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 Meadowbrook-Strathcona District.
Jeff McLaren
Why are you running?
I first ran due to the bad condition of the streets. We have a good long-term plan now that can be accelerated in the new council. I keep running because I realize how much better I can help people with the concerns they bring to me – that is the benefit of experience.
What needs improvement in your district?
Roads and pedestrian safety. I will add more funds to the road reconstruction budget to accelerate road repair. Community Safety Zones (CSZ) has been approved by council and are coming to all neighbourhoods with school zones. The Police have committed to enforcing the new laws. What you see is the tip of the iceberg, we will continue to monitor the new CSZ for more site-specific needs to ensure that pedestrian safety especially children’s safety is paramount.
Why do you feel you should represent that district?
I should represent my district because I have eight years of experience in how things work and are done at City Hall. I also have been listening for those eight years by doing a mid-term canvass to keep up to date, making myself available every Sunday for drop-in consultation sessions, and acting on the issues presented to me for those eight years. I have the experience to get things done and a track record of listening proactively.
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What is the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
Affordability. Affordability manifests itself in 3 forms: housing affordability, rent affordability, and tax affordability. By increasing the supply of housing, we make housing more affordable; by increasing the supply of affordable housing, we make rent more affordable; and by expanding non-tax revenue sources and the tax base we keep taxes rate increase low.
What do you hope to accomplish as a city councillor?
1) To continue positioning the City’s financial position to achieve sustainable taxation where new revenue comes from increases in non-tax revenue which make up about 1/3 of our budget and growth of the tax base rather than increases in the real tax rate.
2) Build lots of affordable housing that is sustainable. Meaning that socio-economic groups are mixed so we do not ghettoize the affordable housing and where market housing subsidizes non-market housing so it does not cost taxpayers anything.
3) Expand capacity for road reconstruction and maintenance. We have a road repair plan that is the most cost-effective over the long run. We are making sure that pristine roads stay pristine because it is far cheaper to keep them pristine than to repair roads. Given all that, we need to build the capacity to turn bad roads into pristine and keep them there.
4) Climate change adaptation. Climate change effects are here now we feel them with more extreme weather and the more common freeze and thaw cycle. Our shoreline is eroding; we need more trees. More extreme weather means we need to shore up our infrastructure and the freeze and thaw cycle means we need to do more micro-resurfacing to keep pristine roads pristine.
5) The equitable distribution of police costs. Queens and other high calls-for-service properties need to pay more for police services or do more to prevent repeat calls.
6) Physician recruitment. Over 30,000 Kingstonians do not have a family doctor which means more people go to the emergency room adding to the long wait times. We need to convince the province to change the services level designation for Kingston so that more doctors practicing family medicine can come here.
7) Develop neighbourhood “Sense of Place” policies to help direct development into the main routes so that transit is better supported and to protect the qualities that make every stable neighbourhood desirable.
8) Develop a “Quiet City” policy that reduces noise pollution such as train whistles, loud modified mufflers, and nuisance parties through a more robust noise bylaw.
9) Develop a “Clean City” policy that puts our more public garbage cans in parks, walkways, bus stops, and other places known to have an excessive litter.
10) Better transit and more parking by expanding the park-and-ride along express bus routes to major employers downtown so that pressure is taken off the downtown parking supply and there is increased transit ridership.
Michael Murphy
Why are you running?
It was the housing crisis that pushed me to run in this election; I am concerned both about the insufficient social/supportive housing for the most vulnerable in our community as well as the lack of supply to keep up with demand on the market side of housing. We need more, affordable, and available housing options for people. While I am part of a generation that is feeling the squeeze in the housing market, this is not a problem unique to young people—this is a challenge for working people, seniors, the soon-to-retire, and folks who want to move to Kingston because our local economy needs their skills. I have experience as a school board trustee, a relevant education background with a Ph.D. in political science, and a consensus-building approach that will allow me to help move priorities forward at city council. I believe that we can work together to build a more livable Kingston.
What needs improvement in your district?
As I have gone around the district, the most common concerns that people have shared fall into the category of ‘everyday issues,’ bread-and-butter problems that have a major influence on the quality of life. Our current approach to road repair and safety is broken. Rundown streets with neglected potholes make it unsafe for cyclists to bike to work, create hazards for paramedics and their patients on the trip to the hospital, and cost our tourism economy every summer by negatively impacting the visitor experience. We need larger and purpose-fit Community Safety Zones that keep kids safe as they walk to school or the park (not just the section where school drop-offs happen), and we need automated speed enforcement to make sure that we achieve that goal of safety while being responsible stewards of tax dollars. Park repair issues (rusty climbers, broken signs, and delayed maintenance) mean that fewer children can enjoy the amenities of our area and insufficient availability of garbage cans increases the litter on the streets. While most of us recognize the importance of housing as a system-wide priority, our long stretch without an in-district councillor has left many of the everyday issues to fall by the wayside.
Why do you feel you should represent that district?
Local representation is important in city council because this is the level of government closest to our everyday lives. I am the only candidate who lives in the district, and my ties to our community run deep. I grew up in Balsam Grove and Strathcona Park, and this community is where Sara and I want our children to grow up. The Meadowbrook-Strathcona district is my home, and it always has been. I attended St. Paul’s school on McMahon Ave as a child, and I have been a volunteer member of the community rink crew for fifteen years. The streets of the district were my childhood paper routes and Lord Strathcona School was where I played and coached baseball. I am committed to Meadowbrook-Strathcona for the long run because I care about what our future looks like.
What is the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
Housing is the most pressing issue in Kingston. We need more, affordable, and available housing to address the pent-up demand in our housing market. We need social housing so that people who need support can find it, and we need more emergency and transitional options so that no one is left to sleep on the street. There are options to rezone underutilized commercial space in the old city to permit mixed-use redevelopments, streamline reviews of simple and shovel-ready projects to make more efficient use of staff time and expedite processes for nonprofit and charitable organizations’ efforts to open up warming centres and address other priority needs. By prioritizing these solutions that make meaningful progress without costing the taxpayer, we can start a cycle of growth funding investments in social services.
What do you hope to accomplish as a city councilor?
I will be a consensus-builder on council because it’s time to stop dividing into two sides and digging in our heels. This is the approach I’ve taken to my campaign, and I’m proud to say that I have received support from across the political spectrum, including members of the labour, development, and heritage communities. Accomplishing this as a matter of process will help make tangible progress on files related to housing, roads, and climate because energies can be directed toward getting work done rather than costly delays and legal battles. I want to see growth in our market housing developments fund sustainable investments in social and supportive housing, an expansion of public transit (including the pilot testing of low-fare or no-fare routes), and the universal roll-out of right-sized Community Safety Zones with automated speed enforcement so that parents know that their children will be safe on the walk to school.
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