June 2026 community update
Here's what you can find in this month's issue:
Warm regards,
Ted
Across Ontario
End of Session
The legislature rose at the beginning of this month and won’t return for 107 days. While we would normally return in mid-September, this year the fall sitting won’t begin until the end of October. For many Ontarians who don’t follow the day-to-day work of the legislature, this may not seem like a big issue. But every week lost means less time to properly debate and review legislation, and more pressure to rush bills through the process.
It also affects how I can hold the government accountable for you. There is no Question Period. If I submit a written question to a minister on the first day back, I will not receive a response until the next session begins, likely around March. That’s because the government’s response timeline is 24 sitting days, while the entire fall sitting is only 23 days.
During the spring session, the government passed significant legislation, but much of it did not address the most important issues Ontarians are facing. Instead, the government prioritized changes like restructuring school trustee roles, restricting access to freedom of information, expanding a Toronto airport, cutting OSAP, and replacing teacher supply funding with a $750 payment card.
Seniors Audit Blocked
The Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility is now tied to an ongoing police investigation and has withheld the release of a 115-page audit. At this point, the government has not disclosed who or what the audit examined, or what the investigation relates to.
This marks the third police investigation connected to a provincial ministry to emerge this year. These situations raise serious questions about how decisions are being made within government and whether proper oversight is in place. Moreover, I would ask, how are opposition MPPs supposed to do their job of keeping tabs on the government if documents like ministry audits are hidden from us. We can’t even sign a non-disclosure agreement to see them.
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Local Stories
Ferry Updates
Early this month, I received a briefing from Ministry of Transportation (MTO) officials on the Howe Island Ferry. The latest news is that the ministry has decided to look at the whole question of transportation between Howe and the mainland, including a bridge. This broader question should result in a report later this year, and then consultations should begin on specific proposals.
At that briefing, I also squeezed in some questions about the Wolfe Island Ferry. I raised concerns from constituents about rough docking and cracks in the concrete at Kingston’s secondary dock. MTO will be inspecting the hydraulic systems on the docking ramps and bringing in structural experts to assess whether the cracks require further action.
The Wolfe Islander IV remains moored at Stella while work continues on both the Wolfe Island and Kingston docks. I also asked for an updated timeline on the completion of Kingston’s primary dock and was advised that construction is expected to be finished in summer 2027.
Finally, MTO is working to train more captains and mates to help reduce delays caused by staffing shortages. They have increased staffing levels and have one individual close to obtaining their captain’s license. Following a long outage on Sept 27th due to crew shortage, I have asked to be debriefed on that event.
INVISTA Layoffs
It was announced that around 60+ jobs at the INVISTA plant in Kingston have been cut as part of their restructuring. Invista is part of the global firm Koch Industries. As the largest private sector employer in Kingston, these job losses are a significant blow to our community and will create uncertainty for many workers, their families, and households across the riding.
I have reached out to the government to understand what supports are available for affected workers and their families. I have also spoken with the local union representing those impacted to better understand the situation.
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.
Howe Island Town Hall
This month, I held a town hall on Howe Island to hear directly from residents about the challenges they are experiencing with the Howe Island ferry and to provide an update on the status of a new ferry. It was a valuable opportunity to listen to concerns, answer questions, and hear ideas from the community.
I have summarized and forwarded the questions and concerns raised at the town hall to the ministry as we continue to push for progress on Howe Island’s transportation needs.
Cultural Events
I took part in several cultural celebrations across our community, reflecting the many heritage events being marked in June.
I started with the Portugal Day Festival, a lively celebration of Portuguese culture and performances. I also attended Italia Day at the Italo Canadian Club of Kingston, where I had the chance to recognize Italian heritage and spend time with members of our local Italian community.
I later visited the Lviv, Ukraine Folklore Festival, which showcased Ukrainian traditions with performances from groups across Ontario, along with a visit from the Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada and a Major from the Ukrainian Armed Forces who has spent the last two years in Kingston.
I also had the pleasure of attending the Mabuhay Festival, celebrating our Filipino community and enjoying the many vendors and cultural displays.
Isabel Turner Library Branch Reopening
The Isabel Turner branch reopened this month following an extensive renovation. About 300 people were in line when the doors were finally opened to welcome community members back to their local library! The new space has been updated to better serve the needs of the community, and it was great to see such strong enthusiasm for its return.
Canada Royal Milk
I visited the Canada Royal Milk plant in Kingston and met with the general manager to discuss what factors will allow it to expand market share, export more, hire more workers and increase markets for Ontario dairy farmers. The facility is Canada’s only producer of infant formula, and the company is looking to expand its presence across North America.
TruePhonics BGC
I attended the launch of TruePhonics at BGC South East. Truephonics uses research-based, field-tested methods to support early literacy development for young learners.
It’s encouraging to see BGC South East adopting innovative tools and approaches to strengthen programming and support children’s learning. I hope it can scale up and have a province-wide impact on literacy for children.
Police Annual Awards
The Kingston Police held their annual awards ceremony to recognize the courage and dedication of officers, staff and volunteers. The event also honoured those retiring this year for their decades of service to community safety.
Seniors Association 50th Anniversary
The Seniors Association marked its 50th anniversary with a celebration attended by over 500 community members. I had the pleasure of speaking about their important role in our community and thanking them for their ongoing work supporting seniors through socialization, physical activity and personal growth.
Kingston Humane Society
I visited the Kingston Humane Society to learn about their need for a larger facility to support the scale of their operations. I did not know that they are needed by the Ontario Solicitor General to care for animals involved in animal welfare prosecutions. I also got to tour their space and see all the animals they keep safe and healthy, including their on-site surgical area where spay and neuter procedures are performed.
NEO Clinic
I attended the opening of the new NEO Neurology Clinic in Kingston. The clinic will provide OHIP-covered care and help improve access to timely, specialized neurological services for residents in our community. This has been an area where we have experienced long wait times. I am thankful that Dr. Ramana Appireddy took a financial risk and opened this clinic.
ESL Students Year-End Celebration
I visited Loyola School of Adult Learning and Education to celebrate students in the ESL program and recognize another year of hard work and achievement.