The Essex County Council met on March 18, 2026, to confirm it will maintain current housing programs and address a sharp rise in ambulance calls affecting residents in Amherstburg, Ontario. This meeting included a vote to continue a long-standing partnership for social services and a review of emergency service costs that are expected to grow this year.
Following a motion by Councillor Tracey Bailey, council members voted to keep using the City of Windsor as the manager for housing and homelessness programs. This setup has been in place since 1999 and will continue without the county buying new properties for these programs at this time. An attempt by Councillor Michael Prue to delay the vote to gather more information was defeated.
A report on ambulance services showed that call volumes have increased by 23.3 percent over the last five years. Total operating costs for Essex-Windsor EMS are expected to go over $60 million in 2026, with the county paying more than $22 million of that bill. Additionally, the current contract for 320 paramedics represented by CUPE Local 2974.2 ends on March 31, 2026, with more talks scheduled for later this spring.
Warden Hilda MacDonald praised local emergency teams for leading a recent meeting in London about how to handle old oil and gas wells. The event was held in response to the Wheatley explosion that happened earlier this decade and included 140 emergency responders and provincial partners who shared ways to improve regional safety.
The council also looked ahead to the upcoming municipal election on October 26, 2026. People who want to run for a seat on the council are encouraged to attend an information session on April 8, 2026, at the County Administration Building to learn more about the process.
