At the Dec. 5 Council meeting, one of the big topics of discussion was the high population growth we expect to see in Kingston in the coming years. The City’s population is projected to reach almost 150 000 by 2026, or close to 170 000 if we include all post-secondary students. This level of growth…
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Over the last year, Kingston has seen a significant increase in the theft of copper and other stolen metals. It’s a major issue across the province. Phone lines and fiber optic cables are being cut by individuals looking for a high value copper that they can convert into cash at a salvage yard. This leaves…
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One of the best ways to increase housing is to encourage the redevelopment of underutilized properties in the city’s core that are in need of revitalization. A perfect example at the Frontenac Mall. Over the coming years, this property will be slowly transformed through multiple phases of development into new housing that Kingston desperately needs.…
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Kingston needs more of all types of housing. One category that’s become increasingly important is housing for post-secondary students. Student housing needs to keep pace with the growing population of post-secondary students. If it doesn’t, then our vacancy rate remains low and rents high as the overflow of student renters puts pressure on the city’s…
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Summer may be coming to an end, but the start of school also signals the start of extracurricular activities including swimming lessons. Anyone trying to book swimming lessons right now knows that available spots are often filled in minutes, leaving many kids and families on long waiting lists. It is abundantly clear that we need more…
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Big changes are coming in the way your garbage gets collected! At our City Council meeting next week, we’ll be looking to give final approval for a shift towards a new automated garbage collection system. In the near future, your garbage bin will be swapped with a City-supplied standardized garbage cart that can be picked up and…
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As we gear up for the shift from summer into fall, and the return to school, that means here at City Hall we will be moving into budget season. This year’s budget process is going to be different following the introduction of strong mayor powers in cities like Kingston. Starting with the 2024 budget, it…
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We know there’s a critical need for more housing in Kingston. That’s why City Council has already approved the construction of several thousand new housing units. The challenge is high inflation, high interest rates and labour shortages in building trades all threatening to slow housing construction at the exact moment we need to accelerate it.…
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It’s time Kingston—City Council has set its new goals for this term and now we’re ready to put a plan in place. At a special meeting this Tuesday, I’ll be sitting down with City Council to approve a bold and ambitious plan geared toward specific and concrete actions to move our community forward. This plan will help…
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Earlier this year, I joined several mayors and mental health organizations from across the province to push the provincial government for more funding to address the ongoing health and homelessness crisis. Kingston like other communities across Ontario is experiencing an overwhelming surge in the number of vulnerable and unhoused residents. After some continuous advocacy from Kingston City Council and countless others, I am encouraged to see a significant increase in homelessness funding for municipalities in last month’s…
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