I will ensure Sydenham has a strong voice in city policies and services that shape our daily lives.

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MUNICIPAL TAXES AND BUDGETS

Kingston has one of the highest municipal property tax rates.  Many property owners are rightly concerned about property taxes and municipal fees. As your city council member, I will provide strong oversight of public spending to ensure funds are used responsibly and deliver clear value to taxpayers.  I will work to ensure value for our tax monies; look for ways to grow the City’s tax base (especially non-residential) and secure our fair share of Provincial/Federal funding.

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CLIMATE CHANGE/ENVIRONMENT

I share residents' concerns about climate change, nature corridors, green spaces, and tree canopy. If elected, I will continue supporting the City’s environmental plans, including the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. I will also push Kingston Transit to accelerate electrification of its bus fleet, and expand support for home energy retrofits and grants for community-led environmental projects. The City has done well to set high environmental standards for public buildings, but we need greater uptake for private, especially large commercial, buildings. I was disappointed that the new Canadian Tire at Kingston Centre includes few or no visible environmental features. If elected, I will explore practical ways to raise private-building sustainability standards.

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I also bring hands-on experience from serving on Kingston’s Brownfields Taskforce, which helped lay the groundwork for cleaning contaminated lands. That work is ongoing, including around the Davis Tannery property and nearby inner harbour sites. If elected, I will continue to support the cleanup and restoration of contaminated land.

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On tree canopy: the City is at about 20% urban coverage, with a goal of 30%. If elected, I will work to increase canopy and support climate mitigation and biodiversity.  I will direct staff to review tree removal guidelines to better protect mature trees.

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Although I broadly support the City’s Natural Heritage Plan, I want it to prioritize preserving and enhancing natural heritage—not mainly relying on offsets. Our Natural Heritage Study will form an important part of the decisions that Council makes in the years to come, and I want to be on Council to ensure those decisions protect and enhance our natural environment. In doing so, I will also work to build regional partnerships with the Cataraqui Conservation Authority, Frontenac County, and surrounding municipalities. Kingston can’t go it alone—we must take a watershed and bioregional approach. I’ve already worked with Frontenac County and Cataraqui Conservation Authority on environmental initiatives and will bring that experience to Council.

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STRONG NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING

I’m running to make sure Sydenham’s priorities are respected as the proposed Official Plan and Integrated Mobility Plan move forward. I will insist that city plan for stable neighbourhoods, walkability, heritage protection, and balanced growth and that plan policies be applied consistently to all new development proposals in our district.  I will be a strong advocate for neighbourhood based planning.  The current Official Plan contains useful city-wide policies, but we also need specific policies that are geared for the unique features of Sydenham.  

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IMPLEMENTING PLANS AND POLICIES

If elected, I will ensure that the hard work our community, council, and staff have put into the Official Plan, Housing & Homelessness Plan, Density by Design, and other ongoing studies on our natural heritage and mobility is matched by real implementation and funding. Those policies and guidelines are important achievements, but they must translate into better-built form and improved day‑to‑day outcomes for Kingston residents. I will press Council to allocate adequate resources, set clear implementation timelines, and monitor progress so these plans aren’t just words on paper. For example, I was disappointed by the missed opportunity in the Kingston Centre redevelopment and will push for future projects that fully realize our community’s planning goals.

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URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY

Since arriving in 2000, I’ve heard repeated talk about an urban growth boundary; it must be more than policy rhetoric. I will work to strengthen the enforcement of the growth boundary and ensure development within the urban area is prioritized before greenfield expansion — protecting farmland, natural areas, and municipal infrastructure capacity.  

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INFRASTRUCTURE

Utilities Kingston is a strategic municipal asset that gives Kingston control over water, sewer, and natural gas planning. If elected, I will press for greater council oversight and clearer public reporting on Utilities Kingston decisions so ratepayers and neighbourhoods have confidence that infrastructure and service choices reflect community needs and long‑term planning goals.   In my opinion, controlling infrastructure is a key lever that the city has to control where and when growth can occur - it needs to be used wisely and effectively. 

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SUPPORTING KINGSTON TRANSIT

Services provided by Kingston Transit have improved significantly over the past decades and deserves continued support. I will champion investments and policy changes that give Kingston Transit the tools it needs to increase frequency, expand coverage, improve accessibility, and better integrate with cycling and pedestrian networks so transit becomes a viable choice for more residents.

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SAFE PUBLIC PLACES

Public safety must be a council priority. Parks, Market Square, and other public spaces should be welcoming to everyone. I will pursue a balanced approach that goes beyond enforcement by investing in supportive, evidence‑based initiatives for vulnerable and marginalized residents —increased outreach and shelter‑linkage services, urban design improvements, daytime programming, and partnerships with health and social service providers — while maintaining appropriate public order and safety measures.

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INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

Too many residents in our community struggle to find affordable housing and opportunities for meaningful employment. Addressing these problems requires coordinated cooperation with provincial and federal governments. Kingston’s Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan represents an important step forward. As a council member, I will advocate for the plan’s full implementation, monitor progress, and work to keep its objectives in place until we achieve lasting results. I will listen to residents and partner with all levels of government to make housing and job opportunities more accessible.

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS

The City is currently updating its 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan, which will be presented to Council in October. If elected, I will work to fully implement the plan’s provisions. My approach is to ensure the City plays a central role in coordinating partners, agencies, and funding programs to address this complex issue. We need a strategy that prevents people from becoming homeless, provides effective temporary and emergency housing supports for those in need, and delivers long-term solutions that help people and families access affordable homes. If elected, I will focus on addressing—where possible—the root causes of homelessness. That includes advocating for a living wage, and expanding access to health care and addiction services, along with employment and training supports. This requires a coordinated, partnership-based approach involving a wide range of social service organizations (such as food banks, health providers, and seniors services) as well as all levels of government. I also want Council to take bold steps to advance innovative solutions. This could include exploring options such as modular housing and appropriate sleeping cabin models, and identifying new partners to deliver these solutions. This fall, the City will be opening a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment program, and I support that initiative. At the same time, I will advocate for small-scale projects that fit well within existing neighbourhoods. For example, the Sydenham District is home to an urban Indigenous housing provider that is successfully integrated into the surrounding community.

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PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 

If elected, I will work with Council to hold the provincial government accountable when its decisions conflict with our city’s plans and values; I oppose Minister’s Zoning Orders and Special Economic Zones that circumvent public consultation and municipal policies, and I will advocate for clear limits, mandatory local engagement, and respect for our official plans.

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ALTO AND VIARAIL

We must plan proactively for the future of VIA Rail service if high‑speed projects such as ALTO proceed elsewhere. I will push for a clear contingency strategy — engaging provincial partners to secure comparable rail connectivity, protect rail infrastructure, and ensure Kingston’s economic and mobility interests are preserved whether or not high‑speed service comes through our city.

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KINGSTON AIRPORT

Our airport has become a bus terminal. What an embarrassment!