Each night this week, City Council is meeting to discuss the 2023 budget. It’s an important budget with new spending for affordable housing, supports for homelessness, and investments in roads, parks, and city facilities. It’s also an important budget given the rise in inflation and interest rates we’ve seen over the last year. During the…
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When I first became mayor a number of years ago, the big economic development challenge at the time was how to attract new businesses to Kingston. Things have changed dramatically since then, with an expanding electric vehicle industry and several other rapidly growing sectors. We now have a host of different companies wanting to either…
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According to last week’s CMHC report, the rental vacancy rate in Kingston has fallen to 1.2%. That’s the second lowest vacancy rate in the province. In fact, in Canada as a whole, the rental vacancy rate is at it lowest point in more than 20 years. Here in Kingston we can see first hand the…
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Like many cities across the province, in Kingston we’ve seen a big increase in the number of unhoused individuals in our community over the last few years. As a city, we’re responding to this by creating new shelter spaces and investing in supportive housing. With existing shelters at or near capacity, this month the city…
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Good evening, everyone. Welcome to a brand-new term of Kingston City Council. Tonight, marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of this great city and in all our lives. I’d like to begin by welcoming and congratulating our newest members around the Council horseshoe: Councillors Amos, Chaves, Cinanni, Glenn, Hassan, Ridge, Stephen,…
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The last two years have been difficult for everyone, but it’s been especially challenging for our most vulnerable residents. For a kind and caring community like ours, it’s important to help people get back on their feet. First and foremost, that means pushing the provincial and federal governments for more funding for supportive and transitional…
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Over the last couple of years we’ve been working on a new concept that will enhance the way visitors and residents can experience our amazing waterfront. The idea is to build a walkway on the Confederation Basin Promenade and create a new public space where people can take a walk, go for a swim, or…
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With the continued shortage of housing options available in Kingston, there’s never been a more important time to get housing built in the city. We need more of all types of housing – starter homes, townhouses, tiny homes, condos, rental apartments, supportive and transitional housing units, and more. This month, City Council is taking an…
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Later this fall construction on the Third Crossing will finally be complete creating a new link between the east end and the rest of the city. When this new bridge opens to vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, we’re going to give it a new name just like a number of years ago when the LVEC became…
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This week we’re busy gearing up for the 5th Annual Mayor’s Innovation Challenge, where teams of students from across the city will be pitching their ideas for new technologies and new ways to help residents and businesses, improve our quality of life and help us become more sustainable as a community. This year I’m thrilled…
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