Windsor hosted the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference last week. CBC Windsor's municipal affairs columnist Cheryl Collier says hosting such events are critical to Windsor re-branding itself as more than a "rusted out auto town."

Collier says hosting conferences and events gets people from across the country here to see that Windsor isn't a manufacturing own with high unemployment. It's a chance to showcase the city and riverfront and network with other municipalities; give them something positive to take back with them so they start talking about Windsor.

The theme of the conference was sustainable communities. There was a "green" trade show as part of the event.

Collier says Windsor had a chance to showcase how it's developed its green industries. But Collier was quick to note lots of other municipalities had their green companies on hand. This was a chance for Windsor companies to sell their wares around the country, get some profile.

Collier worries that Windsor's green re-branding efforts could be undone if Ontario elects a Conservative government. There's a chance they could un-do all the provincial green programs and that would ruin the re-branding and harm the Windsor green businesses and economy that are more or less dependent on policies like the Green Energy Act.

Cheryl Collier is a professor of political science at the University of Windsor. She can be be heard on the Early Shift with Tony Doucette at 8:14 a.m. on Mondays. Tune in to 97.5 FM or listen live online at www.cbc.ca/windsor.

To hear Monday's piece, click on the audio box above.