don’t have to let it scare us or beat us,” MacDonald told Friday to a large ciociaro club listener on Friday at the annual warden’s luncheon.

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“We have to gather like we did during Covid. Here’s my lesson on Covid – look at the bridge we are using right now.

“We could get us done then, but now we can get us through it, but I think we’re a little rough.”

MacDonald said her optimistic tone reflected her belief that the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump changed Canada’s equations and woke up to become new possibilities.

“Time is right,” MacDonald said. “Even if it is seen as a negative opportunity, it is an opportunity we need to see and keep moving forward. It is a potential opportunity.

“We look at Europe, we look at Asia. Because of these actions, the United States may end up being strange people. It is necessary that we all envision things in different ways.”

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Before Canadians’ trade with Americans became clearer, McDonald said the focus must be on things we can control.

Housing, transportation links within the county, adding shovel-ready industrial land, and retaining and developing operations that have been called the area’s housing business are priorities.

“At the moment, we see the importance of the Invest WindSouressex entity,” McDonald said.

“I believe that, like before, the importance of this entity has risen to its peak. I still think it is important to take land acquisition as an industrial foundation.

“It’s all about building and retaining the business here. It’s the key.

“Housing is an opportunity, need and focus, but I believe others are rising to the highest level based on trade terms.”

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MacDonald said the concept of regional industrial parks is a logical fit along the corridor of Highway 401, but the process is still in its early stages.

However, MacDonald said that in the coming years, the county-wide Active Transportation System (CWATS) has been maintained and expanded, and the county-wide Active Transportation System (CWATS) has been added by 400 kilometers, which will be the artery that connects the county’s seven cities and the city of Windsor.

“We are still making a plan, especially in the northern part of the county in Corridor 401,” McDonald said. “This is going as planned because we still expect this growth to happen.”

MacDonald said in the short term that the county is waiting to gain some clarity from the messy message sent by the Trump administration’s tariffs. She added that if the tariffs cause serious economic damage, it would be any financial support from federal and provincial governments.

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“Unless everything is going before everything goes well, we haven’t done a lot of things besides encouraging people to buy locals and as a region to buy locals,” McDonald said.

In terms of industry, Essex County “working with the city can help you,” she said. “We want to continue the development we have already begun to encourage businesses to come here.”

The agricultural and greenhouse agri-food sector is big in Essex, but “the agriculture sector is sitting down and waiting for what to do.”

dwaddell@postmedia.com

twitter.com/winstarwaddell

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