March 2026 community update
Here's what you can find in this month's issue:
Warm regards,
Ted
Across Ontario
Legislature Returns
Premier Doug Ford kept MPPs away from Queen’s Park for over 100 days. During that time, his government made major announcements that raised concerns for my constituents and people across Ontario. By keeping the Legislature from sitting, the government avoided direct scrutiny and the tough questions that come with it.
Normally, the Legislature resumes shortly after Family Day. This year, we didn’t return for more than a month after that. Given this government’s record of limiting committee work, shortening debate, and fast-tracking legislation, that’s significant lost time for proper review and discussion. When we finally returned, the opposition immediately began addressing pressing issues, including changes to OSAP’s grant-to-loan ratio, proposed changes to freedom of information laws, and the 2026 budget.
Government Changes to Freedom of Information Laws
The Ford government announced plans to change Ontario’s Freedom of Information (FOI) laws so that the Premier’s office and ministers’ offices would no longer be subject to FOI requests. If this change were to take effect, it would apply to all pre-existing and future requests.
FOI requests are a vital tool for citizens, elected officials, and journalists to hold government accountable and understand how decisions are made. They provide access to information on who got to talk to a minister, when they met or what was discussed. You can use FOIs to find out about contracts, feasibility studies, costs, instructions, or decisions. Without FOIs, controversies like the Greenbelt scandal and the Skills Development Fund would never have come to light.
At the same time, the Premier is fighting a court decision that would require him to turn over his personal cellphone records as part of an investigation related to the Greenbelt scandal. While Doug Ford has framed these FOI changes as protecting constituents’ privacy, the timing raises serious questions about whether he’s changing the law to avoid the release of his cellphone records.
2026 Budget Released
The government released this year’s budget, and I looked closely to see how they plan to address the cost-of-living crisis, housing, education, healthcare, and other issues that are top of mind for constituents.
A review of the budget shows that most sectors are effectively facing cuts compared to last year. Once inflation is taken into account, what looks like an increase on paper is often a decrease.
What’s more concerning is the clear misalignment of priorities. In education, the government is funding police officers in schools and offering teachers a $750 annual classroom supply credit, while teachers and families have been calling for more educational assistants, smaller class sizes, and stronger mental health and special education supports. In healthcare, additional hospital funding has been provided, but for one year only. Hospitals have been clear that they need stable, long-term investments to plan and deliver care more sustainably and efficiently. And as the affordability crisis continues to hit Ontarians hard, those most in need are being left behind. There is no increase to Ontario Disability Support Program rates beyond keeping pace with inflation, which advocates have long said is not sufficient.
The budget also focuses on redeveloping Toronto’s waterfront and mentions alcohol 74 times. When I think about what I hear when I’m out canvassing, I can tell you these are not the things people want to spend their money on.
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Local Stories
Consumption and Treatment Services
The government announced that funding for supervised drug consumption services will be cut for the remaining clinics across Ontario, and they will transition to Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs.
In Kingston, the Integrated Care Hub (ICH) provided these services alongside its other suite of services. These services aid the homeless and those with addictions and mental health problems. Kingston has not yet received funding for a HART hub, something which has alarmed many in the community.
In the Ontario Legislature, I spoke directly with the Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, who confirmed that the ICH was the only clinic that did not receive an official letter giving notice of a funding cut. After letting her know my concerns, I am now awaiting her ministry’s next move. I have also spoken with ICH leaders to learn more.
Hospital Sees High Patient Intake
This month, Kingston General Hospital had a record-high number of admissions. In a single day, 630 patients were admitted, despite the hospital having only 570 beds. KGH is bursting at the seams as demand continues to rise. Staff are already using alternative spaces for patient care, including hallways and spare offices. This is not the care Ontarians deserve.
When the government released this year’s budget, I was looking to see whether it would mention a new hospital in our riding. Disappointingly, they did not. KGH serves not only Kingston and the Islands, but also surrounding communities, especially when nearby hospitals are at capacity or when more complex care is required. The pressures facing KGH are the result of several factors, but the bottom line is clear: the government needs to support our region. I have taken the opportunity in question period to quiz both the Health Minister and the finance minister about funding a new hospital.
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.
Maple Madness
At the start of the month, I accepted an invitation to see recent upgrades to the Sugar Shack at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. That’s where Maple Madness is held, an annual event where visitors can learn how maple syrup is produced and enjoy delicious pancakes. The Conservation area is managed by the Cataraqui Conservation Authority. Conservation Authorities were created under provincial legislation and were originally set up to manage the risk of flooding.
Visit to St. Thomas More Catholic School
I visited St. Thomas More’s Grade 7/8 classes to talk about my day-to-day work as an MPP and answer their questions about my work. As a former student, it was great to be back at the school and see what’s changed and what’s stayed the same.
Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington Science Fair
I had the pleasure of attending the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Science Fair awards ceremony this month. It brought back great memories of the science fairs I took part in and how much I enjoyed them. Congratulations to all the participants, and best of luck to the students advancing to the Canada-Wide science fair!
Fight Ford Protests
Across Ontario, a new non-party-affiliated organization has been created to push back against the policies of the Ford government. I stopped by the protest in Kingston (held on the same day as the latest “No Kings” protest in the U.S.) and spoke with participants about the multiple issues they were concerned about, including changes to FOI laws, OSAP, and more.
Meeting with High School Students Against OSAP Changes
This month, I met with a group of high school students from Loyalist Collegiate Vocational Institute to discuss the Ford government’s changes to OSAP’s loan and grant structure. I listened as they shared how these changes are shaping their plans for post-secondary education and affecting their friends’ and families’ futures. I appreciated this thoughtful discussion and the opportunity to hear first-hand testimonies that will inform how I advocate for students at Queen’s Park.
KEDCO
I met with representatives from the Kingston Economic Development Corporation in another one of our quarterly meetings. These are a valuable opportunity to find out how I could help in efforts to attract new companies, jobs and economic opportunities to Kingston.