Ontario Budget

Welcome to Ontario…where a place to grow will be the new slogan on Ontario license plates and they’ll also have a new trillium logo.

That news was confirmed in the Progressive Conservatives first budget for Ontario.

Contrary to what had been rumoured…there were no big cuts announced in the $163 billion dollar budget.

Beer and wine sales will be allowed in corner stores and big box stores.

Municipalities like Kingston will be able to decide if booze will be allowed in public areas like parks.

Hospital funding is going up by two percent…The Ontario Hospital Association had requested an increase of 3.4%.

The biggest selling point of the budget is a new tax credit for child care expenses that will rebate up to 75% of the cost of care.

The Tories peg the current deficit at $11.7 billion, and don’t expect to eliminate it until 2023-24.

 

No Conflict

A Kingston city councillor Gary Oosterhof has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the city’s integrity commissioner.  The commissioner’s report for Kingston city council’s meeting on Tuesday rejects allegations he violated the city’s code of conduct in opposing a proposed spa development at Unity and Battersea Roads.

Oosterhof has been outspoken in his opposition to the project and held meetings with a residents association opposing the plans.

The integrity commissioner’s report for council rejects all allegations and says he did not violate the code of conduct and was not in a conflict of interest.

 

Development – Dumped

The city of Kingston says a proposed development on the site of the former Marine Museum will probably be stalled indefinitely.

Kingston city council has directed city staff to officially oppose the plans for the 20 storey residential development on the key piece of downtown waterfront and staff has ended discussions with the developer.

The city says there are a number of outstanding issues involving the proposal including the fact the area is a floodplain.

 

Sword – Man Charged

A 25 year old Kingston man has been charged after a man threatened a person with two swords in the hallway of an apartment building.

Police say he was holding the swords at the ready position and began to threaten the person’s life.

The 25 year old has been charged with possession of a dangerous weapon and uttering threats.

 

Cruiser Hit

A man faces assault charges after a car backed into a police cruiser during a traffic stop on the 401 in Tyendinaga Township.

The OPP says it pulled over the vehicle for speeding around 1:45 a.m. on Thursday…and it reversed into a cruiser narrowly missing the police officers.

The 39-year-old from Oakville has been charged with two counts of assaulting a peace officer, flight from a peace officer and dangerous driving.  He has also been charged with stunt driving and driving with cannabis readily available.