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Mayor Dilkens Defends Decision to Shutdown Transit Windsor

AM800-NEWS-TRANSIT-WINDSOR-FRONT-OF-BUS-JULY2016
AM800-NEWS-TRANSIT-WINDSOR-FRONT-OF-BUS-JULY2016
Mayor Drew Dilkens has suspended Transit Windsor service until April 13 due to the COVID19 pandemic

Windsor's mayor is defending his decision to shutdown the city bus service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drew Dilkens issued an order last Thursday, temporarily suspending Transit Windsor operations until at least April 13.

A release at the time cited the need to protect riders and drivers, while also lowering the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

The decision drew immediate backlash from the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), the union representing city bus drivers. Local 616 Financial Treasurer Secretary, Mel Young, accused the city of making the decision to save money.

Dilkens told AM800's The Morning Drive Monday that he found out enhanced sanitizing of the buses was not happening due to issues with the union.

"I don't know how I could look a resident in this city, genuinely, and say 'we have to close playgrounds in the city because we don't want little Madison to touch the handles on the swing set,' but it's ok for Madison and her mom to take the bus across the city and touch the same handles and poles, and stop buttons that 600 or 700 other people have touched earlier in the day," says Dilkens.

Dilkens says people will look back at all the decisions that were made and he will be judged accordingly.

"Frankly, I hope I'm wrong, where people say 'you didn't have to do that, and that was a dumb move Drew Dilkens.' But until that time, I'm going to err on the side of protecting the residents of the city, and that's exactly what this decision was all about," he says.

Dilkens says all of the drivers at home will still be paid.

"Some have tried to suggest that this is Drew Dilkens trying to cut costs. Absolutely not. The drivers are receiving full pay and they will be at home for the next two weeks," he adds.

The city plans to revisit the order to suspend service, leading up to April 13, to see if the order will be lifted or extended.

Local News

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