2015-03-13 Warden's Luncheon Speech

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Over the past six months, the Canadian dollar has dropped significantly from being around par to now sitting at about 79 cents US. We all know a cheaper Canadian dollar is a double-edged sword. While goods sold into the United States become more favorably priced, materials or services acquired in US dollars become more expensive, compromising local profit margins. Both the Federal and Provincial governments are challenged by persistent budget deficits. Each level of government will be delivering budgets soon and I know the respective Ministers of Finance will struggle with balancing program delivery and revenue generation. Despite this less than rosy picture I have painted, I continue to believe Essex County is poised for exciting times ahead. To be able to enhance our regional prosperity, we must continue to get our fundamentals right. We must not be tempted by the lure of the sizzle, but rather concentrate on the steak. For those of you who really know me, know that I am a meat and potatoes guy. I will have no trouble focusing on the steak. With this in mind, let me assure everyone the County cannot or will not be timid about being bold. We will have no hesitation with being bold. However, we will be deliberate, not reckless, and do the right things for the right reasons. The County of Essex has its financial house in order. We continue to be afforded one of the highest credit ratings provided by Standard and Poors to any county in Ontario, at AA with a Stable outlook. We have planned for the future while keeping tax rates in line. Essex County has been on a fifteen year journey to pay off its debt while simultaneously investing in the future. Incurring debt is not a magic access to cash. Debt has to be repaid and the repayments must be raised through taxes. By adopting a "pay-as-you-go" strategy, the County is essentially paying itself and has positioned itself to be prepared for future expenditures. No offence to our sponsors or any others who work at financial institutions who are in attendance today, but I would much rather have the flexibility that comes from paying ourselves as opposed to having to pay interest. During the recent County of Essex budget deliberations, Council endorsed plans that will see over $30M invested in the current year for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance of Essex County Roads while preparing for the nearly $400M that we know will be required over the next 20 - 25 years for roads network expansion and improvement. In 2015, over $37M has been committed to ensure that when someone calls 911, our Essex - Windsor EMS Paramedics arrive on scene as quickly as possible, are skillfully trained and have the equipment and resources at hand to effectively and efficiently administer pre -hospital care to those in need, then transport patients to hospital as required. On a side note, I would like to publicly thank the men and women of Essex Windsor EMS, who put themselves at risk each and every day as they travel as quickly as possible to where they are needed, be it an accident scene or to a residence, administer to the patient, then race to the hospital, under control, to allow the patient to receive the treatment he or she requires. I recently had the pleasure of attending EMS Save Day where 60 heart attack saves over 2013 and 2014 were recognized, with 20 survivors actually in attendance.