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Home > City Hall > Committees of Council > Advisory Committees > Windsor-Essex County Environment Committee > WECEC Mandate

Windsor-Essex County Environment Committee Mandate

Mission Statement
To protect and enhance the quality of the environment for residents in Windsor and Essex County by providing advice, guidance, and counsel to City and County Councils on policies and procedures and providing and supporting advocacy, community education and outreach programs.
 
Vision Statement
Windsor-Essex County Environment Committee (WECEC) is recognized as a credible and integral agent/component in regional environmental decision making and community engagement.

Terms of Reference
WECEC shall provide advice concerning the following:

  • To assist in developing policies for the City and County in the general context of ongoing municipal environmental concerns
  • To monitor the application of Federal and Provincial actions in public and private undertakings in the ecosystem affecting the City and County, and from other jurisdictions affecting Essex County's ecosystem
  • Any matter pertaining to policies or by-laws of the City or County or from other governments related to the protection of Essex County's ecosystem
  • The development of activities and action plans within its mandate and to monitor said activities.  The Committee's mandate shall not include the review of site specific planning applications.  As such, WECEC shall serve as a forum for soliciting public input from residents related to specific environmental issues of concern to the City and/or County, and shall report on its findings.
  • WECEC may advise the City and County on environment based municipal policy alternatives aimed at improving the health and socio-economic welfare of the community.
  • WECEC shall advise and assist with information to further public understanding of environmental issues as they arise through the implementation of education and outreach programs.

Steering Committee (19 members)

  • The committee should be co-chaired by a city and a county councillor. 
  • To minimize the impact of absenteeism, it was recommended that should any sector seat be unfilled, that seat not be counted towards a quorum.  When an individual or organization, or their alternates misses three consecutive Steering Committee meetings, the Chairs may contact them in an attempt to address the problem.

The following is an outline of the membership and sectors to be represented on the committee.  It is not intended to be definitive.  Councils and the Committee should be prepared to be flexible as to the final shape of the Steering Committee in order to take advantage of potential partners and interests arising over the development of the Committee.

Sector number:

  • County Council 2
  • City Council 2
  • Health 2 (+ alternate)
  • Education 2
  • Public 1 at large from City, 1 at large from County
  • Industry 2
  • Environment 2
  • Business 1
  • Agriculture 1
  • ERCA 1

Sub-Committees

Sub-committees will be encouraged to independently explore concerns they identify but will primarily respond promptly to concerns received at the Steering Committee level. Each Steering Committee member will be a member of at least one sub-committee. Chairs of each sub-committee should come from the steering committee.  Membership of each sub-committee should be open, with no limit to number of members.  Sub-committee members do not vote on Steering Committee, but present recommendations to Steering Committee for decision. 

Sub-committees will consist of Air, Terrestrial (includes transportation) and Education/Outreach. Ad hoc "Smartgrowth" and budget sub-committees shall be created. Other ad hoc sub-committees may be created as need arises.

Resources

Existing non-voting resources include IJC, City and County staff, DRCC, MOE, EC, Medical Officer of Health, Development Commission, and Public Health Unit.

Conflict of Interest

"Where a member, either on his or her behalf or while acting for, by, with or through another, has any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in any matter and is present at a meeting of the Committee at which the matter is the subject of consideration, the member

  • Shall, prior to any consideration of the matter at the meeting, disclose the interest and the general nature thereof
  • Shall not take part in the discussion of, or vote on any question in respect of the matter
  • Shall not attempt in any way whether before, during or after the meeting to influence the voting on any such question."

Council Services Department
350 City Hall Square West, Room 203
Windsor, Ontario 
Canada
N9A 6S1

Phone: For general information, call 311.  For detailed inquiries, call the Committee Coordinator at (519) 255-6222 ext 6430
Fax: (519) 255-6868
E-mail:  clerks@city.windsor.on.ca