Kingston mayoral candidates discuss housing affordability ahead of election
As people get ready to cast their ballots in Kingston’s municipal election, development and housing affordability and access are emerging as key issues.
The population is growing rapidly, with home prices going up.
Ivan Stoiljkovic is among four mayoral candidates. He has worked with those experiencing homelessness, and as a transit driver.
He says he would place a focus on creating units where rent is based on income.
“Housing is the biggest, largest, single expense for an average Canadian family. This is what we need to do,” explains Stoiljkovic.
Tina Fraser has worked overseas and she says she has been inspired by that. She says building more small unit, apartment-based, multi-use buildings would help alleviate the issues, but says more collaboration has to happen among citizens and council.
“We shouldn’t build new until we have a concrete answer as to who is living in our city, where are they living, so that we can strategically build housing around that,” explains Fraser.
Bryan Paterson is the incumbent running for his third term, and points to his experience. He says he has doubled the amount of new houses and units being built in the city.
He says everything from town homes to tiny homes would be looked at.
“It’s a push for expanding the overall supply of housing, with a target on lower cost, more attainable types of housing,” he says.
He also would like to see more work and communication in this part of eastern Ontario.
“We need to look at housing as a region,” he explains. “There are already thousands of people that live in Napanee, and in Gananoque, Loyalist Township, that commute into Kingston. So I think the time has come to convene mayors across the region to talk about making sure that we’re planning out housing for the region as well.”
Skyler McArthur-O’Blenes says he hears more people wanting to help with the housing crisis, and says it’s important to give people a way to do that.
“Incentivizing people to build in-law suites or carriage houses if they have extra space on their lots,” he explains. “That ties into re-examining the zoning process in the city.”
Voting day is Oct. 24.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.