May 2026 community update
Here's what you can find in this month's issue:
St.Mary’s Cathedral anniversary
Warm regards,
Ted
Across Ontario
A Premier and His Jet
In April, Premier Doug Ford purchased a Challenger 650 jet for travel. It was bought for $29 million, but after significant public backlash, the government sold the plane back to Bombardier only days later.
This month, under pressure, the government revealed that they still incurred nearly $200,000 in related costs and fees. Freedom of Information requests also showed that nearly two-thirds of the flights the Premier has taken so far this year were on private jets, even though he continues to publicly state that he flies commercial whenever possible.
Doug Ford has not been forthcoming about the rationale or costs for buying his jet, and his public statements have not always aligned with the facts that emerge later. This is a reminder of why Freedom of Information requests are an essential tool for accountability. Reporters use them all the time. Without them, Ontarians would never have known these details, and with new restrictions already taking effect, it raises serious concerns about what else the government may keep hidden.
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Local Stories
Robbie's Legacy Act
My private member’s bill, Robbie’s Legacy Act, passed second reading unanimously and is now moving to the committee stage. The bill honours the life and legacy of Robbie Sherren, a young man from Kingston and a proud organ and tissue donor. It allows a return to the policy of recognizing donors by name and reduces barriers for families who wish to memorialize a loved one who donated, while maintaining privacy safeguards.
I’m proud of how far this bill has progressed, and grateful for the unanimous support it received in the House. Very few opposition members get their private member bills passed.
New Primary Care Funding
The Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team recently announced that it was successful in the province’s second round of funding for primary care expansion. This funding will help improve access to primary care in the K7P postal code area (as well as surrounding rural regions) and reduce a significant portion of the Health Care Connect waitlist.
I’m told they believe they can roster to a family medicine clinic, everyone who has been on Health Care Connect since before January 2025, by June 20.
If you’ve been registered to Health Care Connect before January 1, 2025 and have not been connected to a provider after June 20, please contact my office by phone or email, and we can pass it on.
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.
Healthcare Town Hall
I attended a town hall hosted by OPSEU Local 4104, made up primarily of staff from Providence Care Hospital. Workers spoke about the challenges they face in collective bargaining because their status as essential workers prevents them from striking. We discussed ideas for legislative remedies to help them.
We also spoke about the growing burnout among staff, driven by the risk of workplace violence, chronic understaffing, lack of resources, and a cost of living that many say is unaffordable without relying on overtime.
Kingston Co-Housing
I attended a planning update meeting with the Kingston Co-housing Corporation, which is developing an affordable housing co-operative on Providence Village grounds. One of the project’s biggest challenges is the provincial land transfer tax. This is a significant financial barrier which is impeding the project’s potential scale, and I’ve been working closely with the Corporation to see how I can help.
Conservation Authorities Board Meeting
I sat in on the regular board meeting of the Cataraqui Conservation Authority to get a sense of their month-to-month governance. There was also a brief presentation on the Ford government’s amalgamation of Conservation Authorities and its scheduled rollout over the next year or so. While the staff was required to remain neutral in their presentation, I think there are very good reasons to oppose the government’s plan. I intend to keep a close eye on how it unfolds.
Renters Coalition
A new network called the Ontario Renters Coalition came to Kingston and I took them to visit two communities: Worthington Park and residents of 1060 Old Mill Road. Worthington Park recently formed a homeowner's association after dealing with steep above guideline rent increases, and I thought it would be a good idea to connect them with this evidence-informed renters' network.
At 1060 Old Mill Road we heard from residents, made up of mostly retirees, about how the building’s uncapped, unpredictable rent increases are affecting them. This building was occupied after November 2018, so it is not rent controlled. We spoke about the need for fair and, particularly, predictable increases that give residents the time to prepare and plan long term.
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
I met with members of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario to discuss the most pressing matters that they’re witnessing and to talk about what kind of action they need from the provincial government.
Integrated Care Hub Community Engagement Meeting
This was the second community engagement meeting held for neighbors of the Integrated Care Hub (ICH). I attended to hear directly from residents and business owners about how the province and municipality can better support both the surrounding community and the people who rely on ICH services.
We discussed what is currently known about the HART Hub set to open later this fall. While the location of the new site has not yet been confirmed, it was shared that the hub will not permit supervised substance consumption, needle exchanges, or drug testing services. The meeting was a productive conversation about how to best support the long-term recovery and success of those facing addictions and homelessness problems, while also keeping the surrounding neighborhood safe.
Science Rendezvous
I’m always glad to attend Science Rendezvous, a free event that helps children and young people engage with and get excited about STEM. There’s something for everyone, and this year I stopped by booths from Queen’s University’s Reactor Materials Testing Lab and the Cardiology Imagery Network. I even got the chance to try ultrasound equipment on a training dummy, which is the same method used to train students to perform ultrasounds.
Canadian Club of Kingston Luncheon
I sat down with the Kingston Economic Development Corporation to learn more about UCore’s recent expansion in Kingston. UCore operates a rare earth processing plant in the city and is expanding its operations locally. This is great for local job creation and for Kingston’s growing chemical processing sector, which has seen considerable momentum in recent years.
St. Mary’s Cathedral anniversary
This month, I was honoured to attend a mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Catholic diocese of Kingston, the mother diocese of all of Ontario.
Kingston Community Health Centres Touch Base Meeting
I had my annual touch-base meeting with KCHC to receive updates on their programming, community development work, and the challenges they’re currently facing. We also talked about their primary care clinics in the community and gained valuable insight into Kingston’s progress in connecting more people with access to primary care.
Alzheimer's Society of Kingston
This month, I sat down with the Alzheimer’s Society of Kingston to learn more about their work in the community. They told me that the lack of transportation options available to clients makes it difficult for them to reach everyone, particularly for those living in rural communities outside of Kingston. They currently rely on volunteer drivers, but that is not an ideal or long-term solution. We also spoke about how the funding they’re receiving from the province has not been adjusted for inflation, which is causing budget strains.
Dhwani
This month, I joined the Kingston Malayali Association’s Dhwani talent showcase. The event highlighted the varied cultures and traditions of the participants, and it was great to see how their hard work paid off.