January 2026 community update
Here's what you can find in this month's issue:
Wolfe Island Ferry
Warm regards,
Ted
Across Ontario
Legislative Session Ends and Return Delayed
The fall sitting of the Legislature lasted only from Oct. 20 to Dec. 11, and Premier Ford has now chosen not to recall MPPs until after March Break. This means MPPs will be away from Queen’s Park for 102 days, exactly twice as many days as the Premier allowed us to sit at Queen’s Park in all of 2025.
I value time away from Queen’s Park to meet with constituents, local businesses, and community organizations so I can better advocate for us. However, the Ford government’s growing pattern of shortened sittings, combined with frequent use of special motions to rush legislation, represents a serious erosion of the democratic process. It limits my ability, as your elected representative, to properly scrutinize bills and to get access to ministers. The legislative process exists to provide thorough debate and careful consideration, so Ontarians can trust that laws affecting their daily lives are well-crafted and in the public interest. Accountability is lost when that process is rushed or sidelined.
The Ford government is counting on people not paying attention to how it’s using its majority to keep the Legislature from sitting, debating, and asking questions. If you have thoughts, I encourage you to contact Premier Doug Ford at: 416-745-2859.
Rural Ontario Municipal Conference
In January, I attended the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference. About 300 municipalities sent representatives, including Kingston and Frontenac Islands. Municipalities can try to get meetings with ministers and their ministry officials, as well as opposition MPPs. My Ontario Liberal caucus met with about a dozen stakeholders. Each municipality presented their priority issues. In Caledon, illegal truckyards and event centres and the associated violence and extortion are a serious problem. In Tweed, they are not going to maintain eight bridges, because they can’t afford to. Out by St. Thomas, there’s a shortage of skilled tradespeople for their new EV battery plant, but local satellite college campuses are shutting down because of budget cuts. There’s also a serious shortage of service workers and skilled tradespeople in northwestern Ontario.
As the Ontario Liberal caucus was without a leader, I delivered a speech to ROMA as the Ontario Liberal rural affairs critic, which you can view here.
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Local Stories
Wolfe Island Ferry Troubles
Last month, the Wolfe Islander IV experienced ongoing electrical issues that led to frequent service disruptions, with the most severe shutdown occurring during the week of Christmas. Other MTO vessels were brought in to offer temporary ferry service before the Wolfe Islander III returned at the beginning of this month.
The impacts of this shutdown were significant. I’ve heard from residents who were expecting family to join them for Christmas, workers who were stranded on the Island and unable to reach the mainland, and many who have incurred out-of-pocket costs, including one business that was unable to deliver a time-sensitive load, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in wasted product. After the shutdown, I had a briefing with the Ministry of Transportation to discuss what happened and how the negative impacts felt in December could be mitigated in the future.
We must put pressure on the Premier and the Minister of Transportation. This is what I would suggest Wolfe Island residents do:
Contact three family members or good friends who live away from Kingston and the Islands (especially in swing ridings like Scarborough, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Brampton and Mississauga), and tell them about how the disrupted Wolfe Island service, a service owned and operated by the Government of Ontario, is disrupting your lives.
Ask for their help.
Ask them to write to *their* MPP and to Doug Ford and say something like (best to use your own words):
—---------
Please help my friends and family on Wolfe Island. The continuing breakdowns in ferry service have caused
– the medical clinic to close
– contractors to avoid working there
– tourism jobs to be wiped out
– young families to move away
Wolfe Island is in decline. In September, Marysville Public School had only two students registered. The median age was 50 years in 2011. In 2021, it was 60.
Wolfe Island needs the Ford government to station two paramedics on Wolfe Island, just like Pelee Island, which has fewer people. Paramedic calls are part of the problem. Wolfe Island needs the Ford government to train more captains and mates because licensed crew shortages are part of the problem. Wolfe Island needs the Ford government to pay attention to this ferry and all the problems that stop it from running.
Please protect this part of rural Ontario.
Provincial Recycling Challenges
As of January 1, the Kingston Area Recycling Centre is closed indefinitely after the city was unable to fund the staffing costs needed to keep it open. Under Premier Ford’s “producer responsibility” model, there is no funding for recycling depots. When Circular Materials (the group representing producers) assumed responsibility for recycling in July, it agreed to cover staffing costs through the end of the year but was unable to extend that funding beyond 2025.
I have been hearing from residents and businesses about the inconvenience this closure will cause, particularly for those who rely on the depot to drop off excess recycling. I have also heard concerns about ongoing missed pickups, with some neighbourhoods going weeks without regular service. When my office is notified of a missed collection, we contact Circular Materials to raise the issue. While they have been responsive and have arranged late pickups whenever possible, I know the heavy snowfall this month has made timely collections especially challenging.
Parent Teacher Forum
One of my staff members attended the Local Voices for Learning parent forum last month, where parents and educators came together to discuss the challenges in our schools. She heard firsthand about a growing crisis of violence in classrooms, with an alarming number of educators reporting that they have been assaulted at work. She also heard deep concerns about the lack of mental health and special education supports for students. Students with additional needs are too often sidelined because the necessary resources are not in place. This not only hinders their learning and well-being but also creates ripple effects that impact everyone in the classroom.
I continue to hear from students and educators who live with constant anxiety about going to school and what the day might bring. This is not normal, and it should not be accepted. Schools must be safe, supportive spaces where all children, regardless of their home life, can learn, play, and grow together. Chronic underfunding and resource shortages are failing students, educators, and families alike.
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.
Christmas Celebrations
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending several Christmas celebrations across the riding. I kicked off the holiday season at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 550, for their Christmas dinner, filled with festive cheer and a great turnout. Later in the month, I joined Mabuhay Fil-Can Kingston for their Christmas dinner, which also marked the incorporation of their organization.
I lent a hand at the Salvation Army’s Christmas Dinner, where I got to see firsthand the efficiency and friendliness of the volunteers. The month wrapped up with Councillor Jimmy Hassan’s fifth annual Santa Slices, where we made and packed pizzas to deliver to local community organizations and help spread some holiday cheer.
Light Up The Night Hannukah Celebration
I was invited by Kingston’s Jewish Council to their Light Up the Night Hanukkah celebration. The evening opened with the lighting of the menorah, followed by traditional food and music. The celebration was a powerful display of community resilience, and I was glad to be there.
Budget Consultations
This month, I attended the Ontario Legislature’s budget consultations in Brockville to hear the views of local stakeholders on what should be funded and prioritized in the upcoming fiscal year. Every year, MPPs on the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs travel around Ontario to hear from people, and there is always one stop in southeastern Ontario.
Aluminum 3014
I met with a new venture, Aluminum 3014, which plans to work with Novelis to produce aluminum cans in eastern Ontario. It would become the only place in the province where aluminum cans are manufactured. This would eliminate the need to ship aluminum to the U.S. and then import finished cans back into Canada. Can you believe that we don’t make aluminum cans in Canada? It was great to learn more about their plans, which could have a significant impact on jobs in our region.
Youth Imagine the Future
In December, I had the pleasure of presenting an award from the Youth Imagine the Future Festival to Rowan Wicke for the moth cloak she created. The festival invited students to explore climate change and sustainable futures, and Rowan’s work was a thoughtful, creative, and beautiful response. Congratulations again to Rowan and all the other winners!
FIRST Robotics
I visited LCVI to speak with competitors at the FIRST Tech Challenge, a robotics competition that welcomed high school students from across Ontario. It was great to see their creativity and ingenuity up close, and to feel some of the excitement of being on a team. My whole family used to be part of FIRST robotics teams.
Congratulations to all the Kingston teams who created a competition robot (not an easy feat), and good luck to those who qualified for the provincial championship!
Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus
This month, the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus met in Kingston, bringing MPPs, ministers, and ministry officials to the riding. I had the opportunity to speak about the unique challenges we face, including ferry service, and to hear from municipal representatives about the issues they are dealing with, many of which we share in common.
State of the City
The Chamber of Commerce hosted its State of the City event, bringing together the local business, institutional and not-for-profit communities along with political representatives from all three levels of government. Mayor Paterson, MP Gerretsen and I gave short presentations and then fielded questions from the floor for about an hour.
Access OAP
I met with parents of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder to hear how the province’s new autism funding program is falling short for their family and others because, for no good reason as far as I can tell, the support did not match their needs. I plan to continue learning more about this issue and will be contacting the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services to discuss what can be improved based on this meeting.
Mint Leaf Pizza Opening
This month, I attended the opening of Mint Leaf Pizza, located next door to the original Mint Leaf restaurant. The new spot offers a fusion of Pizza with Indian flavours, and I was glad to sample some of their delicious food. I know from talking to a number of owners that the restaurant business is tough right now. I wish Mint Leaf Pizza every success as they begin this new chapter.
Kingston Native Centre Language Nest
I met with Brandon Maracle, Executive Director of the Kingston Native Centre Language Nest, to touch base, hear about the services they are planning to offer (children and youth programming, employment search, legal help and more), and to discuss the challenges they are facing.
Summit Neurocare Podcast
I met with Dr. Tariq Hasan, a forensic psychiatrist and owner of Summit Neurocare, and recorded an episode of his podcast to discuss the state of mental health in Kingston, how different demographics are affected and served, and what the province is doing, and could be doing, to better support those facing mental health challenges.
I sat down with Councillor Oosterhof to discuss rural economic development, agriculture in Kingston, and the status of Kingston’s new hospital. We discussed the work I’m currently doing, and what more I could be doing.