Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens is looking at the future of the city optimistically despite continued tension south of the border.
He encouraged residents to consider the long game during his State of the City address hosted by the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce.
"I think it's really easy to get wrapped up in the nonsense and the chaos that's happening on the other side of the border because that's what you feel most immediately you feel the effects of affordability, you see the tariff threats that businesses are dealing with, you see what he is doing in Iran and the price of oil and gas, all of those things are immediate and you feel them," said Dilkens.
"But it's important that we also look forward. We have to live through this time together but how do we move forward and look forward together and make sure that we are planning all of the things that need to be done, and doing all of the right things to make sure that we come out better and stronger on the other side," Dilkens continued.
Dilkens pointed to the city's plan for Sandwich South development, the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan and the Strengthen the Core initiative as ways city council has set the city up for success.
While he acknowledged many businesses are struggling because of increased tariffs, he said economic development is growing because Canada can offer businesses stability.
"Because of the chaos in the United States, because of the uncertainty of the rule of law you have people who are looking at putting in large investments into communities they don't want to risk those investments," said Dilkens.
The Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce will host Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald's State of the County address next week.
