“Before committing to this, I would like to see how this would affect the competitiveness of businesses within the community.”

“Before committing to this, I would like to see how this would affect the cost of purchases for the City of Kingston.”

“Not all “poor”, so the idea of subsidizing the air conditioning bills of economically comfortable people seems counterintuitive.”

“Supporting people who have spent their lives contributing to their community (low-income seniors) or the vulnerable is a policy I can support.”

“Ideally, the homeless should be housed. Once housed, other supports should be provided to help these people deal with any addictions or mental health issues they may have.”

“Better Homes Kingston is great way to encourage Kingstonians to make their homes Greener. However, I worry sometimes that the people interested in these types of programs may be reasonably well off and could afford to make these types of changes themselves over time. Subsidizing the upper-middle class to add value to their home by making them “greener,” seems counterintuitive.”

“I support the idea behind Green Development Standards but cities need to be mindful of how this type of program might affect affordability. Too many Kingstonians are finding it difficult to afford rent and save a down payment for their future home, so considering how this type of plan would affect affordability should be part of the equation.”

“I am 100% behind promoting infill and brownfield development with the idea of protecting agricultural land and natural spaces.”

“I suspect that a Municipal Services Corporation would be better equipped to manage water and wastewater concerns within the City of Kingston. The City’s job should be to set the standards the Corporation responsible for water and wastewater must adhere to.”

“So long as there is still land available for development within the City’s borders.”

“Data Centres can be a source of employment and tax revenue, so this issue should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.”

“I support the preservation of bike lanes but do not support promoting the use of bicycles in the winter. Could lead to a tragic accident. I also believe that bike lanes could be used by people riding e-bikes or other similar vehicles.”

“The use of e-buses should be supported and promoted but the move to e-buses should be gradual. They are much more expensive than buses using combustion engines.”

“Youth, post-secondary students and seniors are already getting subsidized travel on city buses. I support the continuation of the existing system.”

“Pedestrian-friendly streets are great in the downtown core and during very specific events, so I would support pedestrian-friendly streets when I believe that they are appropriate.”

“Yes. In September 2025, Council voted 12–1 to keep the City’s target at 30% instead of raising it to 40–50%. I was the one vote against, because I wanted the higher target. The City should lead by cutting its own emissions first.”

“Yes. In 2015 I moved the Cost of Carbon motion, which carried, so the City would count the carbon cost of its projects and programs before deciding on them. The next step is making that a standard part of every decision.”

“Yes. Days over 30°C in Kingston could rise from about six a year to as many as 48 by the 2050s. Tenants need protection from dangerous heat, and it shouldn’t come with rent increases they can’t afford.”

“Yes. I voted for the pilot, and I’ll vote to grow it. Seniors living alone are the most at risk, and a cooled room is far cheaper than an ambulance call or a hospital stay.”

“Yes. I’ve carried water to Belle Park myself during heat waves. No one in Kingston should go without clean drinking water or a cool place to go on the hottest days of the year. People can’t stabilize their lives while they’re being moved from place to place. Housing comes first, and support has to follow the person.”

“Yes. Better Homes Kingston helps homeowners cut energy bills and emissions, and multi-year funding lets people plan retrofits with confidence. For new housing, I’m going further with Limestone City Co-operative Housing: 250 homes designed to be near-zero-carbon and nearly off-grid from day one, built to last 200 years.”

“Yes. A mandatory standard gives builders clear rules and gets every new building closer to where we need to be. My own project shows how much further we can go. Limestone City Co-operative Housing is aiming to be carbon negative, and it cuts its footprint further by growing food year-round in the same building, so less of it has to be trucked in.”

“Yes. Expanding the boundary is like taking out a second mortgage while you’re behind on the first. The City already falls about $200 million a year short of what it needs to maintain the infrastructure we have. Building inside the boundary is cheaper to service, and every new building there helps pay for roads and pipes we already own. That’s why I moved the Life Cycle Fiscal Cost motion in 2016, and why I started Limestone City Co-operative Housing as infill on a transit route.”

“Yes. The MSC is a shell game. It lets the utility borrow outside the City’s debt limit without Council approval and without bringing in a single new dollar to pay it back. That debt lands on residents, first on their water bills and then on their property taxes. Water and wastewater must stay 100% public, and decisions about them belong with the Council residents elect.”

“Yes. Defending the boundary at the Ontario Land Tribunal costs money, but it’s a small fraction of what sprawl would cost taxpayers in roads, pipes and services for decades. When Council and staff have done the work to plan growth responsibly, the City should stand behind that plan.”

“I’d need to see the proposal first. Any data centre in Kingston should have to show its full lifetime cost in public: water, electricity, grid capacity, carbon and what it would pay in taxes. If it draws on shared water and power without paying its way, I’d oppose it. If it can meet that test, I’d judge it on the evidence. The same full-cost test I’ve pushed for since 2016 should apply here.”

“Ontario’s 2024 bike lane law requires provincial approval before a city can remove a traffic lane to add a bike lane, which limits how fast Kingston can build protected networks on existing roads. Where we can build safely, I’ll support it, and paths people rely on should be cleared in winter like any other route. But the biggest gain for most residents is better transit: more frequent buses that reach more people, in every season and at every age.”

Candidate indicated a “Yes” position without additional written comments.

“Yes. Kingston already lets kids and high school students ride free, and it works. Piloting free fares for seniors and low-income residents is the next step. Better transit is the most human service we can offer: it gets people to work, to appointments and to each other, in every season and at every age.”

“Yes, where the businesses and residents on that street want it. Seasonal pedestrian streets can bring people downtown and help local shops, but the people who work and live there should help design them before the barriers go up. Try it, measure what happens to foot traffic and sales, and keep what works.”

“The City must lead by example. Front-loading reductions across municipal operations sets a clear standard, and improves air quality”

“Integrating formal climate evaluations into municipal planning, procurement, and policy decisions ensures environmental accountability and fiscal responsibility move together.”

“As a nurse, I view extreme indoor heat as a critical health issue. Setting safe upper limits protects seniors and renters, provided robust tenant protections prevent unfair cost pass-throughs.”

“Direct cooling support for fixed-income seniors and medically vulnerable residents protects health during extreme heatwaves and reduces emergency room visits.”

“Public health and basic human dignity require continuous drinking water distribution, shaded rest areas, and low-barrier, round-the-clock cooling space during severe weather.”

“Multi-year funding provides program stability. However, we must also reform BHK’s structure so homeowners don’t face cash-flow barriers while waiting for loan disbursements.”

“Building efficiently from day one is far more economical than retrofitting later. Mandatory performance standards and heat pumps should be the baseline for new builds.”

“Preventing sprawl preserves natural carbon sinks and farmland, lowers long-term infrastructure servicing costs, and fosters walkable, connected neighbourhoods.”

“Essential water utilities must remain directly accountable to elected Council members and the community rather than arms-length corporate structures.”

“Municipal legal resources should back Council and staff planning decisions that uphold smart growth principles and protect local boundaries.”

“Resource-heavy facilities must be evaluated strictly to safeguard water resources and protect electrical grid capacity.”

“Safe, connected, year-round active transit infrastructure allows residents of all ages and abilities to travel safely, affordably, and sustainably.”

“Accelerating transit fleet electrification directly reduces local air pollution and cuts corporate municipal emissions.”

“Removing cost barriers boosts transit usage, eases traffic congestion, and provides equitable mobility across Kingston.”

“Seasonal pedestrian conversions support local businesses, reduce neighbourhood vehicle emissions, and create vibrant community hubs.”