Margaret Williams
Encyclopedia
Margaret Williams is a former municipal politician in Windsor
, Ontario
, Canada
. She served as a councillor from 1991 to 2000, representing the city's first ward.
Williams was a prominent community figure prior to her election. She was president of the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival in 1989, and won strong reviews in the local media for her organizational skills. She was also the cultural organizer in Windsor's bid to host the 1994 Commonwealth Games, the head fundraiser for Team Windsor, and a member of the Riverfront Task Force.
She was elected to the Windsor City Council in the 1991 municipal election
, winning the second seat in the city's first ward. She remained active on the waterfront issue, and promoted an aquarium project for the area in 1992. Later in the same year, she was a prominent advocate of a comprehensive $139-million riverfront park strategy. Williams was also an early supporter of private-sector management for the Windsor casino
in 1993.
Both Williams and Dwight Duncan
, the other Ward One councillor, served on Windsor's Planning Advisory Committee. Williams also chaired the Convention and Visitor's Bureau of Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island, and oversaw a major advertising campaign of the region in 1993. She reported that the city's group-tour market increased by a factor of 1,000% in 1996, after the casino was opened.
Williams was treated for breast cancer
during her first term on council, but did not miss any meetings as a result of the disease. She was re-elected without difficulty in 1994, winning her ward's first seat.
Williams supported a plan for Windsor to adopt provincial workfare
policies in 1997, despite the fact that she was not an enthusiastic supporter of the program. She argued that the alternative would be "much worse", and indicated that Windsor's welfare services would be put at risk without an agreement. She later spoke against a plan for a pavilion-style city market in downtown Windsor, after some financial details of the project were kept secret. Williams also sponsored a plan to licence escort services in the city, arguing that it would provide protection to vulnerable individuals.
She was re-elected to a third term in 1997
. Williams expressed concern about provincial services that were being downloaded to municipalities, and argued that no candidate could reasonably and truthfully promise a tax freeze for the city. She was one of five councillors who voted against a tax freeze in 1999.
Williams served on the Western Anchor Steering Committee, which reviewed plans for a downtown arena and entertainment complex. In September 1998, she voted in favour of a private-public partnership to build Chrysler Canada Ltd.'s new office tower development on Norwich Block. She criticized the city's tax assessment reform plan in 1999, arguing that it was unfair to businesses that had previously overpaid.
She was defeated in the 2000 election
, and later became planning consultant for developer Geranium Homes. Williams ran low-key campaigns in each election that she contested, refusing to create a campaign website or use billboard advertising.
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She served as a councillor from 1991 to 2000, representing the city's first ward.
Williams was a prominent community figure prior to her election. She was president of the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival in 1989, and won strong reviews in the local media for her organizational skills. She was also the cultural organizer in Windsor's bid to host the 1994 Commonwealth Games, the head fundraiser for Team Windsor, and a member of the Riverfront Task Force.
She was elected to the Windsor City Council in the 1991 municipal election
Windsor municipal election, 1991
The 1991 Windsor municipal election was held in the City of Windsor, Ontario, Canada on November 12, 1991, to elect a mayor, ten councillors, utility commissioners and school trustees.-Council:...
, winning the second seat in the city's first ward. She remained active on the waterfront issue, and promoted an aquarium project for the area in 1992. Later in the same year, she was a prominent advocate of a comprehensive $139-million riverfront park strategy. Williams was also an early supporter of private-sector management for the Windsor casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
in 1993.
Both Williams and Dwight Duncan
Dwight Duncan
Dwight Duncan, MPP is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1995, and is the Minister of Finance in the government of Dalton McGuinty...
, the other Ward One councillor, served on Windsor's Planning Advisory Committee. Williams also chaired the Convention and Visitor's Bureau of Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island, and oversaw a major advertising campaign of the region in 1993. She reported that the city's group-tour market increased by a factor of 1,000% in 1996, after the casino was opened.
Williams was treated for breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
during her first term on council, but did not miss any meetings as a result of the disease. She was re-elected without difficulty in 1994, winning her ward's first seat.
Williams supported a plan for Windsor to adopt provincial workfare
Workfare
Workfare is an alternative model to conventional social welfare systems. The term was first introduced by civil rights leader James Charles Evers in 1968; however, it was popularized by Richard Nixon in a televised speech August 1969...
policies in 1997, despite the fact that she was not an enthusiastic supporter of the program. She argued that the alternative would be "much worse", and indicated that Windsor's welfare services would be put at risk without an agreement. She later spoke against a plan for a pavilion-style city market in downtown Windsor, after some financial details of the project were kept secret. Williams also sponsored a plan to licence escort services in the city, arguing that it would provide protection to vulnerable individuals.
She was re-elected to a third term in 1997
Windsor municipal election, 1997
The 1997 Windsor municipal election was held in the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario, to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees.-Results:...
. Williams expressed concern about provincial services that were being downloaded to municipalities, and argued that no candidate could reasonably and truthfully promise a tax freeze for the city. She was one of five councillors who voted against a tax freeze in 1999.
Williams served on the Western Anchor Steering Committee, which reviewed plans for a downtown arena and entertainment complex. In September 1998, she voted in favour of a private-public partnership to build Chrysler Canada Ltd.'s new office tower development on Norwich Block. She criticized the city's tax assessment reform plan in 1999, arguing that it was unfair to businesses that had previously overpaid.
She was defeated in the 2000 election
Windsor municipal election, 2000
The 2000 Windsor municipal election was held in the City of Windsor, Ontario to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees.-Results:*Graham Wilson was a thirty-year-old machinist at the time of the election. He was previously elected to the Greater Essex County District School Board in 1997...
, and later became planning consultant for developer Geranium Homes. Williams ran low-key campaigns in each election that she contested, refusing to create a campaign website or use billboard advertising.