By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Council for the County of Essex adopted an Advocacy Strategy Policy in conjunction with By-law 2025-45. It further directed Administration to provide a Report to Council on potential 2026 advocacy priorities to coincide with the 2026 Budget.
The 2023 adopted County Strategic Plan calls for the County to be a regional powerhouse that engages on strong advocacy to promote regional interest, Donald McArthur, Manager of Communications and Organizational Development, explained to County Council at the November 5 meeting.
One of the strategic pillars was to advocate for Essex County’s fair share.
In order to do that, McArthur noted the County has to develop a coordinated advocacy strategy to advance common priorities with the seven local municipal partners.
“We have never really had any form of advocacy strategy at the County,” McArthur said, noting the County has only, in the past few years, undertaken any real advocacy efforts.
He presented a framework of a seven-pillar strategy founded on clear County Council direction, meant to be pursued year-around “because effective advocacy is a marathon, it is not a sprint.”
They include issue identification, Council discussion and prioritization, audience and partner mapping, key message development, engagement and relationship building, communication and ongoing advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy liked the report, believing it to be a good conversation point. She noted she will not give up on the housing file until some results are seen at the County. A conversation needs to be had with the City of Windsor to start making gains on the file, whether that be changing the ratio or getting more information.
One thing she shared has helped at the Town of Essex is leaving a link on the website to letters Council sent out to different organizations in support of things like policy change. She wondered if that can be done at the County-level as well.
Being able to easily direct people to those letters helps “paint a picture about Council’s priorities and Council advocacy efforts,” Bondy said.
McArthur noted that is easily done, he just needs Council direction to do so.
He pointed out the Strategy notes, once County Council determines priorities for the year, they will be posted on the website, so they are viewable. An advocacy page will be created on the website, which can be used to highlight resolutions of Council.