kingston free press vol i no 2
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
- 1 -
T H E K I N G S T O N
F R E E P R E S S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vol. I 0 ¢ No. 2 FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2016
LOCALLY OWNED, INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Where history and innovation (could) thrive?
< Riana Zandra Colbert
This is the first in a suite of articles to be published in the
Kingston Free Press with the aim of exploring and presenting a
critical portrait of the city we all call home. We will explore
some of the established goals; successes and failures; and a few of
the many visions and challenges facing our maturing city. At the
heart of this venture is an interest in participating in and
continuing the dialogue about our community with our readers.
The municipality of the City of Kingston, guided by its
strategic plans certainly has its work cut out for it, as do we as
its constituents. While it is our responsibility to inform
ourselves and take part in a constructive effort to nurture our
city and see it grow into the home that we all want it to be, it is
often hard to navigate the many forums that exist to allow us to
do so. From volunteering for city run committees, to joining
together in neighbourhood associations and other community groups.
Many initiatives and associations are concerned with the
development and growth of the city where ‘history and innovation
thrive’. We will try to present a clear picture of these and the
issues they work to solve, as well as other issues of significance
in this series.
Kingston has seen many changes from its now distant streetcar
transit system, to the new KT buses, to its developing skyline. Its
industrial and commercial profile has developed extensively over
time, and its identity continues to reveal itself.
To start off this series with a bang, let's explore some of the
downtown area chatter. Over the course of a short informal survey
of Kingston residents from various backgrounds, we came across
many different concerns from issues relating to downtown and the
direction housing developments should take, to concerns about
encouraging local business development in downtown Kingston and
managing tourism. In recent years, the area has seen many
improvements. (CONT’D 2)
- 2 -
L O C A L N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1 CONT’D) Some improvements to our downtown have been superficial
revitalization projects to beautify existing historical building
facades and street features. Other more substantial changes, like
the demolition of certain buildings and structures, and the
reinvention/revitalization of others to suit our more modern needs
have changed the look, feel and function of the downtown core.
Efforts are constantly being made to adhere to the city's
prevailing historical aesthetic while catering to the needs of its
evolving identity.
It's hard to miss the Big Dig that has been taking place on
Princess Street, and while this major upgrade to the downtown's
water, electrical and sewer infrastructure is difficult to navigate
at times, it is a necessary imposition on our downtown streets.
This activity has certainly been detrimental to some businesses in
the area of the excavation sites. Strong efforts have been made by
the Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area association -
their website offers many ideas to assist business owners from a
marketing perspective to make the best of a bad situation. Despite
these efforts on behalf of many parties to development downtown,
the project has stirred up emotions all around with some believing
very strongly that there should have been more meaningful and
direct support provided to the businesses by the BIA or even the
province or municipality itself.
Another major bone of contention continues to be what some
call the 'commercial landlord racket'. The empty storefronts that
litter downtown streets are clearly indicative of something, but
what? A widely voiced perception among residents is that this is
due to numerous small business closures, due partly to increasing
commercial rental prices and a lack of meaningful entrepreneurial
and small business support or advocacy from agencies and
associations who profess to have an interest in the economic well-
being of the city. As well, the fact that commercial property
owners are eligible to receive tax rebates on vacant properties
does not sit well with many. It is indeed hard to see how this type
of policy would inspire a sense of urgency in keeping the
properties rented. Conversely, does it make sense that the
Corporation of the City of Kingston would acquiesce to revenue
losses of this nature entirely willingly? There is definitely more
at play here than is obvious at a glance. This is not often
discussed by the voices on the street, but these voices are our
voices and a well-considered response is owed. (CONT’D 3)
- 3 -
L O C A L N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A common sight in Kingston’s downtown? (Photo: Frank Cybulski)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2 CONT’D) In addition, growing concerns about housing, both rentals
and new builds, and the interests of condo and high-rise developers
- especially in the downtown core - are very much on everybody's
mind.
Obviously any discussion of this nature would be incomplete
without a thorough examination of the positions of each of the key
parties. In this story there are complex relationships between
agencies, the municipality and the province at play amongst a
background of economic roller-coaster-ing that makes for difficult
decision-making terrain. To criticize only select parties based on
emotional bias and incomplete analysis of the issues would be
irresponsible and unproductive so the groundwork for more
complete analysis has been laid.
A follow-up to this article will necessarily include hard
investigation and analysis and as sober reasoning as is possible in
order present a clearer picture. If anything is clear, it is that
this is a city experiencing growing pains. Still the city continues
to attract more and more attention to itself by virtue of its many
merits: the many accomplishments of its residents, its natural
beauty and history combine to shape the city we all live in.
- 4 -
L O C A L N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Misconceptions of poverty in government and society
< Katie McNeill
There are a great deal of misconceptions surrounding Ontario
Disability and welfare programs: many assume that they are
personally paying to support freeloaders, who are taking advantage
of a government funded luxury. As a woman who grew up on welfare
and eventually disability, I am extremely offended by the
ignorance of many Canadians over what they believe is a free ride.
In 2001, my mother and I were in a life altering car accident.
At the time, she had a well-paying, full time job at Bombardier
Transit. A single parent with one child, we lived in our house -
which she owned - and were a very active outgoing family unit.
When you become disabled you do not initially qualify for
ODSP, unless your disability is obvious - chronic back pain, or a
mental illness makes application difficult. In 2004, no longer able
to work through the pain, my mother was forced to sell her house
and spend the money from the sale before she could qualify for
welfare; she was also forced to pay down and cancel all lines of
credit, and our life insurance policies.
The transition from homeowner to homeless was shocking. After
spending our money paying high rents, our only prospect was
moving into a cheap motel. While living transitionally as guests
at separate houses, our case was accepted by housing - our
circumstances were considered dire. This is no longer the case; the
wait list is on average 4 years, regardless of your situation. In
2015 the number of families, couples, single adults, and seniors
waiting for geared-to-income housing is 168,711.
Many people don’t qualify for public housing, even though they
are on welfare or ODSP. Most lone person households receive
roughly $1,000-$1200 a month. If you’re unlucky and forced to live
in squalor, you are still looking at paying anywhere from $700-
$1,000 in rent, leaving very little financial room to feed
yourself, much less dig yourself out of poverty.
We were extremely fortunate to have moved into a townhouse.
My mother’s disability makes it hard for her to open fire safe
doors in apartments as they’re too heavy for her to lift of her
own. Many people don’t have a choice; neither do they get a choice
of how many bedrooms they have. Depending on the age and gender
of your children, you may have to fit four or five people in a
two-bedroom apartment. Many children in the north end of Kingston
sleep in their living rooms on couches. (CONT’D 5)
- 5 -
L O C A L N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4 CONT’D) This new house still wasn’t a walk in the park. It had
been built during the late 1960’s and was filthy despite the paint
and wax job housing had done. A few families in the neighborhood
were bad eggs; I had never seen a SWAT team in full action until I
lived in the Heights. As a middle class family put below the
poverty line, it was hard to swallow.
Some are single parent households, many are employed full
time but can’t support themselves. Housing’s rent is capped at
$700-$800 a month and is income-based going as low as $80. Welfare
cheques are also not always reliable; they balance payments wrong
frequently. We had even been threatened with eviction when
Housing hadn’t received direct payments from Welfare.
When I was 16, I began working and my income was added to
cover household expenses. I continued to support my mother and
myself up until my returning year of Grade 12 where I worked
full-time. When I applied for OSAP, I was penalised for not having
saved that money for school, and when I was attending college,
ODSP miscalculated payments to my mother and sent her a total
geared towards a one parent, one child household. When I came back
I was informed that I owed $6000 - a total which wrongfully
included support payments. I did not return to school.
As a child of someone on welfare, when you turn 18 and are not
enrolled in secondary education, you are considered a roommate by
housing, welfare, and disability. You must either move out or pay
rent. This means your parent’s cheque will be deducted and your
geared to income rent will increase depending on the percentage of
your income. As of 2014 Ontario cuts 50% of the recipients’
earnings after $200; when I moved home in 2009 there was no
deductible. Working minimum wage at $9.50/hour - just under
$14,000 annually - I was supporting my mother and myself with
our rent raised and her cheque cut almost in half. This cycle of
poverty traps many children and cripples a new generation.
To date, although I am a young adult with my own apartment, I
still assist my mother with her cost of living. We share many
expenses that she could not afford with her allowance of $600 a
month (after rent). I cover the cost of her car so she can remain
mobile, and I frequently assist with groceries and home cooked
meals so that her diet at the end of the month is healthy.
This ‘last resort’ program hardly supports those forced to use
it. I know that in the future, as my mother gets older and is
shifted to an old age pension, she will become my dependant.
- 6 -
N A T I O N A L N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pension increases pass the bill to future generations
< Frank Cybulski
During the 2015 election campaign, the Trudeau Liberals
campaigned upon a reversal of the Conservatives’ policy of
increasing eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS) pensions from 65
to 67 years old. The recently released first budget from the
Liberals followed through on this promise, bringing it back to the
original age of 65. While this may be good news to the waves of
Baby Boomers retiring, the increased costs of this measure will
increase the bill to Canadian taxpayers by an estimated $266
billion by 2060 according to the Office of the Chief Actuary.
This policy places the responsibility for paying these pensions
upon the tax revenues generated from younger working Canadians,
already faced with an extremely difficult labour market, increases
in tuition costs vastly outstripping inflation, and an overheated
housing market. With rising life expectancy and decreasing birth
rates, the ratio of workers to retirees will decrease from 4.4 in
2010 to 2.2 in 2030. Rather than investing in young Canadians and
ensuring they are capable of supplying the necessary tax revenue,
the government has chosen to supplement the future incomes of
more financially secure generations.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ontario Liberals respond to fundraising review
< Frank Cybulski
An investigation by the Toronto Star recently exposed massive
fundraising targets set for Kathleen Wynne’s cabinet ministers to
the tune of up to $500,000 per year. The Ontario Liberals have
used private high-cost fundraising dinners to raise funds for
their war-chest. Corporate and union donations are forbidden in
federal politics due to reforms implemented by the Conservatives,
but such donations are perfectly acceptable in Ontario.
While the premier has promised action on this issue, including
“transitioning away from corporate and union donations,” the
Ontario Liberals have held power for thirteen years and during
this time have used high donation limits and donation loopholes to
raise large amounts of cash from corporate donors with obvious
conflicts of interest; is it acceptable for the Finance Minister to
seek donations from major banks? A March 26th Forum Research
poll showed that Kathleen Wynne’s approval rating is sitting at
20%; such platitudes may not be enough to placate growing public
discontent with her management of Canada’s largest province.
- 7 -
N A T I O N A L N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ode to A.B. v Canada
< Riana Zandra Colbert
The month of March is a time of celebration and growth. It
marks the beginning of spring and the end of the cold darkness of
winter. On March 17, 2016, while many of us were imbibing the
spirits of Ireland, the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto ruled
in favour of granting a terminally ill elderly man's petition for
the first Physician Assisted Suicide in Ontario. Known only as A.B.
due to a publication ban protecting his identity, we pay our
respects to a pioneer of sorts.
A.B. was required to meet the following criteria, which define
one's eligibility to access a physician assisted death:
1. The person is a competent adult person;
2. The person has a grievous and irremediable medical condition
including an illness, disease or disability;
3. The person’s condition is causing him or her to endure
intolerable suffering;
4. His or her suffering cannot be alleviated by any treatment
available that he or she finds acceptable; and,
5. The person clearly consents to the termination of life.
Provisions 14 and 241(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada were
found to violate an individual's right to life, liberty and security
of the person as guaranteed by s. 7 of the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms (Carter-2015) in 2015. Unfortunately, due to the intervention of last years’ lengthy election process which
impeded the government’s ability to draft new legislation not in
contravention of these rights, there is currently a suspension of the declaration of invalidity of the offending provisions of the
Criminal Code in place to allow the newly elected federal
government sufficient time to draft said legislation.
It remains illegal until June 2016 to request a Physician
Assisted Death without criminal code exemption, thus few are
likely to follow in A.B.’s path for the time being. The full
decision and informative background detail is available online and
very worth reading for anyone who still lives.
It is with solemn admiration and appreciation that I write this
announcement. With his last days, an old man known only as AB,
who’s whole was life was laid out in open court as evidence for his
conviction and desire to master his own destiny and secure his
right to die in the manner of his own choosing, not in indignity
and not in unnecessary pain.
- 8 -
W O R L D N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Photo: Patrick Kelley via wikipedia.org)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Some common sense on climate change
< Laureline Sangalli
There is a lot of debate about climate change. The debate
however, takes place on the political stage, as scientists have
already reached a consensus that indeed the climate is changing.
One thing we should not forget is the fact that science folk
working on these types of planetary scale problems come from
hundreds of different science institutes, training backgrounds,
countries and cultures and, like most people, rarely agree on
anything easily without arguments or proof. Therefore, the idea
that there is a scientific collusion to lie about such an important
and impactful issue is ludicrous. So what is really happening?
Well, the only thing we can do is look back at the data we have
been collecting for the last few decades and draw the most likely
conclusions based on it. Satellites have been monitoring the Earth
since the late 1970s, measuring, amongst other things, the extent
of Arctic sea ice. As the year unfolds, sea ice builds up in the
winter and starts melting in the spring. Over the last three
decades the area of sea ice has steadily but surely decreased. As of
March 2016, Arctic sea ice is over 1 million square kilometres
below average (or 630 million hockey rinks in Canadian units and
twice Texas in American ones). (CONT’D 9)
- 9 -
W O R L D N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dion on the defensive over Saudi arms sale
< Frank Cybulski
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion defended the $15
billion sale of LAV III armoured personnel carriers by London,
Ontario’s General Dynamics to Saudi Arabia this week. Mr. Dion
claimed that “breaking (the contract) would lead to damaging
consequences”, would put 2,000 Canadian jobs at risk, and that
“similar equipment would almost certainly be sold to Saudi Arabia
by a company in another country.”
Dion’s remarks aroused a wave of criticism from all angles.
Louise Arbour, formerly of the UN High Commission on Human
Rights and the Supreme Court of Canada, claimed Mr. Dion’s
assertion that someone else would sell the weapons was “the
weakest argument” and was “the least convincing”. Numerous
journalists from multiple Canadian media outlets are continuing
the investigation into the sale. Amnesty International also
recently called for an arms embargo against the Saudis, stating
that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen “will only worsen unless
all states immediately impose a comprehensive embargo on arms
transfers that could be used by any of the warring parties.”
It is clear that Canada, like many Western states, cares more
for the funds to be gained by selling arms than the humanitarian
consequences of selling these arms. There is too much at stake for
the government and voters at home to worry about the Middle East.
Though treaties and policies exist to forbid sales to repressive
regimes, only lip service is paid to them. If one sells a weapon
that is used to kill innocents, is the seller morally responsible?
This is a question the Hon. Stephane Dion and the rest of the
Liberal government seems quite content to ignore.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(8 CONT’D) So what does this mean? Well, it means that something at
a planetary scale is going on affecting one of the most sensitive
area of the Earth climate-wise. But, last winter in my neck of the
woods was colder you might say. Unfortunately, what politicians
bank on and scientists are often poor at explaining is that global
and local effects can be different. The climate is a very complex
system, and a disruption on the scale of the whole planet can have
counterintuitive effects. It is not a straightforward issue;
ultimately the planet will be just fine. However, the bigger
question and why climate scientists are worried is how these
changes will affect human activity and quality of life.
- 10 -
W O R L D N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brazilian protests gain momentum
< Frank Cybulski
Anti-government protestors of both left and right wing
varieties took to the streets of 236 Brazilian cities on March
13th, with police and other sources reporting 3.5 million
protestors nationwide and over 1 million in Sao Paulo alone.
United primarily to their opposition to the sitting president,
Dilma Rousseff, protestors voiced concerns over the country’s deep
recession, a pandemic of corruption, and supported the ongoing
effort to impeach the president.
In a move that further enraged the Brazilian public, the
president appointed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as
her chief of staff in order to block him from an ongoing police
investigation; an audio recording of a conversation between the two
detailing this arrangement has fed further protests. The judiciary
responded by placing an injunction immediately after the
appointment was rushed into place.
With members of the governing coalition wavering in their
support for the president and impeachment proceedings ongoing, the
Brazilian government looks increasingly unstable. Any successor to
Rousseff would have significant challenges in restoring economic
and political stability to the South American country.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wave of bombings attacks multiple countries
< Frank Cybulski
Terrorists attacked a number of different countries in the
month of March in deadly incidents that claimed the lives of
numerous civilians. A bombing at a resort in Grand Bassam, Ivory
Coast killed at least 18 people and injured 33 on March 13th. The
same day in Turkey’s capital Ankara, 37 people were killed and 125
injured at a crowded bus stop when a car bomb exploded. The
Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) claimed responsibility following a
previous attack in February, and another bombing took place
shortly afterwards in Istanbul. On March 22nd in Brussels,
Belgium, three suicide bombers with nail bombs attacked the city’s
airport and a subway station, killing 32 civilians and injuring
over 300. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks, leading to a
security crackdown in the home of the European Parliament.
Finally, in Lahore Pakistan on Easter Sunday, a splinter group of
the Pakistani Taliban attacked a fun fair filled with Christian
children, killing at least 69 and injuring 341.
- 11 -
B U S I N E S S & F I N A N C E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exchange Rates
1 U.S. dollar
1 U.K. pound
1 Euro
1 Australian dollar
1 Japanese yen
1 Chinese yuan
1 Bitcoin
Stock Markets
S&P/TSX Comp.
Dow Jones
Nasdaq 100
FTSE 100
Nikkei 225
Shanghai Comp.
CAC 40
DAX
MICEX
SENSEX
KOSPI
Commodities (NYME)
Gold (1 t/oz)
Silver (1 t/oz)
Lumber (1000 bd/ft)
Crude Oil (1 bbl)
Sugar (1 lb)
Wheat (1 bushel)
Corn (1 bushel)
Rice (1 cw)
Cotton (1 lb)
Coffee (1 lb)
Soybean (1 bushel)
Economic Indicators
Unemployment (Feb)
Participation (Feb)
CPI (Feb)
Real GDP (Jan)
GoC 10yr Bond
Baltic Dry Index
1.30 CAD
1.87 CAD
1.48 CAD
0.99 CAD
0.012 CAD
0.21 CAD
542.54 CAD
13,526 pts
17,668 pts
4,484.53 pts
6,176 pts
16,279 pts
2,998.30 pts
4,389 pts
9,967 pts
1,868.74 pts
25,407 pts
1,983.90 pts
1231.3 USD
15.39 USD
310.70 USD
38.07 USD
0.15 USD
4.73 USD
3.52 USD
9.66 USD
0.5828 USD
1.27 USD
9.09 USD
7.3%
65.9%
127.1
$1,670B
1.23%
429
% Change (M/Y)
+3.7% / +3.1%
+1.1% / -0.1%
-0.7% / -8.5%
-1.1% / -4.8%
+1.4% / -11.4%
+0.1% / -0.1%
+9.3% / -41.4%
% Change (M/Y)
+5.5% / -9.5%
+6.8% / -0.3%
+6.8% / +3.7%
+2.2% / -9.0%
+1.6% / -15.4%
+11.5% / -21.5%
+0.8% / -13.8%
+5.0% / -17.2%
+1.39% / +11.1%
+11.0% / -10.1%
+3.4% / -0.3%
% Change (M/Y)
-0.7% / +2.5%
+3.4% / -8.0%
+22.7% / +12.3%
+12.7% / -22.9%
+15.4% / +26.4%
+6.3% / -11.7%
-0.3% / -9.3%
-7.6% / -11.1%
-0.9% / -6.3%
+7.6% / -3.2%
+6.4% / -7.8%
% Change (M/Y)
+0.1% / +0.4%
+0.0 / +0.1%
+0.3% / +1.4%
+0.6% / +1.3%
+0.04 / -0.9%
+31.2% / -28.0%
- 12 -
E D I T O R I A L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The crumbling edifice of American politics
< Frank Cybulski
As the United States slowly moves towards the choice of its
Republican and Democrat presidential candidates, some disturbing
trends have emerged. Extremism has become a flavour of the times,
particularly with the rise of Donald Trump, with his legions of
somewhat aggressive supporters. Trump has made major inroads with
right-wing Americans with his vociferous attacks on illegal
immigrants, and demands that Mexico pay for the construction of a
wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, demands which have damaged
relations between the countries. Bernie Sanders has also split the
Democrats, with his emphasis on the expansion of social programmes
and more overtly socialist policies.
With popular candidates on the edges of the mainstream parties,
the United States is approaching a fragmentation of the existing
parties: from left to right, the socialist-leaning supporters of
Bernie Sanders, the establishment Democrats in Hillary Clinton’s
camp, the establishment Republicans with their various candidates,
and the virulent fans of Donald Trump. These candidates represent
distinct factions that are incompatible with the idea of ‘big tent’
political parties. Whether this split occurs in 2016 or not, the
writing is on the wall: the two party system is nearing collapse.
- 13 -
E D I T O R I A L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rebuilding Canada’s railways
< Frank Cybulski
The construction of Canada’s transcontinental railway lines was
essential to the development and settlement of massive tracts of
territory. At the start of the First World War, there were three
major railways linking east to west. Giving Canadian farmers an
export route for their grain, and settlers a way into the Prairies,
Canada could not have been built without them. This network was of
immense use in both world wars, and also enabled the rise of
Canadian manufacturing in the postwar period, but has long
struggled with profitability.
These railways have been slowly cannibalised since this time.
Fraught with financial troubles from unprofitable routes, and
divested of passenger service with the creation of VIA Rail in
1970, Canada’s railroads are a shadow of their former omnipresent
selves. The closure of strategically important lines in the Ottawa
Valley and through Northern Ontario has channeled all Canadian
rail traffic through the GTA, a diversion that adds large amounts
of greenhouse gasses due to trains taking indirect routes. Other
regions, particularly the Maritimes, have had a severe decline in
both passenger and freight service in recent decades.
Canada’s two Class I railways, Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)
and Canadian National Railway (CNR), have both engaged in cost-
cutting measures to maintain profitability. CP recently announced
layoffs of 1,000 jobs in the wake of previous belt-tightening. CN
has thrived primarily due to the success of its American
operations, and has also reduced much of its Canadian
infrastructure. Transport Canada has also seen a decline in its
ability to enforce rail safety legislation, even after the
horrifying wake-up call that was the disaster at Lac Megantic. VIA
Rail’s passenger service outside the Windsor-Quebec City corridor
has long been infrequent, remote, and expensive. All railway
providers continue to be heavily reliant upon polluting diesel
locomotives rather than investing in electric propulsion. The
decline in the capability of Canada’s passenger and freight rail
service poses significant issues going forward.
Railways are a comparatively cost-effective and eco-friendly
way of moving people and goods, and will continue to be so for the
foreseeable future. Bold investments by a government inclined to
rebuild infrastructure might yield impressive results if a
coordinated railway strategy were implemented.
- 14 -
A R T S & E N T E R T A I N M E N T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brian’s Pick of the Month
< Brian Lipsin
One Christmas, many years ago, an owner of a store down the
street came into my store and asked me for a nutcracker! I sort of
looked at her oddly and wondered why she should come into a music
store and ask for a nutcracker. I said to her a few times, “I beg
your pardon?” and she repeated her request. I happened to have an
old fashioned nutcracker under my counter for such an emergency;
I found it and handed it to her. She looked at me weird-like and
asked me what this was for. I responded with the words: “You asked
me for a nutcracker and that’s what I’m giving you.” “No stupid,”
she retorted, “What I asked you for was Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker
Suite.” Red-faced, I retrieved it from the classical section.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the early 70’s I took a year off from university and spent
the year in Europe on $5 a day. When I was in a small town in
southern Spain, I found myself in a urinal minding my own
business when a man next to me was whistling a familiar tune. I
looked over at him and said, “You are into John Prine also?” I
thought I was the only one in the world who knew of him. The man
looked over at me and said exactly the same thing. We ended up
having a beer together and decided to venture into Madrid. Many
years later I happened to meet John Prine backstage in Denver
Colorado and proceeded to tell him this story; he smiled from ear
to ear.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane was in an art gallery in
northern California selling her paintings, and someone I knew was
in line to retrieve her autograph. A young kid was ahead of him in
line and he gave her a piece of paper anticipating her signature.
She looked down at him and told him she would only sign postcards
bought directly from her, but if the kid would buy one of her
paintings worth thousands of dollars she would as a bonus have
intercourse with him. Everyone laughed as the kid took off without
her autograph. (CONT’D 15)
- 15 -
A R T S & E N T E R T A I N M E N T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wolfe Island Music Festival cancelled for 2016
< Frank Cybulski
The organisers of the Wolfe Island Music Festival announced on
Monday, March 21st that the festival was cancelled for 2016, citing
financial troubles. Last year’s festival encountered significant
issues due to the lack of the larger Wolfe Islander III ferry and
the use of the more distant winter dock. In addition, the number of
festivals close to Eastern Ontario has expanded in recent years,
giving increased competition for the WIMF. Plans are in the works
for fundraising shows for the 2016 season to help raise funds and
bring the festival back in 2017 in all its full glory.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(14 CONT’D) For a year or so, people would come into the store and
say, “So you were at the Kel Mo concert in Montreal,” and I would
always say to them, “Oh, you were there too!” They would retort,
“No, we saw you on TV when they broadcast the concert.”
I remember going to see Kel Mo and we were sitting in the
ninth row; from time to time, I felt lights in my eyes. A few
years later I happened to catch the concert on cable, and now I
know why people had seen me. Throughout the show, the camera must
have caught me numerous times picking my nose, scratching my
head, or beard, and so on. How embarrassing!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Saturday, April 16th: Record Store Day at Brian’s Record Option
Here are some of the vinyls coming in on Record Store Day -
get your orders in soon!
- Florence + The Machine, ‘Delilah/Only Love Can Break Your
Heart’, 12”
- Johnny Cash, ‘All Aboard The Blue Train’, 12”
- NOFX, ‘Sid & Nancy’, 7”
- Dizzy Gillespie, ‘The Champ’, 12”
- Death Cab For Cutie, ‘Tractor Rape Chain / Black Sun’, 7”
- Regina Spektor, ‘Begin To Hope’, double 12”
- Tom Petty, ‘Kiss My Amps’, double 12”
- Joan Jett, ‘Sinner’, 12”
- Frank Turner, ‘Positive Songs For Negative People’, 12”
- Emmylou Harris, ‘Wrecking Ball’, triple 12”
- Bob Dylan, ‘Melancholy Mood’, 7”
- Cheap Trick, ‘Found New Parts, 10”
- John Coltrane, ‘The Roulette Sides’, 10”
- Phish, ‘Hoist’, double 12”
- 16 -
A R T S & E N T E R T A I N M E N T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What’s Going On?
The Grad Club
- Saturday, April 2nd @ 9:00pm - Soul Shakedown
$8 before 10:30pm / $10 after; proceeds supporting the Artel.
DJs spinning tropical beats and deep bass / reggae, cumbria, and
klezmer / electronic, house, hip-hop, and more.
- Friday, April 22nd @ 9:00pm - HIGHS / Sad Boys Glee Club
$13 in advance; alt-pop / folk, alt-country
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Mansion
- Mondays @ 9:00pm - Jonas Lewis-Anthony
No cover; solo acoustic, folk, and rock
- Sundays @ 9:00pm - Logan Brown
No cover; solo acoustic jazz, soul, R&B, folk rock, funk blues
- Thursday, April 14th @ 9:00pm - The Diaries / Velvet Noise
/ Ted Evans
$5 cover at the door; rockabilly/punk/soul.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Grand Theatre
- Tuesday, April 26th @ 7:30pm - Joel Plaskett Emergency
Canada’s indie-rock heartthrob and the pride of Dartmouth!
Tickets available through the Grand Theatre box office.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Musiikki Cafe
- Sunday nights - Kingston Drum Circle @ 6:00pm and Soul
Jams with the John Torres Project @ 8:00pm
- Monday nights - Stormy Mondays with the John Torres
Project @ 8:00pm
- Tuesday nights - Open Mic Experience @ 8:00pm; come out and
be heard!
- Wednesday nights - Folk Wednesdays with John McLurg and
Chris Morris @ 8:00pm
- Friday, April 1st - Jam Jump #6 with the Royal Drifters @
8:00pm; garage rock
- Friday, April 15th - Johnny San @ 8:00pm; acoustic
- Friday, April 8th - Dennis Ross @ 8:00pm; upbeat folk
- Saturday, April 23rd - Andrew Mack Band @ 8:00pm;
indie folk rock
- Thursday, April 28th - Pictogram @ 8:00;
experimental jazz fusion
- 17 -
C O M M U N I T Y & C U L T U R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Letters to Laura
< Laura Garcia-Cervantes
Dear L, One of my oldest and dearest friends has grown distant.
We have known each other since Grade 9, and now, 13 years later, I
feel she is too busy for me. We’ve always been there for each
other, but lately I don’t think she thinks of me as HER best
friend when I still consider her to be mine. She says she’s busy,
that she misses me and wishes we could hang out, but plans keep
falling through. I just don’t feel like a priority in her life
anymore. What do I do? - Forgotten Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dear Friend, most adult friendships come and go depending on
where one is emotionally, or even geographically. Your best
friend, though, falls into a different category entirely. You
bonded and shared each other’s secrets through some of the most
awkward young adult stages: puberty, first loves, breakups, break-
outs, first jobs, ugly haircuts, first time getting drunk... the list
goes on. People change, and individuals need to be nourished by
others with similar interests to grow as a person. Perhaps what your friend needs right now is to experience life without the pressure of someone knowing who they were when they
didn’t have their life together. It can be tough to hang out with
someone who, without malicious intent, references now and then to
painful memories or other embarrassing choices made as a youth. Life gets hectic as an adult; suddenly, you sit back and realize you haven’t hung out with certain important people in months, or
even years. It’s not as easy as when you were a kid, and forced to
sit in the same classroom for up to 8 hours a day. Making friends
when you’re 16 is so much easier, and it can be scary to realize
your friendships aren’t the same as they used to be. Don’t lose hope; she misses you. When you two do see each other again, it’ll be like no time has passed. If life is busy, or she isn’t
making enough time for you, then plan in advance! See if she has
an open weekend in the next few months - plan a small road trip,
or spa getaway. Something fun, without pressure, just to let loose
for a couple of days. Don’t let it get you down. Try giving new
friendships a try yourself. Keep an eye out for bulletin boards
around town with advertisements for clubs or socials. Maybe you'll
discover new friends, and with time, new best friends. Stay open.
You never know who may enter your life, because they could be
exactly what you need.
- 18 -
C O M M U N I T Y & C U L T U R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Art” Local
< Joey Graff
The promise of spring is in the air. You can smell it as the
last mounds of snow start to melt and the bold begin to don their
short sleeves. For myself I find that spring in Kingston gets me
thinking about one thing: Kingston summer. Soon the downtown will
see patios scattered in and around the Big Dig, humid nights will
bring promise of beautiful mornings, and the population along the
waterfront will steadily increase. Events scattered throughout the
warmer months bring in something new to do almost every week.
Restaurants will put out their sandwich boards advertising good
food, good company and encouraging us to eat local.
As I reflect on how much and how joyful Kingston is in the
summer, I cannot help but think about the music, the theatre, the
artwork, and the festivals that celebrate the arts in our beautiful
city. Behind all of these events, there are so many individuals and
collectives who work tirelessly to bring us in contact with the
creative pursuits; the more I look, the more I find. There is music
everywhere in this city. From large venues like the K-Rock Centre
and the Grand, to smaller shows at the Mansion, Blue Martini, or
Musiikki, there are musical artists appealing to all tastes. Artist
Galleries such as the Union Street Gallery, the Artists’ Alley on
Wellington, and Studio 22 all provide venues for visual arts.
Theatre is growing and with it we can see everything from
Broadway classics to locally devised pieces about Kingston. This is
not to mention the dance studios, the festivals, story-telling,
artisans, poetry, literary art... I could go on for much longer than
this piece would provide. It is uplifting to look at all that there
is to offer in this city.
So why do I feel out of touch?
Unfortunately, I believe that this disconnect rests solely on
my own shoulders. Often times I come home to sit on my chair, eat
dinner and turn on Netflix for the latest season of whatever is
available this week. There are many times that I have had the free
time or opportunity to go and experience what the city’s artistic
community has to offer, but have chosen to “stay in”. I have heard
too often, discussions of the shows I “should have seen”, or that I
“regret missing” escape my mouth. It is something that I hope to
change.
Appreciating the arts does take more effort than plugging in
and tuning out. It requires your presence and it needs (CONT’D 19)
- 19 -
C O M M U N I T Y & C U L T U R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In memoriam: the Sleepless Goat Cafe
< Frank Cybulski
The Sleepless Goat was put down this month in the final
conclusion to their long-time struggle with the Man. The Goat had
been ill for some time from a number of ailments, including winter
doldrums, the third round of Kingston’s Big Dig, some inconsiderate
dolts downloading HBO shows and their resulting loss of wifi,
their inability to get their liquor licence renewed, and the
deteriorating state of the building. Though cooperative members
donated significant amounts of their time and resources to keeping
the Goat alive, their hard work was not enough.
While they often had noble intentions (e.g. helping feed
Kingston’s burgeoning homeless population) such actions hardly
helped their bottom line; and while welcoming to some
disenfranchised groups, they could display hostility to those they
did not care for. As well, the cooperative’s turnover and strict
adherence to non-hierarchical organisation made transitioning to
and training new members difficult, and left it with a lack of
experience and leadership.
Despite its flaws (or perhaps because of them) the Goat will be
missed. So many first dates, coffee meetings, study sessions, and
plain old escaping for caffeine, sustenance, and warmth occurred
within its walls, but it seems the Goat had reached its time.
Perhaps it is best to remember it at its peak rather than document
its decline. Current members of the cooperative declined to be
interviewed for this piece due to ongoing legal proceedings - looks
like the Man won this round after all.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(18 CONT’D) your attention. Supporting it means that you have to
reach outside of yourself and spend your time to experience it.
This is especially true at the local level. The harsh reality of
local art that comes from the community is that without the
support from the community it simply disappears.
I plan this summer to “Art Local”. I want to take in as much
as this city has to offer me and experience the wealth of talent
and work that its citizens put into their art. I want to be present
and seek out the creative work of those brave enough to bring it
forward. I am excited to reconnect with a community that is
brimming with vivacity and passion, and whether you are a long
standing member of Kingston or are here for the first time, I hope
that you’ll join me.
- 20 -
P R O S E & P O E T R Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Newfoundland
< Ashley Newton
There can be no telling
what I’ll do when she leaves
for the East Coast harbours
and lures happiness in that way
. she does.
She told me just last night
she was due to leave come . .
. Spring,
a season too far to consider
with this recent lack of energy.
Winter hisses and pulls its . .
. weight
in ensuring my distaste
for the upcoming change.
The longer the truth settles in,
the more it feels like droplets
of hot lava are burning my . .
. pores
and tearing through me once .
. more.
It does not keep me warm at all.
If this is where we’re meant to
. go
Her life will bloom when she .
. sees
that first sunrise upon the . .
. docks.
She’ll float on the ocean;
I’ll drink from the lake.
Our days together will be . . .
. scarce,
Imprudent with poor planning
but full of so much love.
When she makes it to the . . .
. coastline
and stands on verdant land,
billowing hills abound,
I hope she finds euphoria
in the skies and slivers.
And I hope by then
our tiresome and trifling paths
will reconsider joining again.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oranges
< Beatrice Keeler
I hate buying fruit at the grocery store. I have to spend at
least 5 minutes feeling almost every piece because they can’t be
too hard, or too soft. With peaches, this is really important. Same
with oranges. There’s nothing worse than a dried out orange.
“Are you done?” said the lady in the purple coat who kept
leaving her stupid cart in the middle of the aisle so no one could
get by.
“Almost.” I said.
“Is it that difficult to pick an orange?” she said.
“Is it that difficult to wait your turn?” I said.
There’s this rule of driving where you shouldn’t honk or flip
people off because you never know if the other driver is a
psychopath and will follow you home to kill you. The same rule
applies to grocery store interactions. (CONT’D 21)
- 21 -
P R O S E & P O E T R Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sleepless Knights
< Tracie Morgan
Bedbugs and black spores
joust for ownership
of limb and lung.
Down a crumbling
stone staircase
men with faces as hardened
as the concrete floor
wrestle another casualty.
Another has expired
in the dungeon
but no one seems surprised.
They have seen this happen
seven times before...
this year alone.
His cell is already promised
to another broken
warrior of the street,
who will pay for his hovel
with a king's ransom.
And he will be grateful
To the Jailor.
All who reside
beyond that archway are broken.
Broken by illusions
of crystal bliss.
Broken by their
trickster minds.
Ground down by
scornful faces with
eyes unwilling
to see past
their own puny struggles.
From castle to carriage to
counting house we scurry like
rats.
We crave recognition
while they remain nameless.
And in the marketplace,
their cries for mercy
fall silent, unnoticed
amid a sea of bleating and
barking and crowing.
Solemnly, a sheet is drawn
over a sunken face,
another fallen Knight
of the Order of the Invisible.
Outside the archway,
life goes on.
It's another sunny day
in the City of the King.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(20 CONT’D) “I’ll find a new place to put that orange if you don’t
start talking to me with a little respect.” she said. A 60 something
year old woman just threatened to shove an orange up my ass.
“Excuse me?” I said.
“Did I stutter?” she said.
“Take your frigging oranges, you crazy bat!” I threw the
oranges I’d spent too much time picking at her feet and turned
around. She pushed me. My head hit the side of the orange barrel
and I fell to the ground. When I rolled over, she had picked up my
oranges, put them in her cart, and was already walking away.
- 22 -
C L A S S I F I E D S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A special thanks to our loving supporters:
Brian’s Record Option
Used & New Records, Tapes,
CDs, Posters, Sheet Music
Buy - Sell - Trade
381 Princess St. Kingston ON
613-542-2452
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Musiikki Cafe
Coffee - Music - Whiskey
Live music every night @ 8pm
73 Brock St. Kingston ON
613-542-2233
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Screening Room
Independent Movie Theatre
A First Rate Show
at a Modest Price
120 Princess St. Kingston ON
613-542-6080
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CFRC 101.9FM
Kingston’s only non-profit,
volunteer-powered campus &
community radio station.
613-533-CFRC
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alchemy House Jewellery
Kingston’s newest destination
for handmade custom jewellery
190 Princess St. Kingston ON
613-766-3207
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Martello Alley
Ontario’s only art-themed
historic alley showcasing
original and printed artwork.
Great value for great art!
203B Wellington St Kingston ON
613-767-2966
Novel Idea
Kingston’s Independent
Bookstore
Fiction & Nonfiction
156 Princess St. Kingston ON
613-546-9799
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Grad Club
A Kingston Institution
Since 1963
162 Barrie St. Kingston ON
613-546-3427
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Permaculture Kingston
A community group interested
in learning permaculture design
and techniques to be applied on
a small or large scale.
http://permaculturekingston.com
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kingston Frameworks
Custom Framing, Art Prints
& Posters, and Gallery
189 Princess St. Kingston ON
613-546-1868
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Queens Events
Connecting Queens students,
faculty, staff, and alumni with
the Kingston community!
http://www.queensevents.ca
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Joe’s M.I.L.L.
Over 750 musical instruments
available for loan!
Lending since 2001.
http://www.joesmill.org
110, 370 King St. W Kingston ON
613-549-5637
- 23 -
C L A S S I F I E D S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Personals, Free & For Sale, Help Wanted
Interested? < [email protected]
One identity for sale; credit
not great, nice pictures on IDs.
Full OHIP benefits!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Found: smashed Android phone
placed on porch on Colborne St.
March 18th. Maybe it’s still
there?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lazy Queens students: will pick
up all your empties before
move-out day. Have own
shopping cart.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Help wanted: content manager &
partner for exciting real
estate start-up in Kingston.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tenuously employed, emotionally
needy white they seeks passive
employed type with a car. Take
care of me and drive me places?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Large table, white oval shaped.
Gross, but once it’s cleaned
it’ll be fine. $20 OBO.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lauren C: Personal Trainer
Individualized training
programs. Great rates, great
results.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Optoma projector, excellent
working condition, needs new
lamp. Six years old, reasonable
offers considered.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wanted: antique couch. Will pay.
Slate tiles, mostly intact, good
for garden path or small patio.
Free, pickup on Hamilton St.
White house, green trim.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IKEA bed frame, queen size,
$100 OBO; bring your own
mattress.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Two pound volume tea tins, $3
each, great for organising.
Excellent used condition.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Watches for sale, corner of
Princess and Wellington, black
trench coat. You tap, I flash.
No refunds, no warranties.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Baby spider plants - my house
is a jungle, yours for the
taking. Downtown, pickup only,
comes in own moldy baby food
jar full of water.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9/10F seeks wealthy, not less
than 6/10M for real estate
ventures and fulfilling
partnership.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ouija board still available.
Plants are dying and cat hisses
at it, lights keep flickering,
but I'm pretty sure it’s just a
coincidence. Please take.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wanted: laser printer with
toner capable of duplex
printing.
- 24 -
The Kingston Free Press was founded in 2015 to provide a free,
alternative source for news, events, arts, and opinion.
FREE CONTENT, FREE PUBLICATION, FREE PRESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Illustration: Benoit Gravel, 2012)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Submissions?
73 Brock St., Kingston ON K7L 1R8
All works reproduced with permission from the authors. The
editors reserve the right to edit for content and format. The
opinions expressed herein belong to their respective authors and
do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kingston Free Press.
Help Prevent Waste - Pass It Along!
Printed on 100% recycled paper.
(C) 2015, 2016 The Kingston Free Press