Kat Pasquach’s Windsor Mayoral Platform: Co‑Operative Housing, No Tax Hike and a Return of the Tunnel Bus

When you walk through downtown Windsor and see a row of fresh‑painted campaign signs, you might assume that’s the usual way a candidate gets noticed. Not for Kat Pasquach. She’s actually refusing to put a single lawn sign on a curb, saying they’re a waste that ends up in a landfill. Instead, she’s leaning on social media posts, community meet‑ups and a good‑old‑fashioned door‑to‑door chat.

Pasquach’s platform pivots around three big ideas that, at first glance, seem simple enough but could reshape the city if they come to fruition. First up: co‑operative housing. She wants the municipal government to partner with developers and local non‑profits to create housing units owned and managed by the residents themselves. In her own words, “People should have a real stake in where they live, not just be tenants of an anonymous landlord.”

The second promise is a line that’s been echoing through campaign rallies: zero increase in property taxes. While other candidates are talking about new fees to fund infrastructure, Pasquach says Windsor can find efficiencies within existing budgets, cut red‑tape, and re‑allocate funds so residents won’t see a higher tax bill on their next statement.

Third, and perhaps the most nostalgic for commuters, is the revival of the Tunnel Bus. The cross‑border service that once ferried people between Windsor and Detroit was cancelled years ago, leaving a gap in public‑transit options. Pasquach argues that bringing it back would not only ease traffic on the Ambassador Bridge but also boost tourism and trade, especially as the region looks to diversify its economy.

Critics have asked how realistic these pledges are. Pasquach acknowledges the challenges, noting that “nothing worth doing is easy,” but points to examples from other Canadian cities that have launched successful co‑op housing projects without raising taxes. She also says the Tunnel Bus could be funded through a mix of provincial grants, private‑sector partnerships, and modest fare adjustments—none of which would trickle down as a property‑tax hike.

Beyond policy, Pasquach’s campaign style is deliberately low‑impact. She’s traded the squeaky‑plastic lawn sign for recycled flyers and a modest online ad spend. “If we’re talking about sustainability, our campaign has to practice what we preach,” she told a small gathering at a local café.

Whether Windsor voters will buy into this blend of eco‑conscious campaigning and ambitious municipal reforms remains to be seen. What’s clear, though, is that Kat Pasquach is trying to rewrite the script on how a mayoral race can be run—fewer plastic signs, more community conversation, and a bold vision for affordable housing, tax stability, and better cross‑border transit.