Kat for mayor: Co-operative housing, zero tax increase & bring back the Tunnel Bus

Mayoral candidate Kat Pasquach isn't using traditional lawn signs for her election campaign because she says they are wasteful and wind up in landfills. (Michelle Maluske/CTV News)

Mayoral candidate Kat Pasquach unveiled her 16-point platform Friday in the Oct. 26 election campaign.

“This [platform] looks at everything from street and road safety to housing to job creation in our city and all of the things that are in between,” Pasquach said at an event Friday in Walkerville.

The platform includes the following:

• A 0 per cent property tax increase during the first year of a Pasquach administration
• Greater transparency and accountability around city spending and major capital projects
• Expanded support for cooperative and affordable housing using city-owned land and long-term land leases
• Increased transit frequency, expanded evening and Sunday service, and restoration of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Bus
• New approaches to homelessness, addiction, and mental health crisis response
• Stronger supports for small businesses and entrepreneurs
• Increased investment in arts, culture, and community spaces
• Improved public access to municipal data, project information, and service-performance reporting
• A more collaborative working relationship between the mayor, councillors, city employees and Windsor residents

Pasquach said one of her main issues will be to tackle homelessness, as she herself was once unhoused in 2016 for three months.

She explained to the media her landlord sold her building and Pasquach couldn’t find a new home, in part, because of lack of availability and because she owns two dogs.

Pasquach was forced to live with a friend and put all of her belongings into storage until an apartment became available through housing services.

“I know the struggle that residents are feeling,” Pasquach said.

“And I think that’s going to resonate with people in our city.”

Pasquach is currently the president and CEO for Can Am Urban Native Non-Profit Homes.

She has also served as a Senate member for the University of Windsor for six years and she has also worked for Art Windsor-Essex (AWE). Jobs she says helped her gain valuable governance experience.

“I believe in Windsor. I believe if we come together this election period, then we’re going to be able to build a better city,” Pasquach said.

“I want Windsor to believe in the vision I bring forward.”

The 11 candidates running for Windsor mayor are Benjamin Danyluk, Aaron Day, Drew Dilkens (incumbent), Fred Francis, Dylon Graves, Tara Grayer, Nick Kolasky, Tristan Ty Morencie, Kat Pasquach, Patrick Sutherland, and Louis Vaupotic.