“The Local Government Response to the Pandemic: The Kingston Case Study” 

Helen Cooper, Distinguished Fellow, School of Policy Studies; former Mayor, City of Kingston 

The pervasive arrival of COVID-19 and the dramatically different outcomes in various countries naturally leads to an examination of what systemic responses are most effective. The City of Kingston and the Counties of Frontenac and Lennox & Addington in Ontario have an admirable track record in both halting the virus initially, then responding rapidly and effectively when a spike occurred. This example illustrates how both federal and provincial attempts to control the spread are largely dependent on well-functioning local public health and municipal administrations. At the same time, the pandemic has exposed municipal financial vulnerabilities and the deleterious effects of an archaic municipal taxation system. 

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