Employees at Kingston Process Metallurgy gather for a photo to celebrate the completion of a battery recycling project. Submitted photo.
Editor’s note: The following is a submitted opinion piece regarding the recently declared food insecurity emergency in Kingston, and the relationship between food security and economic development. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Kingstonist.
One cannot help but notice the mounting emergencies in Kingston. We face a housing crisis, a crumbling health-care system, and an urgent call to action on climate change. Admirably, the city is tackling these issues head-on: partnering with groups to build community housing, actively recruiting family physicians, and preparing to become a carbon-neutral community by 2040. These initiatives are making a positive impact and deserve recognition.
Now, there is a new crisis. The City of Kingston recently declared a food insecurity emergency. In a recent op-ed, a City councillor urged the electorate to pressure local candidates for the upcoming provincial and federal elections to propose solutions. Awareness campaigns are important, but the true path out of food insecurity lies not solely in charity or government support, but in fostering a thriving, sustainable economy that creates skilled jobs with living wages.
Social programs are essential to support households and individuals who are the most vulnerable. However, food insecurity impacts many households who do not receive income assistance. The root cause of this issue is clear: inflation has risen far faster than income. Simply relying on other levels of government is insufficient. Kingston must take charge with a relentless focus on economic development.
Kingston is well-positioned to lead. We are blessed with leading academic institutions, a talented workforce, and a beautiful city that attracts residents and businesses alike. Recently, Kingston was ranked as having the 9th-best startup ecosystem in Canada and the 10th-best city in the world for clean technologies. There are tremendous opportunities for the city in the chemical and clean technology sector. With one of the highest concentrations of chemical processing experts in Canada, Kingston boasts a vibrant ecosystem of startups, midsize companies, and large enterprises. Organizations like Kingston Process Metallurgy, Dupont, Cyclic Materials, The Green Centre, and the newly launched RXN Hub exemplify local innovation. We have companies pioneering the use of chemistry and material recycling to create domestic supply chains of strategic critical minerals—laying the groundwork for Kingston to become a global leader in chemical technology, creating jobs across all skill and education levels.
However, if Kingston wants to realize its full potential, our City Council must prioritize solving the shortage of shovel-ready employment land—a key barrier to economic expansion. Increasing the inventory of build-ready land is essential for attracting new companies and enabling existing businesses to grow. Furthermore, much of our current land inventory is less build-ready than what competing jurisdictions offer, making it difficult for Kingston to compete effectively. Tackling both these challenges should be a top priority for the City Council.
It’s time to take control of our destiny and create our own opportunities. We cannot rely solely on government initiatives to solve affordability issues. Let’s lift ourselves up and start dreaming bigger. The City can help pave the way for sustained economic growth by prioritizing employment land and boosting our competitiveness.
Economic development is not a silver bullet, but it creates meaningful employment that helps put food on the table—job by job, bite by bite.
Shan Jhamandas
Kingston resident
Share your views! Submit a Letter to the Editor or an Op/Ed article to Kingstonist’s Editor-in-Chief Tori Stafford at [email protected].
