First, let’s not beat around the bush. Kingston finds itself in a housing crisis.

We have some of the highest rent prices in Ontario outside of the Greater Toronto Area, with a continually growing homeless population. As a student renter myself, I see the firsthand impacts of unaffordable housing in our city.

Without active work on this issue, things will continue in the same direction they have been, and the crisis will not improve.

In the Sydenham district, much of the stress on the housing market comes from inadequate levels of student housing. This issue affects not only students, but spills out into higher prices for all renters across the city.

The City’s population forecast projections estimate that full-time post-secondary student enrolment will increase from 34,000 (2021 levels) to 48,300 by 2051. It is anticipated that there will be a need for an additional 2,300 housing units for the additional 4,600 students expected to live off-campus (i.e., not in a post-secondary-owned residence building).

The City has already acknowledged, in the draft of the Official Plan to be presented to Council in mid-2027, that student housing requirements are anticipated to be accommodated within the City’s existing built-up area and the current urban boundary, and I commend the City for ensuring that the housing needs of the student population are being recognized.

Intensification within the current area of the city is something I wholeheartedly support. Increasing density is the most effective way to house people, especially students. It keeps residents close to where they need to be, and does not create more urban sprawl into the natural habitat around our city.

But with that comes direct implications for Sydenham District residents and property owners about where intensification and infilling will occur, especially to accommodate student growth.

The implications for the historic Sydenham District will be significant if not properly planned.

Here’s what needs to happen:

Queen’s University Housing Strategy: Ensure post-secondary institutions, especially Queen’s, are developing their own Housing Strategy, that it is connected to the City’s Student Housing Strategy, and that it involves community members of Sydenham District. I will support Queen’s in any efforts at Queen’s West Campus to add additional campus residence buildings to accommodate student growth.

Student Housing Strategy: Accelerate the substantial completion of the Student Housing Strategy (which is already underway) prior to the adoption of the City’s Official Plan in June 2027, so the strategy can inform the City’s Official Plan. The original timing of the Student Housing Strategy was scheduled to occur after the adoption of the Official Plan. The recent delay of the Official Plan to mid-2027 provides an opportunity for the Student Housing Strategy to be completed and become an input for the Official Plan.

Heritage Management Plan: Complete the Heritage Management Plan (already underway) prior to the adoption of the City’s Official Plan in June 2027. This work must be completed and reflected in the Official Plan before I will support its adoption. I am supportive of expanding the Heritage Conservation District to additional portions of Sydenham District, particularly portions of the waterfront area on King St. already recognized as a Heritage Character Area.

Strategic Growth Area Clarity: Ensure a clear definition of the housing density and types identified for the Strategic Growth Area (Johnson St. corridor and Earl St. area) in the City’s draft Official Plan to ensure the proposed development is complementary to Sydenham District. I won’t vote for the Official Plan until it is understood how many people and what type of housing is possible for this area.

Heritage Properties Committee: It is imperative that the Councillor for Sydenham District, featuring many of our city’s historic buildings, sit on the Heritage Properties Committee. I will seek out the nomination as one of the Council representatives on this committee.

You should vote for me if:

You agree that Queen’s needs to have its own Housing Strategy and that Queen’s needs to consider additional residence buildings to support student growth.

You agree that the Heritage Management Plan must be completed prior to the adoption of the Official Plan, and you are interested in an expansion of the Heritage Conservation District for portions of Sydenham District.

You agree that it’s important to move the Student Housing Strategy to substantial completion before the Official Plan is adopted by the City so that areas of residential intensification and potential land use changes are reflected in the Official Plan.

You want your District Councillor to be a member of the Heritage Properties Committee.

If you’re not sure if you should vote for me, here is what you should ask the other candidates:

Do you feel that Queen’s should have a role in developing more student housing?

Will you support the Official Plan prior to the adoption of the Heritage Management Plan?

Do you support expanding the Heritage Conservation District?

In what ways should the City support post-secondary institutions financially?

How do you intend to maintain regular communication with post-secondary institutions, especially Queen’s University, since it is at the heart of Sydenham District?

Will you commit to being a member of the City’s Heritage Properties Committee and upholding its mandate of championing all aspects of Kingston's cultural heritage resources—tangible, intangible, and natural?

I don’t own a car. I walk, cycle, and use Kingston Transit to get where I need to go.

I walk to work, often cycle to get downtown, and take Kingston Transit to visit my parents and grandparents in Kingston’s west end.

My life revolves around active transportation modes. Their ease is one of the things I love about living in Sydenham District, and why I choose to live here. Allocating budget funding to active transportation projects is a priority for me.

Our active transportation options in Sydenham District are the best in the City, but I want to do a few things to make them even better for us:

• Sidewalk Improvements: I will advocate for building missing sections ofsidewalks/multi-use paths in the following areas in our district:
  • King St. (south side) between Sir John A. Macdonald Blvd. and Breakwater Park.
  • Court St.
  • Both sides of Sir John A. Macdonald Blvd.
• Pedestrian Crossing Lights:
  • Add a pedestrian crossing light on Union St. at MacDonnell St. to improve safety at this existing crossing guard location for Winston Churchill Public School students and improve safety for everyone crossing at this location at any time of day.
  • Add a pedestrian crossing light on Johnson St. at College St. to provide a safe place for pedestrians to cross in the section of Johnson St. between Palace Rd. and Macdonnell St.
• Transit Frequency:Increase the frequency of Kingston Transit service routes along Union St. and King St. that connect Sydenham District to downtown and the rest of the City, including commercial areas such as the Kingston Centre and the Cataraqui Mall.

You should vote for me if:

• You love to walk, cycle, or take transit (or want to be able to do these things more often!).
• You want to see some really simple but meaningful changes where we have missing sidewalks and can add pedestrian crossing lights.
• You see active transportation as a budget priority for our district, especially with the growth in student population expected in the upcoming years.

If you’re not sure if you should vote for me, here is what you should ask the other candidates:

• How often do you walk, cycle, or take transit to go places in our District? When was the last time you took a trip on Kingston Transit?
• Is active transportation a priority for you when it comes to setting the budget?
• Will you commit to getting missing sidewalks completed and more pedestrian lights installed?

Let me state the obvious (or at least what is obvious to me). The Town-Gown relationship between the City and our many post-secondary institutions is already strong.

As a born and raised Kingstonian, as well as a Queen’s student, I see our post-secondary institutions as an importantpart of our community that must be worked alongside.

From my perspective, things are really on the right track in terms of hot-button issues like street parties, housing, and City services provided to students.

Shared economic development is another example of positive collaboration, including the City’s recent contribution of up to $3 million to Queen’s 10,000-square-foot Biosafety Lab in Botterell Hall.

However, it will be important to keep that momentum going over the next four years and keep the needs of post-secondary institutions front and centre at City Hall.

Here’s how I see that momentum continuing:

• Student Housing Strategy:Accelerate the substantial completion of the Student Housing Strategy (which is already underway) prior to the adoption of the City’s Official Plan in June 2027, so the strategy can inform the City’s Official Plan. The original timing of the Student Housing Strategy was scheduled to occur after the adoption of the Official Plan. The recent delay of the Official Plan to mid-2027 provides an opportunity for the Student Housing Strategy to be completed and become an input for the Official Plan.
• Post-Secondary Working Group: Continue and improve the Post-Secondary Working Group byincreasing the frequency of meetings (currently about four times per year), expanding the membership to include community members living in Sydenham District (students and non-students), and livestreaming (and recording) the meetings online.
• Stakeholder Meetings: Establish regular meetings (two to three times per year) between myself and the administrative and student leadership at Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College to discuss joint opportunities and review any issues.
• Post-Secondary Investment: Earmark a specific economic development budget allocation of up to $1 million per year to post-secondary institutions that is directly tied to projects with measurable environmental or economic impacts that yield a return exceeding the value of the City’s budget allocation.

You should vote for me if:

• You agree that the relationship between the City and post-secondary institutions is important and on the right track.
• You agree that it’s important to move the Student Housing Strategy to substantial completionbefore the Official Plan is adopted by the City.
• You agree that the City’s Post-Secondary Working Group is important and should meet more often, and expand the stakeholders who participate.
• You think it is important for the Sydenham District councillor to hold regular meetings with post-secondary student and administrative leadership.

If you’re not sure if you should vote for me, here is what you should ask the other candidates:

• Do you commit to completing the Student Housing Strategy? Should the timeline for the Student Housing Strategy be accelerated to align with the City’s Official Plan?
• Do you think the Post-Secondary Working Group should continue, and how will you make it more effective?
• In what ways should the City support post-secondary institutionsfinancially?
• How do you intend to maintain regular communication with post-secondary institutions, especially Queen’s University, since it is at the heart of Sydenham District?

Taxes. Most politicians want to avoid talking about them. Let’s talk about them.

Over the next five years, the City is projecting to spend $940 million on capital projects. This is great for residents, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story.

The City’s asset management plan (the roadmap that looks at the City’s long-term replacement and repair of existing assets) has identified that capital investment needs to increase by about $30 million per year over the next 15 years to maintain the City’s existing assets and infrastructure.

The City’s capital reserve funds are projected to decline from a balance of $100 million to just $55 million over the next five years.

For more than 20 years, City Council has incrementally added a 1% capital levy to your tax bill each year that is dedicated to asset replacement. This is an excellent policy that I support and will continue to support. The incremental additional of this 1% to tax bills each year has resulted in $60 million in new revenue collected annually.

Unfortunately, even that 1% hasn’t been enough to keep up with the City’s infrastructure needs.

My position is that the current 1% capital tax levy needs to be increased to a 1.5% capital tax levy to generate the additional tax dollars required to ensure our assets are properly maintained. I believe that this increase should be phased in gradually, at 0.125% per year over the next four years so the increase does not shock residents all at once.

The additional 0.5% (existing 1% + 0.5%) would then continue until such time that the funds generated annually met the City’s infrastructure renewal requirements.

I have no doubt that my position on this will not be popular with the community. However, this is a case of either “pay me now or pay me later.” The City needs this revenue before infrastructure falls into disrepair, and must instead be replaced at a greater cost. My preference is for a long-term plan, minimizing the cost to residents.

The additional 0.5% also positions the City well to take advantage of matching grant opportunities from the Provincial and Federal governments that often require the City to provide matching funds to access grant funding. When the upper levels of government put a carrot in front of us, I want to be able to take it!

Nobody likes paying additional taxes. As a student, I know that every dollar that stays in your pocket makes a difference. However, with the limited options Ontario municipalities have been given to generate revenue, this is the direction we must take to not allow our city to degrade.

You should vote for me if:

• You agree that the City needs to have a responsible, balanced plan to maintain our assets and infrastructure.
• You want to live in a City where we can be proud of clean, modern facilities.
• You agree that increasing the current incremental capital tax levy from 1% to up to 1.5% over a four-year period is a fiscally responsible way to keep the City’s assets in good working order.
• You agree that increasing the capital tax levy is important in ensuring that the City has matching funds available to unlock Federal and Provincial grant opportunities.

If you’re not sure if you should vote for me, here is what you should ask the other candidates:

• Do you agree with maintaining and/or increasing the City’s 1% annual capital tax levy?
• How do you intend to address the City’s need to increase capital spending by $30 million per year over the next five years?
• How will you unlock grant opportunities from other levels of government if matching funds from the City are required?
• How will you address the condition of the City’s assets if they are not properly maintained and repaired? Are you willing to risk closing City facilities or reducing service levels?

You’re busy. You don’t have time to follow everything that is happening at City Hall. I get it. You’re definitely not alone.

Major decisions at City Council sometimes feel like they arrive out of nowhere, and the first you hear about them is in a media headline. This leaves you feeling blindsided and completely left out of the conversation. Maybe you’ve had that feeling on a couple of issues recently in our District that felt like they came out of the blue? Surprise!

Here’s how I’d like to help with that:

• Direct Democracy: I will allocate a portion of my Council salary to introduce an opt-in text (or email) polling software to keep youdirectly connected to things that impact you at City Hall. You will receive a quick summary of an issue directly from me by text. You will have the chance to “cast your vote” so I can gauge our District’s feedback on the issue. It’s not intended to be scientific, but it is intended to keep you informed and engaged by getting your quick opinion with the click of a button. Don’t worry, this isn’t a substitute for traditional contact methods; you’ll also be able to call or email me Contact page if you want to connect about an issue.
• Community Connections: At least once per year (and more often for some), I will make myself available to meet withcommunity leaders. As soon as my campaign launched I sent invitations to meet with a long list of key stakeholders in Sydenham District to introduce myself and hear their thoughts on what they need over the next four years from City Hall.

If you want to see who I’ve already reached out to,

click here to a list of community roles, e.g., neighbourhood association chairs, student leaders, local business owners.

If you want to be added to this list, email me here and we’ll find a time to chat.

• Committees: Important policies and major projects need to be thoroughly vetted, debated, and refined at the committee level before they ever reach a final vote at City Council. City Council already has several committees and working groups established. I intend to push to have major issues always go through the committee level first to give residents and other stakeholders an opportunity to get into the details, share their concerns, and identify issues early in the process. The committees should do more work so that by the time an issue gets to Council for a decision, it has had plenty of opportunity for community feedback.
• Finance and Audit Committee: The City doesn’t currently have a Finance and Audit Committee. I see this as a gap in the current Council structure. I will be advocating to create this committee to undertake more detailed reviews of budgets and to discuss financial strategy.

You should vote for me if:

• You want an easy, low-time-commitment method to stay informed about the issues that will affect you.
• You agree that the best work happens when people have a chance to work together in forums like committees.
• You agree that the City would benefit from the establishment of a Finance and Audit Committee.

If you’re not sure if you should vote for me, here is what you should ask the other candidates:

• How will you keep in touch with me about important issues happening at City Hall?
• How will you make sure I have an opportunity to provide input on important issues before decisions are made?
• Do you support more transparency around the City’s financial position by establishing a Finance and Audit Committee?

I believe that what gets measured gets done.

If elected, I will create a report card that lays out the initiatives I am working on and the progress I am making. You will be able to track my progress in getting you results and hold me accountable.

You should vote for me if:

• You want a clear, transparent way to track the progress I am making on your behalf.
• You believe that getting results happens when you set a goal and commit to it.

If you’re not sure if you should vote for me, here is what you should ask the other candidates:

• How will I know if you are making progress on the priorities for our District and our City?
• When it’s time to vote again four years from now, how will I know what you have accomplished?