K9 Cop Cleared

 

The provinces police watchdog has cleared a Kingston Police officer of any wrong doing after a man was injured by a police dog over a year ago.

The Special Investigations Unit has rejected a complaint from a man who was tracked down by the police dog after a shoplifting incident in August of 2017.  The man suffered a puncture wound and cut on his arm from a takedown by the dog.

The Special Investigations Unit found the service dog behaved exactly the way it had been trained and found no basis to charge the police officer.

 

Byelection

 

A byelection is taking place today to elect the Member of Parliament who will replace Conservative MP Gord Brown who died suddenly in May.

Polls in the riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes east of Kingston will be open until 8:30 p.m.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer visited the riding on Friday to support candidate Michael Barret.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in the riding on Thursday to support Liberal candidate Mary Jean McFall.

Michelle Taylor is running for the NDP.  Lorraine Redkins is running for the Green Party and John Turmel is an independent candidate.

 

Kingston – Brockville Y Merger

 

The plans are coming together for the mergers of the YMCAs in Kingston and in Brockville.

CEO Rob Adams says it is an exciting time as the unification process takes place over the next few months.  The combined Ys will be known as the YMCA of Eastern Ontario.

A news release says the merger of the two organizations will help strengthen the YMCA’s ability to create healthier communities.

 

Utilities Kingston – Cap and Trade

 

You should be getting a break on your natural gas bill from Utilities Kingston in the New Year.

It added 3.7 cents per cubic metre to the bills of natural gas customers this year to pay for buying emission credits under the previous Ontario government’s cap and trade system.  Cap and trade has been eliminated by the Doug Ford government.  Utilities Kingston spent $4.7 million on the credits and says it expects to pay off that amount by the end of the year and eliminate the 3.7 cent per cubic metre charge.

 

Population-Housing-Employment

 

The city will be showing off the initial findings of its Population, Housing and Employment Projection Study today.

An Open House is taking place from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour.  There will be a formal presentation on how Kingston’s population is expected to grow between now and 2046 at 6pm.

City staff and the consultants who conducted the study will be on hand to answer questions.

 

Mitchell Hall

 

The newest building on the Queen’s campus will be open starting today.  The doors will open on Mitchell Hall this morning.  The university says there will be access to the central atriums and a new Starbucks location.

Three gymnasiums, two multi-purpose classrooms and the new Examination centre will also be open to host students writing tests during the fall term exam period from December 5th to the 21st.

Other areas of the building will be opened over the next two months.

Official opening ceremonies will take place in March.

Mitchell Hall was made possible through over $50 million in donations and 22 million dollars from the federal and Ontario governments.