Syrian Refugees

The first government arranged flight for Syrian refugees will arrive at Toronto’s Pearson airport tonight.

The second plane will arrive at Montreal’s Trudeau airport on Saturday.

A total of about 300 refugees will be aboard the two military planes.

These refugees already have sponsors in Canada and will stay in Toronto tonight before heading to their new homes.

CFB Kingston is prepared to host 600 refugees and base commander…Colonel Stephen Kelsey says they will be able to host more if needed.

Indecent Exposure

Kingston Police hope someone will get the license number of the vehicle after two more incidents of a man exposing himself.  Two grade five girls were walking home on Earl Street near Napier around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon when a man drove up beside them and exposed himself.  Police say the man did the same thing to the Queen’s student a few minutes later at Frontenac and Alfred Streets.

This follows two incidents in October.

Attempted Robbery

A 21 year old Kingston man is facing charges after an attempted robbery at the Shell gas bar at Division and Benson Streets.

Police say a man threatened a female employee around 6am yesterday…saying he had a gun and would shoot her unless he got cash.  She locked herself in an office and called police.  The man took off without getting any money.  Police say he was arrested on Mowatt Avenue while he was talking with the driver because he didn’t have money for the fare.

Missing Man

Kingston Police are asking for help from the public in locating a missing 18 year old.

Isaac Morey was last seen by a family member on November 16th.  Police and the young man’s family are concerned about his well-being and have requested anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact police.

Chamber – Economic Outlook

The Great Kingston Chamber of Commerce says Kingston’s economy should grow by more than the provincial average next year.

The chamber issued its economic outlook for 2016 yesterday.

It says construction of Kingston’s new hospital next to Lake Ontario Park and new buildings at Queen’s will help boost the local economy.

But – it says there needs to be more private sector growth in Kingston to help relieve the tax burden on homeowners.

Hate Crime

Kingston police say they believe it is a hate based crime.

A 50 year old man has been charged with forcefully running a shopping cart into another man’s heels at Costco on Saturday, November 22nd.  The man swore at the victim and told him to set off a bomb somewhere else. The victim is a Kingston man who comes from Sudan. He was with his wife and daughter.

Police arrested a man at his home on November 30th and charged him with Assault with a Weapon.

Provincial Jails

Correctional employees at the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee and the other provincial jails have rejected a tentative contract agreement by a 67 per cent margin.  Ontario Public Service Employees Union President Smokey Thomas says he is not surprised to see the deal rejected, saying the government “didn’t even come close” to addressing what he calls a “crisis in correctional services.” Thomas is calling on the government to return to the bargaining table.