Government Sector Successes to Date 
The Government Sector has been very successful in identifying, advocating, promoting and supporting health policy initiatives within local governments in Windsor-Essex County. The Government Sector worked extremely hard to impact change and have a positive influence on the health of Windsor-Essex Community.
Below are just a couple of the successes the Government Sector has achieved to date.
Health Policy Scan Completed
A health policy scan was conducted and completed in 2009. This scan was comprehensive including all municipalities in Windsor-Essex. A policy gap analysis was initiated and completed focusing on gaps unique to each municipality.
The policy gap analysis was taken forward to CAOs in an effort to advocate for missing policies that support healthy living. Those discussions have lead to the gradual development and adoption of healthy policies in several municipalities. For example, the Municipality of Leamington has recently adopted a healthy meeting policy that encourages employees to be healthy at work. The City of Windsor is gathering a 2011 Official Plan proposal together that will have more policies that support active transportation. Policy that supports healthy lifestyles is continuously progressing in municipalities in Windsor-Essex County.
County Wide Active Transportation Study (CWATS)
The CWATS is an active transportation proposal that will connect municipalities in Windsor-Essex County through on-road and off-road trail systems. It will also recommend policies that should be adapted by municipalities who implement the CWATS. The government sector has supported the County of Essex in promoting the County Wide Active Transportation Study (CWATS) to the public to get their feedback and understand the public’s interest in CWATS. To capture this information, a feedback survey was completed by over 360 people on the Final Draft of the CWATS Master Plan. This was identified as an innovative strategy, as the public was involved at such an early stage of an active transportation study. Results from this public survey were shared with local decision makers to express the public’s interest on the implementation of the CWATS. To access the survey results click here.
Bicycle Friendly Communities Designation
The City of Windsor submitted their application for this designation in December 2010, to become the first Bike Friendly Community is Canada. Go For Health has supported them in getting input together for this application. This designation will allow the City of Windsor to see how they rank to other municipalities in Ontario and North America as a cycling community. It will also encourage and guide the City of Windsor on the steps that they need to take to become a top level Bicycle Friendly Community in Ontario.
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