Flooding Warning

A flood warning has been issued for people with properties along the shore of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River has been ramped up.

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority issued the warning yesterday.

The current water level is just a fraction below the level that caused extensive flooding in 2017.

The Conservation Authority says more rain and strong winds could lead to shoreline flooding.

Kingston’s manager of emergency preparedness, Brandi Timpson, says wide-spread flooding is not expected in Kingston at this time…but it is important for all residents to be aware of what steps they can take to protect their home, family and pets.

 

Norman Trial – Court

Chief of the defence staff, General Jonathan Vance, says the military is ready to welcome Vice-Admiral Mark Norman back to work as soon as possible.

That comes after the crown decided to drop the breach-of-trust case against Norman.

He was suspended as the military’s second-in-command in January 2017 when the R-C-M-P was investigating him for leaking cabinet secrets about a shipbuilding contract and was formally charged last June.

 

Deseronto – Luring

A 31 year old man from Deseronto has been charged with two counts of Luring a Person under 16 by means of Telecommunications.

Adam James Corey was arrested on May 6fth after police executed a search warrant at an address in Greater Napanee.  The investigation involved the OPP crime unit – sexual exploitation unit and the Belleville Police E-Crimes Unit.

 

Motion – Public Health Units

Kingston city council approved a motion Wednesday night requesting the province stop the planned reduction of public health units from 35 to 10 and the reduction in public health spending of $200 million dollars.  The motion asks for consultation with municipalities and public health agencies on the public health system.

The vote was 12 in favour with one abstention.

 

Motion – Gun Control

Kingston City Council has shot down a motion to ask the federal government to strengthen Bill C-71 – the act aimed at updating gun regulations in Canada.

The motion before the Wednesday night meeting of council asked the government to strengthen to bill to include the prohibition of private possession of assault weapons, semi-automatic weapons and handguns with the exception of police and other law enforcement.

The motion was defeated in a vote of six in favour and seven opposed.

 

Electric Buses

Kingston will have two electric buses on the streets in the future.

City council met Wednesday night and approved a capital budget amendment to allow for the purchase of two 40-foot electric buses and the required charging equipment and services.

The cost is 2.7 million dollars.

The city will have to pay just over a million dollars for the buses – the rest is covered by grants.

 

Kingston – EV Award

Kingston has won the first Municipal Electric Champion Award from Electric Mobility Canada.

The city is being recognized for installing electric vehicle charging stations and using electric vehicles in its fleet of vehicles.

The City won in the category of cities with a population 50,000 to 200,000.

The City is installing 50 public electric vehicle charging stations in 21 locations.

 

Prof Wins Second Donner Prize

A retired Queen’s University professor has won his second Donner Prize for the best Canadian public policy book.  Professor emeritus Thomas Courchene was the first ever winner of the Donner prize 20 years ago…earlier this month he learned he had done it again.

His latest book called…Indigenous Nationals, Canadian Citizens: From First Contact to Canada 150 and Beyond…was recognized as a masterful work on one of the most important themes of Canada’s public policy history.  The top prize comes with $50,000.

Courchene says he hopes the publicity will allow his book to contribute to a greater and broader understanding of the challenges and policies that affect the lives of the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

 

https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/queen-s-economist-wins-second-donner-prize