april 2026 community update
Here's what you can find in this month's issue:
Warm regards,
Ted
Across Ontario
Hot Topics in the Legislature
We’ve talked about these in a previous newsletter, but cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program and allowing Ministers and their offices to avoid Freedom of Information requests were kept on the front burner in the Legislature. The purchase of a luxury jet for the Premier was also prominent in Question Period this month.
Bill 101
The government introduced Bill 101, the Putting Student Achievement First Act, which makes changes to how school boards are run. Most notably, it formalizes changes to the role of trustees that the Education Minister has been signaling for nearly a year. While trustee positions will remain, English school boards will see a new CEO role replace the Director of Education. This CEO will also have the authority to appoint a Chief Education Officer. Trustees may offer input on matters like budgets, but real decision-making power will shift to the CEO and the Ministry.
Bill 101 further concentrates power within the Ministry of Education. CEOs cannot be dismissed without ministerial approval, and if a school board rejects a budget, the minister has final say. The bill also expands the ministry’s powers in cases of board supervision and grants greater control over education materials and board communication policies.
The bill also introduces grading tied to attendance for high school students and a mandatory financial literacy test. It also shortens teachers’ college to one year from two. Ultimately, Bill 101 does little to address core challenges in education, such as the lack of educational assistants, instead centralizing power without appropriate guardrails.
150 Inmates Lost
A reporter’s FOI request revealed that over the past five years, Ontario prisons have mistakenly released approximately 150 inmates, and the government still does not know the whereabouts of six. These releases are believed to be administrative errors. Initially, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner blamed previous governments, before later saying he would get to the bottom of it. He then mistakenly said that all the inmates were apprehended instantaneously but to his credit apologized for getting that mixed up with notifying the police immediately. It has since come to light that the government has been aware of the issue for over a year, which makes the Solicitor General’s responses surprising.
The Ford government has pointed to building more jails as a solution, but that only scratches the surface of deeper problems in Ontario’s correctional system. Facilities are operating far beyond capacity, largely due to court backlogs, with roughly 80% of inmates simply awaiting trial. Overcrowding creates unsafe, inhumane conditions and drives burnout among correctional staff, increasing the likelihood of errors. Capacity issues also mean that those who commit petty crimes are not even charged, which enables repeat offenders in communities.
If the government is serious about public safety, it needs to address the root causes within the justice system.
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Local Stories
Letter to the Auditor General of Ontario
I recently wrote to the Auditor General for a third time regarding the construction of the Wolfe Island ferry docks, seeking answers on the ongoing delays to the Kingston dock. The dock was originally scheduled for completion in 2023, but the latest estimate now pushes that timeline to 2028.
Since my last letter to the AG in the fall, the Wolfe Islander IV experienced an electrical failure that caused a major service disruption just before Christmas. Residents were left stranded on both sides of the crossing, unable to access essential supplies, with holiday plans disrupted and, in some cases, significant financial losses.
The problem with the WI IV has been diagnosed as a defective circuit board, but because the Kingston dock remains incomplete, the ferry cannot operate fully on electric power as intended and instead relies on diesel generators, a mode which has contributed to past failures.
Wolfe Island residents have dealt with enough disruption. They deserve clear answers and a reliable ferry service.
In Our Community
It was a busy month in Kingston and the Islands. Here are just some of the events and meetings I attended as your MPP.
Community Seder
It was a pleasure to accept the invitation of the Kingston Jewish Council to attend their community Seder this month. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with members of the community and to together remember the story of the enslavement of the Israelites and their road to freedom.
Kingston Police Ride Along
I got the opportunity to do an afternoon ride along with a Kingston police officer. It was very insightful to see, firsthand, the work police officers and mental health crisis workers do, and how they manage potential crises. Thanks for answering all my questions for all your work in our community.
India-Canadian Association Heritage Day
I attended the India-Canada Association’s annual Heritage Day event, where community members delivered vibrant performances in celebration of Indian heritage and culture. Preserving traditions and passing them on to the next generation is no small task, and I commend the ICA’s continued efforts to honour and celebrate their culture.
Queen's Medical Students Municipal Day of Action
I met with Queen’s medical students to hear their perspectives on housing, homelessness and addictions, and what they’d like to see from the provincial government. I also shared some advice on how to effectively bring attention to their priorities.
BrainStim Opening
I recently attended the opening of BrainStim, a psychiatry clinic specializing in care for people, especially veterans, with treatment-resistant mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I look forward to seeing how this new clinic will support the community.
International Mother Language Day
I was invited by the Queen’s Bangladeshi Student Association to attend their International Mother Language Day celebration. It was an opportunity to honour the origins of the day in the Bengali Language Movement and to recognize the importance of preserving and celebrating linguistic diversity.
Glenburnie Grocery
I met with the owners of the Glenburnie Grocery and Fargo’s General Store to talk about how the province’s new requirements for LCBO Convenience Outlets are a strain on their businesses, and their ability to serve customers in their rural neighbourhoods.
Mabuhay Fil-Can Swearing In Ceremony
Mabuhay Fil-Can is the newly incorporated association of Filippino-Canadians in Kingston. They have ambitious goals to actively support our community through philanthropic work, and to promote Filippino-Canadian heritage. Congratulations to the executives on their swearing in!
200th Anniversary of Kingston Diocese
This month, I was honoured to attend a mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Catholic diocese of Kingston, the mother diocese of all of Ontario.