November 2025 Community Update
Here's what you can find in this month's issue:
Across Ontario
Why the hurry?
The fall Legislative session has been hurried because the government recalled MPPs six weeks late! As a result, several bills have been fast-tracked. As you may have heard, Bill 33 and Bill 60 even skipped the committee stage entirely. This meant losing critical time to hear from expert witnesses to study the bills clause by clause and have elected MPPs properly scrutinize legislation.
The government is able to do this partly because the general public is not always aware of our sitting schedule or what it means when legislation is rushed. As your elected representative, I want the government to provide us with enough time to provide a Kingston and the Islands perspective in debate, interrogate witnesses, prepare amendments, and ensure that every bill receives the careful review it deserves.
I have received many letters from constituents who are concerned about how quickly these bills are being pushed through. I encourage everyone to continue voicing their concerns about how the government is managing its legislative sessions.
Below: The Legislative Assembly of Ontario calendar (left) and the House of Commons sitting calendar(right) with sitting days in green.
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Local Stories
Bill 60
This month, Bill 60, the Fights Delays and Building Faster Act, passed, despite receiving significant pushback. We’re in a housing crisis, and many people are simply scared.
The most controversial part was Schedule 12 (out of 16 schedules), which is supposed to reduce backlogs and delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). It’s critical to get every case at the LTB resolved in a timely manner - under two months. That’s why I had a private member’s bill to reform how the government chooses adjudicators and to prevent vacant adjudicator positions.
Good landlords and good tenants are hurt by delays and backlogs.
Some of the most notable changes are that (1) the notice period for eviction because of non-payment of rent is reduced from 14 days to 7 days, (2) landlords do not need to compensate tenants for own-use evictions if 120 days' notice is given (previously, compensation of one month's rent with 60 days' notice was required), (3) It is harder for tenants to raise new issues at non-payment of rent hearings, (4) Tenants have 15 instead of 30 days to appeal a decision from the LTB.
When the bill was first introduced, it was accompanied by a proposed consultation about eliminating the right to rent month-to-month when leases expire. That launched a severe backlash across the province. In this housing crisis, many renters are naturally scared about losing their home. This pushback was so severe that the government removed the proposal, but renters are still wary.
What makes renters more wary is wondering why, instead of the Ford government committing sufficient resources to end years of backlogs and delays at the LTB, Ford is making only renters give up things in the name of speeding up the LTB.
Kingston has some of the highest one-bedroom rents in Canada. While other cities have seen their rents fall, Kingston rents have continued to rise. Not only must we make the system fairer for all, but we must also build more medium and high-density housing to free up affordable homes.
Bill 33
The government also passed their controversial education bill, the Supporting Children and Students Act. In the past year, the government has cracked down on school boards, who they’ve accused of mismanaging funds and having misplaced priorities. Earlier this year, the government placed several boards under supervision for inappropriate spending. This bill makes it easier for the Ministry to launch similar investigations and to appoint supervisors who can take direct control of a board.
The bill also requires colleges and universities to assess applicants on “merit only,” as defined by a minister, a standard I have previously criticized for being vague and open to abuse. Bill 33 also regulates which student fees post-secondary institutions can charge. I met with the Alma Mater Society at Queen’s to discuss Bill 33 and their concerns. They pointed out that many students already choose to opt-out of non-mandatory student fees and questioned why the government should interfere with this display of student democracy. These fees support on-campus services such as the food bank, the Walk Home program which provides students with two companions to walk them home at night, and the Student Constables who provide security at campus events.
The biggest concern with this bill is the loss of autonomy and locally informed decision-making for school boards and post-secondary institutions. While improved transparency and accountability are important, this centralization of power comes with much greater risks for students, families, and communities.
Probate Delays
A lawyer friend recently conducted an informal survey of local lawyers to gauge the extent of probate delays. As of late November, most lawyers reported that cases are taking roughly eight months, which is higher than they were just a few months ago. This timeline is far too long, and I raised the issue with Attorney General Doug Downey, who acknowledged my concern.
I’ve continued to speak with him weekly in the Legislature to keep reminding him about the shortage of staff at the Superior Court of Justice to process probate cases. I would like to see the government not just send casework to neighbouring courts but hire somebody in Kingston dedicated to handling probate.
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.
Remembrance Day Ceremonies
In recognition of Remembrance Day, I attended several events before and on November 11. At these ceremonies, I had the privilege of laying a wreath on behalf of the Province of Ontario and paying my respects to Kingston's and all veterans, past and present.
The sacrifices and courage of Canada’s military cannot be overstated, and I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in Remembrance Day ceremonies that honour and preserve their legacy.
WATCH: Remembrance Day Greeting
QBACC Bill 5
I attended Queen’s Backing Action on the Climate Crisis's fundraiser for a legal defense fund. I explained why Bill 5 is dangerous because of the potential of corruption from the enormous discretionary powers it gives to ministers, what we did in the Ontario Legislature to stall the Bill, the 4000 amendments I tabled when the government tried to ram the bill through committee stage, and the synergy between the Legislative maneuvering and the people gathering, especially from Indigenous communities in northern Ontario, to protest on the lawn at Queen's Park and across the province.
Dinner with the U.S. Consul General
I met with U.S. Consul General Baxter Hunt, a career diplomat who spent two days in Kingston to learn about our community. It turns out we overlapped a couple of years in graduate school!
We talked about Kingston's leadership in chemical processing for critical minerals and rare earths, the other opportunities for and threats to Kingston and the Islands, as well as province-wide, cross-border issues like energy, tourism, Ontario's political outlook and what responsibilities the Toronto consulate has.
FACSFLA
Amanda Colacicco, Executive Director of Family and Children’s Services Frontenac Lennox and Addington (FACSFLA), gave me a tour, and we spoke about their challenges and priorities. Including a discussion on their funding deficit and their newly launched ‘Whatever It Takes’ task force that works with community partners to support children with complex needs. It’s reassuring to know there are people who refuse to give up on any child.
Something Special Childcare
I met with President of Something Special Childcare, Kirk Smallridge, to discuss the bottleneck in licensed childcare, namely spaces for infants (0-18 months), which is where the waitlist is the longest. There is a lack of incentives for capital to expand infant spaces, so this is a clearly identified opportunity to improve childcare in Kingston, and to improve the situation of working parents with young children.
Santa Claus Parade
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to take part in Kingston’s Santa Parade. The parade is always such a fun event to kick off the holiday season, and this year was no exception, with a good turnout and favourable weather. Seeing so many children along the street was a reminder of the work I must continue to do to ensure our province is protecting young people and giving them every opportunity to succeed.
Karis Disability
This month, I met with Karis Disability, who provides services in the community for those with developmental disabilities. Karis operates in both Ontario and Saskatchewan, and here in Kingston they run four group homes. It was great to meet with them for the first time and learn more about their mission and the work they do in our community.
Conservation Authority
This month, I met with the Cataraqui Conservation Authority (CCA) to discuss the Ford government’s decision to consolidate Ontario’s conservation authorities and what this could mean for our riding. A major concern is that consolidation may lead to a loss of local site-specific knowledge, which is essential for managing flooding risks. I did not realize how inaccurate maps can be. There are also worries that this amalgamation could have significant costs in itself.
The CCA is meeting targets for planning and permitting approvals about 90% of the time or better, so I don’t know how amalgamation will help on that front. I’ll continue to monitor this development and urge the government to recognize the benefits of locally informed and locally governed conservation authorities.
Meeting with Councillor Oosterhof
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.