JUNE 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:
Across Ontario
Local Stories
In Our Community
Warm regards,
Ted
Across Ontario
Bill 5
Bill 5 has been on the legislative front burner since April. It cancels a promised environmental assessment for the Dresden landfill, weakens the Endangered Species Act and, worst of all, creates Special Economic Zones where a project or company can be exempted from any provincial or municipal law, all in the name of speeding up economic development projects. First Nations were not consulted beforehand, and they are naturally upset.
The government used its majority to ram the bill through the Legislature. In particular, they tried to push it through the committee stage in a single, overnight session. It’s worth noting that the government put forward twenty-five amendments to fix their own bill. I made amendments, unleashing debate, and combined with other opposition MPPs to filibuster the bill. We made the point that a bill with so many flaws and opposition coming from all corners of the province, especially from First Nations communities, should not be rushed through committee The government then retaliated and used its majority to schedule one and only one more committee day with no debate allowed whatsoever. Only the process of voting was allowed. Loathe to back down to this sort of bullying tactic, I arranged to properly table 4000 amendments late enough that the Ford government again lost control and could not get its own amendments passed.
A cabinet minister admitted to me that they are expecting legal fights over Bill 5.
This summer I will be continuing to work with different stakeholders and to expose the dangers of Bill 5 and its use of unchecked discretionary executive power.
Bill 33 - Part One (Education)
Before the legislature rose for the summer, the government introduced Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, which proposes sweeping changes to Ontario’s education system—from primary to post-secondary. Most notably, the bill would grant the Ministry of Education significantly more unchecked power. At the post-secondary level, it proposes that mandatory ancillary fees charged by universities, used to fund essential services like bus passes, food banks, and wellness programs, be subject to ministry approval. It also mandates that admissions decisions be based on ‘merit’. Universities could make their own definition of merit, but it would be subject to approval by the cabinet. Bill 33 risks eroding institutional autonomy in education while expanding the ministry’s control without clear guardrails.
Bill 33 - Part Two (More Power to Ministers)
Bill 33 follows a broader trend of the Ford government centralizing power. Bill 5 is the prime example, but another example is Bill 10, which gave Ford’s Attorney General a lot more discretion to choose judges. Sometimes more executive power is appropriate, but then it is very important to operate with transparency so that, in the end, governments can be held accountable to the people. Recently, Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner revealed that government staffers used code words in Greenbelt-related documents, making it harder to retrieve them through freedom-of-information requests. This government already has a record of avoiding transparency, so I am very wary of the cabinet gaining more power.
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Local Stories
Grocery Stores Concerned about Alcohol Sales
Grocery stores in Kingston and the Islands and across Ontario are raising serious concerns about the Ford government’s alcohol expansion plan. In letters sent by store managers, grocers have called the plan untenable and find it disadvantages larger stores. A major issue is the return-to-retail policy, which requires larger stores more than 5 km from a Beer Store to manage their own bottle-return systems. Many grocers lack the infrastructure to do so, forcing them to either incur significant costs or forgo selling alcohol. This requirement doesn’t apply to other retailers, and when combined with their exclusion from recent LCBO wholesale discount increases, it places an unequal financial burden on grocery stores.
The government broke existing contracts early to fast-track this expansion, a move that cost taxpayers $1 billion. With a more thoughtful rollout, the province could have avoided these costs and ensured all retailers were equipped to support expanded alcohol sales in a fair and sustainable way.
Novelis
Earlier this month, Novelis laid off twenty-one employees, due to economic pressures from new U.S. aluminum tariffs. As workers and families start to be affected by Trump’s tariffs, the government must take necessary steps to protect them. In the Legislature, I’ve called on the government to accelerate the procurement of things we need to buy, as a means of retaining skilled workers and sustaining our supply chains. As a small example, related to aluminum, we make aluminum boats in Kingston. Doug Ford has spoken about the OPP patrol boats to interdict illegal drugs and weapons. These could be procured to keep skilled workers on the job.
Following the news of layoffs, Novelis reached out with an offer to visit their plant. I met with local management and the head of the union. Also present were officials from Invest Ontario, an arm of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. We spoke about the Kingston plant’s financial losses due to Trump’s 50% tariff on aluminum. I was asked to speak to other MPPs to make sure Ontario consumers of aluminum are considering sourcing production locally. The Kingston plant is the only one of its kind in Ontario. Without tariffs it’s very competitive in the North American market.
In Our Community
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
11 Wright Crescent is a newly constructed building offering below-market rents, and one of its common rooms has been dedicated to St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. I had the honour of attending the unveiling and speaking to the legacy of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame, whose mission, rooted in the values of St. Marguerite, continues through their donation of land for this affordable housing.
Walk to End ALS
June is ALS Awareness Month, and this year’s Walk to End ALS in Kingston saw a record turnout. It was inspiring to see our community come together to support those affected by ALS. In my greeting I spoke about my dear colleague MP Mauril Belanger who was suddenly struck down by ALS in 2015. Thank you to ALS Canada for your continued advocacy and commitment to research and care.
Portuguese Multicultural Festival
This month, I had the pleasure of attending the Portugal Day Multicultural Festival, an event spanning the whole weekend that celebrates Portuguese traditions and heritage. Thank you to Kingston’s Portuguese-Canadian community for sharing your vibrant culture with all of us and for preserving these traditions for future generations.
Kingston Pride Parade
Kingston held its annual Pride Parade in celebration of Pride Month on June 14th. The event remains a strong demonstration of community solidarity, acceptance, and support for Kingston’s LGBTQIA2S+ community. Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make it such a fun and welcoming day!
Lviv Ukrainian Folklore Festival
Earlier this month, I attended the Lviv Ukrainian Folklore Festival, a cornerstone of Kingston’s cultural scene for over 50 years. The event showcased Ukrainian dance, food, and traditional handiwork. During the event I had the opportunity to speak about the deep roots and lasting impact of Ukrainian heritage in shaping Canada’s cultural fabric.
Princess Street Promenade
On June 21, I was joined by staff and volunteers at the Princess Street Promenade, where we connected with the community, gathered petition signatures, and hosted activities for kids. The Promenade is always a highlight of Kingston’s summer, and it was wonderful to see such strong support for local businesses and organizations. I’m grateful to everyone who stops to chat as it keeps me informed and responsive to the needs of our riding.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Congratulations to the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest for organizing a well-attended celebration of Indigenous culture at Confederation Park. Along with the artist’s booths, there was music, dancing, and storytelling.
Canadian Hearing Services (CUPE) Strike
Staff at Canadian Hearing Services (CHS) have been on strike for over a month due to contract disputes, affecting many in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. I’ve heard from individuals impacted by service disruptions, including one person who had to delay a medical procedure due to the lack of a qualified interpreter. To better understand the concerns of staff, I visited the picket lines. Workers have called for an audit of CHS. I will continue to monitor the situation closely because CHS is primarily funded by the provincial government.
Philippine Independence Day
June is Filipino Heritage Month and I attended a celebration marking Philippine Independence Day. Commemorating the end of Spanish colonial rule and the formation of a shared Filipino identity, the event had a theme of unity. In my remarks I highlighted the contributions of Filipino Canadians, including their strong family and community values, and vital role in Canada’s workforce. It was a joyful celebration of heritage, unity, and cultural pride with delicious food, colourful performances and the friendly welcome I have always received from Kingston’s Filipino Canadian community.
Order of Ontario Ceremony
Twenty-nine individuals were appointed to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest civilian honour. Among them is Dr. Danielle Lussier of Queen’s University, an Indigenous lawyer and academic dedicated to reconciliation through legal reform and the decolonization of post-secondary education. Dr. Lussier’s lifelong commitment to Ontario’s Indigenous communities is inspiring, and her ongoing work plays a vital role in advancing reconciliation.
WSIB Strike
WSIB workers have been on strike since the end of May, and earlier this month, I met with a striking worker and Ontario Compensation Employees Union member. We discussed the ongoing labour dispute, the concerns of striking staff, and the strike’s impact on injured workers in the riding. Thank you to this WSIB worker for speaking with me; I will keep a close eye on the development of this situation.
UA National Apprenticeship Competition
For the first time, Kingston hosted the UA National Apprenticeship Competition, which brought together regional champions competing for a chance to advance to the international event in Michigan. Among the competitors was Chad Moss from Kingston’s Local 401, who participated in the plumbing event. I’m grateful to the Local 401 members who took the time to speak with me about the needs of tradespeople in our region. I also learned that skilled tradespeople represent a large demand for regularly scheduled air flights through Kingston Airport, a fact that I brought to the attention of KEDCO, our local economic development office.