Windsor West candidates mull options for community hub at old Forster high school
Things are heating up in Windsor West as a few of the candidates are trading barbs over what to do with the boarded up homes around the Ambassador Bridge and the former Forster High School.
With the backdrop of a shuttered school owned by the Ambassador Bridge Company and dozens of boarded up homes, Windsor West Liberal candidate Sandra Pupatello said it’s time someone paid attention.
“I hope after this election, this can be the site of rejuvenation,” she said. “I’m standing here to today tell you, I don’t care whose fault it is. We need to fix this.”
Pupatello wants to have a discussion with community members to once again make Forster a community hub. She says included in those conversations will be centred around using it affordable housing, a space for community agencies and groups and even small businesses.
Pupatello said she will need to get elected for that to happen.
“We have 20 years of the same MP and 20 years of this issue just festering for the community,” she said. “I think it’s time for a change.”
New Democrat incumbent candidate Brian Masse says the Federal Liberals created the blight by signing an order in council for the Bridge Company, paving the way for a new span, but also allowing the owner of the Ambassador Bridge to hold onto boarded up properties.
He also told CTV Windsor Forster closed because of provincial Liberal policies on school funding — policies that were in place when Pupatello was a cabinet minister.
“When I was on city council I helped save Forster the first time and later on it was her government that actually put in the policies that closed it. So if you want to go back in time, I’ve been there front and centre all that time,” said Masse.
The NDP candidate said his political opponent needs to do her homework, because an engineering feasibility study will soon be released, detailing necessary repairs for Science City and a dozen tenants to move into the old school.
According to Science City representative Bill Baylis, the Bridge Company is willing to donate the building.
“There has been some good progress and some goodwill on behalf of the Ambassador Bridge and Science City to actually take Forster School and create it into a community hub.”
The Conservative Candidate for Windsor West is Anthony Orlando.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The World Health Organization said on Friday that the current overall public health risk posed by H5N1 bird flu virus is low, but for those with exposure to infected birds or animals the risk of infection is considered low-to-moderate.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.