Windsor postpones Ward 7 byelection due to COVID-19 concerns
Election was originally slated for April 27
The City of Windsor's upcoming Ward 7 byelection previously scheduled for April 27 has been postponed, due to concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a media release on Tuesday, city clerk Valerie Critchley declared an emergency under section 53 of the Municipal Elections Act, which allows clerks to suspend elections until a declaration is made that the emergency has ended.
The decision to suspend the byelection was made after consulting with Ontario's Municipal Affairs Ministry, as well as City of Windsor legal counsel.
"The uncertain availability of polling locations (e.g. community centres, churches, long-term care homes), election supplies, other resources, and the overall movement towards social distancing all contributed to the decision to postpone the by-election," reads an excerpt from the Tuesday media release.
Though Critchley called an emergency, it isn't an emergency declaration under the province's Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, and is therefore not a declaration that Windsor is under a state of emergency.
Despite the byelection's postponement, the campaign period remains open for the 12 candidates who have declared their intention to run for the seat left vacant when former Windsor councillor Irek Kusmierczyk won Windsor-Tecumseh's Parliamentary seat for the Liberals during the October 2019 general election.
Additional campaign time will be allotted once Critchley ends the emergency declaration.
Windsor closed the Ward 7 nomination period on March 13, and no residents will be able to put forward their names.
Igor Dzaic, one of 12 candidates running in the election, said he supports the city's decision to postpone.
"The health and well-being of Windsor is far more important than my personal aspiration of public service and politics," he said.
Dzaic announced Monday he would suspend door-to-door campaigning, after experiencing a coronavirus scare while canvassing. He said he was tested for COVID-19 at Windsor Regional Hospital, adding that officials told him they would call "immediately" if he tested positive.
As of Tuesday, Dzaic said he still hasn't heard back from anyone at the hospital.
Windsor's decision to postpone the byelection came hours after Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency in the province as a means of combating the spread of COVID-19.
As part of the province's emergency declaration, Ontario has mandated the closure of restaurants and bars, excluding those capable of providing takeout or delivery services.
The province is also prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people, including at indoor recreation centres, theatres and concert venues, libraries, places of worship, private schools and daycares until March 31. Ontario previously ordered all publicly-funded schools to close until April 6.
Windsor council on Tuesday also moved to suspend council and standing committee meetings until April 5.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens is currently self-isolating at home, having recently returned from a personal trip to Jordan.
Ward 5 Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac is Windsor's acting mayor for the month of March.