APRIL 2025 COMMUNITY UPDATE
Welcome to my community newsletter. Legislators are back at Queen's Park for the spring session. You can watch some of the action from the legislature here.
Need help? Phone my office, send a message, or see my website before planning your visit to my office. Plan your visit to my office >>
Bienvenue à mon bulletin d'information communautaire. Les député(e)s sont de retour à Queen's Park pour la session de printemps Vous pouvez revoir une partie de l'action de la législature ici.
Besoin d'aide? Appelez mon bureau, envoyez un message ou consultez mon site web avant de planifier votre visite à mon bureau. Planifiez votre visite >>
Here's what you can find in this month's issue:
Across Ontario
Local Stories
In Our Community
Warm regards,
Ted
Across Ontario
Return to Queen's Park
I want to express my gratitude to all of those who put their trust in me and re-elected me as the MPP for Kingston and the Islands. Now that Premier Ford has recalled MPPs, there is urgent legislative work to do. Our communities continue to need improved access to family doctors, an increased supply of affordable housing, properly resourced schools, and progress on a transition to green energy.
Despite this, the government’s recent throne speech focused on projects like the tunnel under the 401, instead of, say, helping municipalities remove development charges on building modestly priced housing. It failed to offer meaningful measures to make life more affordable for Ontarians right now. Instead, the speech doubled down on Ford’s “Fortress Am-Can” narrative, which I think is a misguided strategy for Ontario’s economy. We should, instead, be seeking out new trading partners elsewhere in the world.
I remain committed to holding the government accountable and keeping the focus on what matters most to Ontarians.
Bill 5
The government has introduced Bill 5, their pro-development legislation supporting economic growth by cutting ‘red tape’. This bill proposes sweeping changes, some of which would erode critical protections for endangered species and cultural heritage sites and would put government accountability at risk by giving cabinet ministers new discretionary powers to exempt projects from regulations, permits or approvals.
While there is value in streamlining development processes, it must not come at the expense of appropriate oversight. Giving new discretionary powers to ministers makes decision-making less transparent and invites more lobbying and possible abuses in political fundraising. Maintaining fair, transparent procedures is essential to prevent missteps like the Greenbelt scandal or the recent controversy surrounding $2 billion in public support to Therme’s luxury spa project at Ontario Place.
Re-introducing Robbie's Legacy Act
I was pleased to reintroduce Robbie's Legacy Act in honour of Robbie Sherren. This bill was the first bill to be introduced by any opposition member in the new Parliament. If passed, Robbie's Legacy Act would recognize organ or tissue donors by name. I first introduced this bill last December, and you can read about the legislation in the Kingston Whig-Standard. If you want to see the bill be reintroduced, watch this video on my Facebook page.
If you want more frequent updates about provincial news, subscribe to my Weekly Wrap where I cover five of the top news stories of the week.
Local Stories
Our Ferries
During my first week back at Queen’s Park, I submitted three written questions to the Minister of Transportation about the Islands’ ferries. The first requested a detailed update on the procurement status of a new ferry for Howe Island. The second and third questions focused on the Ministry’s chosen communication methods for ferry service updates, as well as the status of the Wolfe Islander IV’s return to service and the total cost of its repairs.
Back in December, I wrote to the Minister urging better communication with travelers regarding ferry operations. I recently received a response stating they are exploring alternate communication platforms, but they did not say which ones. With these latest questions, request for in-person briefings and personal contact with the minister in the Legislative Chamber, I hope to obtain concrete answers and actions in response to the concerns Island residents have raised for months.
Post-Secondary Cuts
Since the Ford government implemented a tuition cut and freeze in 2019, without compensating colleges and universities for rising costs since then, post-secondary institutions have faced mounting financial pressures. Here in our riding, both St. Lawrence College and Queen’s University have had to cut or suspend programs as a result. I’ve met with members of both institutions to understand how these cuts are impacting the quality of education.
I recently introduced a petition from a group at Queen’s University, calling on the government to increase base operating funding in line with recommendations from the province’s blue-ribbon panel. Post-secondary institutions are vital to training Ontario’s future workforce, driving research, and fueling innovation. The province must take urgent action to address this funding crisis.
Family Medicine Clinic RFPs
Last year, the Ontario Liberal caucus focused its oral questions on people not having access to family medicine. Just before the election, the Ford government announced new funding for new teams.
This month, the province issued a call for proposals to create or expand family medicine teams in specific postal code areas identified as having the highest numbers of residents without access to primary care. In Kingston, these areas are K7P and K7M. Unfortunately, K0H, which includes the Islands and rural Kingston, was not included in this first round. There is wide variation in access to family medicine across that region, and there are areas which are underserved.
Our regional health team, the Frontenac Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team, was invited to submit an application covering both those areas. We don’t know if they will be successful, but the province is expected to announce its decisions later this summer. This fall it’s expected that a call will go out for a second round of proposals.
Finally, it should be noted that any expansion of family medicine will take the strain off the system and benefit everybody.
If you are looking for a family doctor, make sure you are registered on the provincial waitlist Health Care Connect. You can register online here or call 1-800-445-1822.
In Our Community
Supporting Small Businesses
Show your support for local businesses by picking up one of our new lawn signs!
Many local businesses may be carrying inventory that they have already paid for. Even if those items are made in the USA, shopping local can support our local retailers in clearing out their inventory. That might enable them to replace those products with ones made in Canada! I encourage everyone now, more than ever, to support the amazing small businesses in Kingston and the Islands!
Centre Culturel Frontenac
J’ai été invité au Théâtre Sésame par le Centre culturel Frontenac (CCF) afin de célébrer leur récent financement du Conseil des arts de l’Ontario. J’ai également appris que les ressources provenant du Programme d'appui à la francophonie ontarienne étaient insuffisantes pour soutenir l'ensemble des initiatives que le CCF souhaite offrir. J’en ai profité pour réaffirmer mon engagement à défendre les besoins de la communauté franco-ontarienne.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Recently, I spoke at an event for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) KFL&A in celebration of their Ontario Trillium Fund grant. This grant allows BBBS to expand the offering of their mentorship program, particularly to better serve youth with special needs. I look forward to seeing the positive impact they have on youth in our community, and I congratulate them on their continued success.
Food Sharing Project
On April 24th, I visited the Food Sharing Project which recently received funding from the Ontario Trillium Fund. Last week, I spoke to Minister Parsa about the importance of healthy meal and snack programs in our schools and let him know that this issue is on my radar.
Meeting with SEIU
In early April, I met with members of SEIU Healthcare Region 8 to discuss the certification of internationally trained healthcare professionals and the need for care/guardian trusteeships for the homeless population who face mental health challenges.
Inclusive Play Project
On April 22nd, I met with the Inclusive Play Project to talk about the need for accessible, inclusive playgrounds for children with disabilities and their benefits for the broader community. They are fundraising for a new inclusive playground in Shannon Park. I was surprised to learn that some families travel as far as Belleville or Oshawa to find these spaces, since Kingston lacks them. I’ll continue to follow their work and support their efforts.
Queen's Hyperloop
The Queen's Hyperloop Design Team used my old election signs as moulds for the shell of their pods. Thanks for showing me your frame, propulsion, braking systems, and research projects. These students are energetic and innovative, and I look forward to seeing them break into the workforce. I wish them good luck at the Canadian Hyperloop competition at the end of May.
Better Nurse-to-Patient Ratios
At the end of March, I attended a rally hosted by the Ontario Nurses' Association in support of better staffing ratios. Staff shared how proper ratios help retain workers, improve safety, and enhance patient care. I’ll continue urging the Ford government to make meaningful changes that strengthen our healthcare system for the long term.