Windsor mayoral candidate Drew Dilkens says he would use strong mayor powers to block a future council from allowing four residential units as of right, while challenger Fred Francis says the pledge shows a disregard for the democratic process. Speaking Monday, Dilkens urged voters to ask council candidates where they stand on fourplexes, saying he believes the next council could have enough members willing to revisit the issue. “I want residents of this community to know that you can count on me to use strong mayor powers to defeat any attempt to bring four units as of right to the next city council,” Dilkens said. The dispute revives a housing debate that saw Windsor lose out on federal funding after council declined to allow four units as of right across the city’s low-density residential areas. Windsor had applied for $40 million in base funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund. A subsequent city report confirmed the federal government rejected the application because it continued to require four units as of right citywide. The city’s alternative included a commitment to allow at least four units on serviced residential lots designated as mixed-use corridors and nodes, while studying other locations where additional units could be supported. On Monday, Dilkens said his concern remains the loss of public input on individual fourplex proposals, including questions about parking and whether a development fits the neighbourhood. “I don’t object to fourplexes,” he said. “I just like the process that we have in place today that provides for public input, that provides for consultation, that provides for a planning review of the neighbourhoods where the fourplexes are proposed, to make sure that they’re appropriate for those neighbourhoods.” Dilkens said he believes various election outcomes could produce a council majority willing to change the rules. Asked how he would intervene, he said he would veto a bylaw introducing four units as of right. Ontario’s strong mayor framework allows a mayor to veto certain bylaws if they believe the bylaw could interfere with a prescribed provincial priority. Council can override a veto with a two-thirds vote. The powers do not provide an unrestricted ability to overturn council decisions. Dilkens defended his previous use of the powers, saying he has exercised them in a “responsible” fashion. “It’s always been with the residents’ interests in mind, and it’s always been collaborative with city council,” he said. His use of a veto has previously put him at odds with council over the city-operated Tunnel Bus connecting Windsor and Detroit. During the 2025 budget process, councillors approved an amendment to maintain the service — before Dilkens used his strong mayor powers to veto that amendment. An attempt to overturn his veto failed on Feb. 21, 2025. Although council voted 6-5 in favour of overturning it, the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority required. Francis, who also opposed allowing four units as of right, rejected Dilkens’ suggestion that his pledge not to use strong mayor powers would leave residents without protection. “It’s ridiculous,” Francis said. “It’s fear mongering in its worst form.” “A mayor should not be fearful of city councillors. A mayor should not be fearful of the residents that elect city councillors. You have to work with them,” he said. Asked whether a majority elected on support for fourplexes would reflect voters’ wishes, Dilkens reiterated his call for residents to question candidates before casting their ballots. “You vote for whoever you want to vote for, but at least ask the right questions at the doors,” said Dilkens. While Dilkens wants voters to question candidates about fourplexes, Francis wants mayoral contenders to declare whether they would use strong mayor powers. “All candidates running for mayor should make a declaration right now,” Francis said. “You’re either for strong mayor powers or you’re not. You will either use them or you will not.” “Just because the province gives a mayor strong mayor powers, you don’t have to use them — and I will not,” Francis said. Francis added that Dilkens’ commitment to use strong mayor powers serves as a message to voters: when “someone tells you who they are, you better believe them.” “He’s going to double down on using strong mayor powers, and he’s going to double down on doing what he wants, how he wants, with complete disrespect for the democratic process and completely ignoring Windsor city council and the people that elected him there,” said Francis.
