JULY 2025 COMMUNITY UPDATE
Welcome to my community newsletter. Legislators are back in their ridings for the summer. You can re-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 ssont de retour dans leurs circonscriptions pour l'été. Vous pouvez revoir certaines des actions 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:
Warm regards,
Ted
Across Ontario
Supplemental Letter to Ontario's Integrity Commissioner
The Trillium, a Queen's Park outlet, recently released an investigative report examining PC party fundraising chair Tony Miele and his connections to developers. According to the article’s sources, Miele was paid by developers for consulting work to help secure favourable outcomes, given his close relationship with the Ford government. That in itself is okay, but it is not okay to also be asking for political donations from the same developers.
In the article, I was drawn to the possible connection between Miele and the group behind the proposed expansion of the Dresden landfill. Back in early May, another piece of The Trillium’s journalism suggested that political donations and insider relationships may have influenced the Ford government, through Bill 5, to remove environmental assessment requirements. In response, on May 9th, I wrote a letter to the Integrity Commissioner (IC) requesting an investigation.
The IC is still considering my request. I wrote to the IC when this news broke on July 23, to ask her to consider the new article additional evidence. I hope that a formal investigation is now more likely. The public deserves a full and transparent investigation in the interests of accountability and good governance.
Ontario Health at Home Scandal
Earlier this month, my Ontario Liberal colleague, MPP Adil Shamji, wrote to the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) urging an investigation into a data breach at Ontario Health at Home that occurred on March 17th. The breach, which reportedly involved the personal health information of approximately 200,000 patients, had not been disclosed to those affected.
In response to MPP Shamji’s letter, the Ministry of Health confirmed the breach, and the IPC announced that it would initiate an investigation. MPP Shamji also called on the government to immediately notify those affected and to explain the lengthy delay in disclosure. This situation has raised serious questions about the province’s capacity to protect personal health information in an increasingly digital healthcare environment. The lack of timely communication and proactive response reflects a broader issue of preparedness and oversight that must be addressed.
Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan Memorandum of Understanding
Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on pipelines, railways, and expanding markets for critical minerals, oil, and gas. While it includes some promising elements, like using Ontario’s nuclear and steel production expertise, it also raises serious concerns. Following the recent Council of the Federation meeting in Huntsville, the province of Saskatchewan also signed on to this agreement. Notably, Manitoba did not.
The MOU proposes building a new oil pipeline as an alternative to Enbridge’s Line 5, which faced opposition in the U.S., and suggested exporting oil via a deep-water port on James Bay. A pipeline to Ontario refineries would likely need to go around Lake Huron to Sarnia and Nanticoke, but with no new refineries built in Ontario since 1952, such a project risks becoming an expensive stranded asset, particularly in the face of climate change. Shipping oil through James Bay would also bring seasonal Arctic tanker traffic and environmental risks that must be carefully considered.
First Nations must be involved from the start. They are not signatories to this MOU, despite being essential partners. Premier Ford’s recent actions with Bill 5 have damaged trust and raised further concerns about the province’s commitment to consultation and environmental responsibility.
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
Provincial Housing Money
The province awarded $3.2 million to the City of Kingston through the Building Faster Fund for exceeding last year’s housing target by 50%. Kingston has consistently surpassed the housing goals given to it by the province. While the city still suffers from the broader housing crisis, this progress is encouraging to me. In 2019-20, I co-chaired the Mayor’s Task Force on Housing and co-wrote the report which contained many recommendations. Critics of the Ford government complain that he hasn’t followed recommendations made by his own housing task force.
Province-wide, progress on building housing remains slow. The government set a target of building 1.5 million homes by 2031, but with six years left, they are on track to reach only half that goal. The CMHC said Ontario now needs to build 130,000 units a year to meet the goal. This year Ontario is expected to build only 71,000. To improve access to modest and affordable housing, the province should consider reducing development charges to encourage new builds of smaller units, advancing modular housing initiatives, and legalizing sixplexes. Increasing the overall housing supply remains one of the most direct ways to bring costs down and improve affordability.
New KHSC Site
The City of Kingston has committed a 95-acre stretch of land at Clogg’s Road and Creekford Road in the west end for the construction of a new hospital site for Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC). While KHSC had initially explored upgrading its existing facilities, the scope and cost of the necessary renovations shifted focus toward building a new site instead.
According to KHSC, this location will help expand access to hospital services across the region, particularly for residents in Kingston’s rural areas. In my meetings with KHSC, they’ve expressed hope that a new facility will help attract top healthcare talent to the community. Given Kingston’s population growth, it’s clear that an expanded hospital is needed to meet the demands of a growing city and region.
Our Ferries
Since the Wolfe Islander IV returned to service after suffering hull damage last December, it has faced repeated disruptions. I’ve heard from many ferry users about how unreliable ferry service is affecting their daily lives. Inconsistent service is already having long-term consequences, with contractors avoiding, and households choosing to leave, the island. A medical clinic was shuttered for the same reason.
A major factor is over reliance on diesel-powered backup generators. The vessel is designed to run on batteries, but with the new Kingston dock and its charging infrastructure delayed and not expected to be completed until 2027, the ferry must rely on its backup generators, which leads to frequent breakdowns. The contractor building the new dock told me their contract with MTO forbids them from talking to me. I asked the Auditor General to investigate the dock construction delay but was informed that their 2025 investigations are already set. I will keep digging, potentially through freedom-of-information requests, and will also urge the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to explore options like 24/7 construction to speed up completion.
Lastly, I received an update on the Howe Island ferry where we’re hoping to have MTO help buy a new one: a naval architect completed their study, which is now under review by MTO. Once that review is complete, recommendations will be presented to the Minister. I plan to follow up with Minister Sarkaria when the Legislature resumes this fall.
This month, I also joined a meeting organized by Frontenac Township Mayor Judy Greenwood-Speers with representatives from New York State, the federal government, and MPP Ric Bresee to discuss the future of the Horne’s Ferry, which connects Wolfe Island to Cape Vincent, NY. With the passing of longtime operator George Horne, the ferry is now up for sale and at risk of shutting down. It was a productive conversation with promising ideas to keep the service running.
In Our Community
Canada Day
This Canada Day, I joined the city’s Stroll & Roll, a great display of community spirit and Canadian pride that led participants down to Confederation Park to kick off the day’s celebrations.
Later, I visited the Worthington Park mobile-home community, where I had the chance to engage with residents. They brought up the issue of above-guideline fee increases from the new out-of-province corporate owner.
Lodestar Structures
Earlier this year, I encouraged Housing Minister Rob Flack to visit Kingston and tour our local modular building company, Lodestar. This month, he stopped by the site with his staff, who were impressed by the innovative work being done there. I believe modular housing has a crucial role to play in addressing the housing crisis, and I’m glad the minister took the time to visit and chat with the folks at Lodestar.
Peer Support South East Ontario
A new CEO has been appointed at PSSEO, and I had the opportunity to introduce myself and learn more about the important work the organization is doing. We spoke about how staff with lived experience with mental health struggles are able to provide unique support to their clients, and how they support individuals transitioning out of clinical care. I also learned that while the demand for their services continues to grow, their funding has remained unchanged.
Ontario Volunteer Service Awards
This month, volunteers who have shown outstanding dedication to their communities and organizations were recognized through the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards. I had the opportunity to attend the ceremony, present awards to the 44 recipients from our riding, and thank them for their contributions!
Physician Recruitment
Dr. Tony Sanfilippo reached out to share his expertise on the physician shortage and the challenges of recruitment and retention. He offered valuable insights into the systemic changes needed and the barriers preventing progress. I appreciate the conversation and am grateful to have received a copy of his book, The Doctors We Need, which explores these issues further.
New Partners in Mission Food Bank Location
Earlier this month, I visited the new Food Bank site to see how they’ve expanded their space and operations. It was great to see how the Food Bank was able to partner with non-profits to deliver more nutritious, affordable, Canadian-made goods. A big thank you to all the community donations, staff and volunteers who support it. Having said that, we should work to reverse the trend of increased demand for the Food Bank’s services.
Elizabeth Fry Society OTF Grant
I recently joined the Elizabeth Fry Society to celebrate their recent Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, which will help them continue providing services to vulnerable women. We discussed their work and community programs, and I had the chance to tour their site. Thank you to the Elizabeth Fry Society staff for the warm welcome and for sharing more about how you support the community.
Howe Island Rockin' the Rock
Each year, Howe Island hosts their Rockin’ the Rock music festival, which features a full day of local live music acts. This year, I attended the event before the live music started to chat with residents/attendees about the biggest issues they’re facing.
Kingston Chamber of Commerce
I met with Kingston’s Chamber of Commerce to discuss some of the issues affecting their members and agreed that we would set up more opportunities for members to speak with me directly. I'm looking forward to these future meetings with the Chamber and its members!
Museum Ship of the Year Award
The Great Lakes Museum’s S.S. Keewatin has been named Museum Ship of the Year by the Steamship Historical Society of America! I joined the celebrations and had the chance to speak about the dedication and hard work that has preserved this vessel.
Alzheimer's Society KFL&A
I recently had the opportunity to meet Dan Brooks, the new Director of the Alzheimer Society of KFL&A. He took the time to introduce himself and share his plans for the organization, which has relocated to Providence Village. Thank you, Dan, for the introduction, and I look forward to seeing the progress you’ll make at the Alzheimer Society!
SAVE THE DATE: 2025 LABOUR DAY COMMUNITY PICNIC
Save the date!
Join myself and MP Mark Gerretsen for our third annual Labour Day Community Picnic at Lake Ontario Park! Registration is now open (click the box below!). We'll have all the usual fun you've come to know (music, food, ice cream, button making, and more)!
We hope you can make this fun-filled afternoon and celebrate Labour Day with us.