As we approach the 2022 municipal election, Global Kingston caught up with each of the 39 candidates seeking a seat on Kingston city council. Here we asked them about why they’re running and what issues matter most to them. Below is the question and answer for the candidates in Trillium who responded to our e-mail.
Jimmy Hassan
Why are you running?
I am running for my fellow Kingstonians. All my life, I have believed that I should give more than I get and for me, I’ve always dreamed of being able to make a difference in an even bigger way than the last. Running in this election is my opportunity to do that and if given the honour, I will do everything in my power to be a voice for my fellow Kingstonians who speaks the message they want to share with the council.
What needs improvement in your district?
While out canvassing, one of the most common things I’ve heard is “Infrastructure! Infrastructure! Infrastructure!” The roads in many neighbourhoods are not up to the standard residents expect from the city, and on top of that many people drive very unsafe in these areas. Speeding, running signs, and not giving right of way. Even when the unfortunate happens and someone gets hurt, no one takes accountability. This is not ok behaviour, especially in areas where children, people with disabilities or challenges, and seniors live.
Why do you feel you should represent that district?
I have lived in Trillium from day one since I came to Kingston or about 20 years! Not only that, I’m passionate and active. I have served the district through my business, donated and raised money or other resources like food for various charities and initiatives in Kingston, and I’ve even run many projects of my own primarily through my non-profit. I am also always happy to speak with constituents about their concerns in any way they feel comfortable. Face to face, by phone, and by email, I have and will always be open and available to listen. I have proven time and time again that I am dedicated and focused, and that my eagerness to represent and the effort I put in will remain for all 4 years if I am elected.
What is the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
For me, I think it’s Kingston’s long-term sustainability. How can the city not just fix but maintain our roads or parks, what can be done to fulfill the promise of being a leader in environmental sustainability, ways in which we can address the housing problem in the city, growth and development so Kingston can safely generate secure revenue and jobs, and how to keep our children and students in the city to give back and contribute to the economy so that our tax dollars are not being invested in people that will leave after their studies. All these are various issues, but they all deal with the overarching concern of sustainability for the long term. That’s what I think is most important.
What do you hope to accomplish as a city councillor?
I hope that, as a councillor, I can achieve transparency and communication. I want to be able to listen to my constituents and share their concerns or ideas with the city. As a councillor, it is my aim to be able to hold the city accountable for their promises and duties, but also allow my fellow Kingstonians to hold me accountable for my own claims. Most importantly, I want to be a councillor that can get along with my fellow councillors, so that we can create an environment that listens to each other as well as our constituents instead of fighting, and find real solutions for the city.
Rob Matheson
Why are you running?
All levels of government continue to head in the wrong direction on a lot of issues. I am fortunate that in driving a taxi for the last ten years, I have spoken with countless people that represent the diversity in Kingston, from fellow citizens, tourists, students, business owners and other organizations. Citizens from all walks of life have told me their main concerns are: the lack of geared-to-income housing, the conditions of roads built only a few years ago, the collapsing health care system, including the lack of family physicians and psychiatrists and the overwhelmed hospitals. They are also very concerned with climate change, and despite having declared a climate emergency we continue to clearcut our forests, and build new housing developments that only the rich can afford and that contribute to the problems, not the solutions.
What needs improvement in your district?
The major concerns for Trillium are roads, traffic calming on residential streets and on-street parking in our smaller subdivisions, as well as problems in some of our parks. Our parks need to be enhanced and upgraded to have more adult and teen infrastructure as well as off-leash dog areas for our fur buddies.
Our roads need to be built with innovation to last. It is a travesty that we continue to waste our tax dollars on repairing potholes or rebuilding recently made roads. They should have been built right the first time. When I was on city council from 2006-2010, in collaboration with Simon Hesp, professor of Road Chemistry from Queen’s University and Kingston’s Public Works Department, I worked on a road tendering system as a pilot project in front of the Frontenac Mall. The Contractor was forced to redo the work free of charge for the City because they had not followed the agreed-upon conditions. It has been our best road ever since. When we reduce the need to repair roads, we will then use the money saved on geared-to-income housing, or a more enhanced Physician Recruitment Program, public-owned retirement homes, or on simply mitigating property tax increases, so residents actually have more disposable income to spend locally.
We are having issues with parks being vandalized, tearing out flowers in Lions Civic Gardens, dumping grocery carts and other items in our ponds, partying, fighting, and leaving behind a mess. Numerous residents do their best to re-plant and clean up the park, however, the problem persists. One resident, unfortunately, had to take his dog to the vet with a deep cut due to broken glass left behind. In fact, the violence has now escalated to the Isabel Turner Library itself with a racially motivated assault by an 18-year-old youth having just occurred. This disrespect for each other, the residents and nature within the park need to stop. “It takes a village to raise a child”. We need to do better.
Why do you feel you should represent that district?
I’ve lived in this neighbourhood for over 20 years, and I raised my children here. I’ve seen how Kingston has grown and changed over time. I was fortunate to grow up overseas in Tanzania, Turkey, France, Belgium and Greece, and prior to moving to Kingston, I lived in Gatineau for 12 years. These experiences have given me a worldview and open mind of what is possible, to not settle for the status quo.
After leaving Bell Canada when they closed the Kingston Call Centre, I ran for City council and served from 2006-2010. Since then, as a self-employed working-class guy, I have gained an intimate knowledge of not only the west end but every part of our fair city and the region we are blessed to call home. I know firsthand the struggles we all face to pay our bills, put food on the table, and keep our heads above water. I know how hard we work for our money.
I am running this campaign as I would run our city, with frugality and little to no waste. I have fewer lawn signs and am only printing one piece of literature. In fact, I tried to avoid even having lawn signs, by trying to get an agreement from all the candidates not to have them. Sadly one wanted them, so I had to play the game. I feel they are a complete waste of resources, money and time, and most end up in our overflowing landfills. Thus, contributing to the climate emergency instead of helping.
Fortunately, it was thanks to our Council from 2006-2010 that no signs are allowed on public property at least.
As a previous City Councillor that accomplished a lot during my four-year term, I have the experience and knowledge to work with our Councillors to get things done. I commit to helping start. and meeting monthly with a West end community association, similar to one that I helped start back in 2006. I believe in hearing your voice and concerns throughout my mandate should I be privileged to be your choice on Monday, October 24th.
What is the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
Building roads to last so that we can afford the infrastructure projects we actually need, such as geared to income housing which is THE priority. We must do our part to mitigate man-made global warming and transition to a green economy. We must build all our future infrastructure to last and prepare for the effects of climate change by being proactive in helping our citizens prepare as well.
What do you hope to accomplish as a city councillor?
WE CAN act locally while thinking globally. WE CAN do better by our citizens and create a community where we can all thrive and prosper. We can mitigate our contributions to human-driven global warming while preparing ourselves for the results of ongoing climate change. WE CAN invest in our small businesses and grow a green economy that benefits both ourselves and our incredible natural heritage. WE CAN continue to become a welcoming, just and fair society that invests in geared-to-income housing. One that learns from our collective history, so that we can truly become a beacon in an at times bleak world.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and again, expecting a different result.” Albert Einstein
I will strive to make much saner choices, together with you my friends and neighbours in Trillium and Kingston by helping create a west-end community association that I will consult monthly on big decisions Council will have before it.
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