Welcome to NDP Kingston!
We are the combined Federal/Provincial NDP Riding Association for Kingston & the Islands. When local residents join the New Democratic Party, they become members of this riding association.
It is our wish that all Canadians should benefit from the NDP's policies of social equality, environmental sustainability, and an economy that is both fair and effective for citizens and their families.
The NDP is also a staunch defender of the numerous public institutions in our region. These institutions represent the heart and soul of Canadian social values.
In the 2007 Provincial Election over 20% of voters in Kingston & the Islands chose Rick Downes and Ontario's NDP. This was double the support of the 2003 election.
In 2008, it is the goal of the Kingston & the Islands NDP to continue to stand up for the best interests for Kingstonians and to work to support Renee Stephen as your NDP candidate in the next Federal election.
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2008 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT
There were numerous changes to the Executive at the AGM, with just about every position going to a new member. Renée Stephen, our federal candidate, replaces Gary Wilson as President. Gary in tern replaces Richard Priestman as Financial Agent.
Richard, in addition to Ted Worth, remains on as Trustee. Ted also returns as Provincial CFO. Daniel Beals is our new Vice-President (as well as chair of the Election Planning Committee).
The two new membership positions of Membership Coordinator and Membership Administrator are being filled by Jamie Masse, who is also a delegate to Provincial Council, and Matthew Hodgetts, respectively. Ya Wen Zhang is our new Women's Representative, while Matei Savulescu and Helga Mankovitz return as Members at Large.
The positions of Labour Representative, Youth Officer, as well as a female delegate to Provincial Council remain open and any member interested in learning more about these positions is urged to contact Jamie Masse today. For a summary of changes and all contact information download a copy of our new directory.
More to follow...
Kingston & the Islands NDP News
2008 Annual General Meeting
April 24, 2008
We would just like to remind all members of our riding association for Kingston & the Islands that the 2008 Annual General Meeting will be taking place on Thursday, April 24th, 7:00PM at the Wilson Room, Kingston Frontenac Public Library.
This year's AGM will feature a visit from NDP Member of Parliament Paul Dewar, as well as distinguished members from the Ardoch Algonquin First Nations.
The AGM is a great chance for interaction with our NDP brothers and sisters, and a time to look at opportunities for change in 2008. This year, we will be holding a vote on changes to the Riding Association Constitution.
We will also be looking to nominate and elect a new Riding Association Executive, and we welcome anyone who is interested in getting involved. Please contact Jamie Masse at 613-547-6697 to learn more.
And of course, with a federal election looming, one of the most obvious opportunities for change is to get involved in the Renee Stephen Campaign. There are a number of ways to contribute - From signs, to donations, to the all-important act of volunteering. Please contact volunteer coordinator Jamie Masse to find out more, or visit www.ReneeStephen.ca.
Federal NDP Candidate Renee Stephen speaks out at Kingston’s Earth Hour
April 1, 2008
On March 29, the city of Kingston experienced its first Earth Hour event at Market Square. The evening was a fantastic success, and was full of community spirit. Thank you to all of those who showed up at Market Square to ‘Go the Extra Hour’ with us. The community spirit was real - and the will to listen and learn was just as real.
Our full appreciation is given to our federal NDP candidate Renee Stephen, Kingston city councillor Steve Garrison, Steve Lapp (St. Lawrence College), the Kingston District Labour Council, and local band Hurricane Harmony for taking part.
The following is Renee’s speech - which opened the Earth Hour event at Kingston's Market Square:
-----------------------------------------------------Earth Hour is a global event to acknowledge humanity’s influence on climate change. This is a chance to demonstrate our shared commitment to reducing the energy we use and the burden we place on the environment.
Canada is a leader in participating in Earth Hour; we have one of the highest participation rates in the world. Kingston is joining more than one-hundred-and-fifty communities across the country in turning off our lights for one hour this evening.
We’re down here tonight because small actions have big consequences. On the first annual Earth Hour last year, the city of Sydney, Australia turned out unnecessary lights and decreased that day’s energy use by ten percent. But what they also did was to kick-start a movement that has taken off in a truly spectacular way. What we have here tonight is international grassroots direct action; tonight’s Earth Hour is a symbolic effort that shows us that we can work together, from the ground up, across all borders, to make a real impact.
Obviously, one hour is not enough. Canada uses more energy per capita than any other nation on earth. And Canada is the sixth-largest energy consumer in the world. Most of our energy comes from fossil fuels, so every reduction we make in our energy use directly reduces our greenhouse-gas emissions, and reduces Canada’s impact on climate change.
I’m sure we all recycle – sorting our paper, cans, and bottles into blue and grey boxes and leaving them on the curb for the City to collect. But of the environmental “four Rs” – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover – the most important is Reduce. This is the key to combatting climate change: It’s kind of ironic that, to more, we have to do less. We have to consume less. We have to use less.
We must take the principles we’re sharing here, and put them into action in our everyday lives. We can’t stop with this one event. Turning out our lights for one hour tonight will save a truly startling amount of energy, but reducing our energy use every day will make the real difference.
Earth Hour is an effort by citizens; we can’t rely on governments to lead the way. Stephen Harper famously denied the science about climate change. Stephen Harper’s Conservative government reneged on Canada’s commitment to the Kyoto accord, to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The Conservative government slashed national programmes established to fight climate change and promote renewable energy. They are more in the dark in Parliament than we are here tonight, and the real power they waste every day is the power to show principled leadership.
The science is clear: climate change is real, it is happening, and it is caused by human actions. It is the biggest threat to the Earth’s environment that has ever existed. Public-opinion polls consistently show that Canadians care about climate change. The proof is right here, with all of us who came out tonight in the cold and dark. By turning off our lights for one hour, we are showing our leaders that it is possible to combat climate change. By participating in Earth Hour, we send a powerful message to Parliament and to the rest of the world: that we are concerned about our environment, and that we are willing to act to preserve and protect it.
It’s up to us – each and every one of us. We must take personal responsibility for reducing our energy footprint. It can be as minor as turning off unnecessary lights. Lighting uses between five and fifteen percent of electricity in homes, and one-third of electricity in offices. It can be as easy as shutting down computers and televisions when they’re not in use. These appliances use between ten and sixty percent of their total energy while in “sleep” or “stand-by” modes. It is as simple as leaving the car at home and taking the bus, cycling, or walking.
We can combat climate change. It begins here – with us – tonight – with one hour of darkness for a brighter future.
Tabuns Opens Dialogue on Energy/Economy
February 8, 2008
A great thanks goes out to everyone who attended the 'Dialogue for a New Energy Economy' event at the Kingston Public Library on January 17th. This very successful event featured Peter Tabuns, who is the MPP for Toronto-Danforth.
Mr. Tabuns addressed a standing-room only crowd of interested citizens on the inherent future possibilities for marrying necessary environmental policies with economic benefits - and the role that citizens and government must play in making it happen.
Ontario is on the brink of environmental and economic crisis - but we have a golden opportunity to shift from the costly practice of importing non-renewable resources to a thriving economy with good jobs built on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources.
Huge credit is deserved by Mr. Tabuns for taking the time to not only visit out city - but also raising the profile of the NDP in this area when it comes to discussion of the environment. New Democrat policy has much to offer on this topic, and we cannot allow the Green Party to dominate the conversation in our area. So speak out!
Additional thanks and credit must also go to Ross Sutherland for making this event a very successful reality.
*You can access our archive for Kingston & the Islands NDP News HERE.*
Learn More
Download our latest Riding Association NEWSLETTER. [Updated April 08]
Download our Riding Executive DIRECTORY. [Post-AGM Update]
Get Involved!
The Renee Stephen Campaign is working hard to prepare for a spring federal election and we need YOUR HELP!
If you are able to contribute time or money, please contact Jamie Masse, the volunteer coordinator for Renee's campaign.
Local Events
Hunger March
Join the Kingston Coalition Against Poverty (KCAP) to meet and eat at the park, before taking to the street at 5:00pm to have your voice heard.
Thurs. May 1, 2008
4:00pm - McBurney Park
FRILL Community Garden May Day Festival
Join the FRILL Community Garden for their May Day Festival and Plot Lottery. Enter the plot lottery, learn about snakes from conservationist Matt Ellerbeck and share a finger food potluck!
Sunday, May 4
1-4pm - 38 Charles Street
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The Fine Print
“At year's end, Layton is seen as more prime ministerial than his Liberal counterpart. The last time that happened, Ed Broadbent and John Turner were respectively NDP and Liberal leaders.”
Chantal Hebert
Toronto Star
12 December 2007