James McNair

Kingston and the Islands MPP Candidate

Empower the voters with direct democracy.

I believe in Canadians working together, Let’s create a transparent democracy.

Early Life
Born in 1979 in Belleville Ontario, James grew up with a deep understanding of the Child Services system and health care system. His family fostered children and believed in supporting them as they did their own. These early experiences taught James the importance of family and support for other children.

Then at age 5, his mother got into a car accident with him in the vehicle. He suffered internal injuries that went un-diagnosed. Later on complications nearly cost him his life, but he made a miraculous recovery in the care of his mother. Memories of these challenging times stayed with him. Since then, he has held the firm believe that access to high quality and timely health care is a right.

Work life and humanitarian values
James built his first cottage at age 14. This was a powerful experience where he realized the humanitarian potential of his skills. Filled with pride, James decided that he wanted to be able to build homes for people, so that nobody would have to experience the uncertainty and stress of becoming homeless. Then throughout his 20s, he refined his skills as a builder and began working as a housing contractor.

As he worked to try to offer clients affordable rates and quality services, it became clear that he would need to affect change at a greater level.

“Canada is too bogged down with red tape and bureaucracy that works against working Canadians and small business owners. We need change, transparency, and processes that put the people first” – James McNair

Art and Activism
Prior to getting involved in political activism, James discovered music as an outlet for his stress. Throughout the 2000s, he wrote and performed songs about the conflict and oppression that he was witnessing in the world. Touching on local as well as global issues, James organized musical groups and then later concerts with like-minded artists. His favourite works from that time were recorded his band “The Independent Artists For Change” while he was living in Calgary Alberta for a short while.

Then in 2010, all around the world, the Occupy movement rallied against the wealth disparity between the 1% and 99%. James took this opportunity to reach out. Living in Ottawa at the time, he used his resources to provide transportation and shelter to the protestors and homeless folks who lived in the protest camp. Here, he made his first political connections at a grass roots level that laid the foundations of his political convictions.

Kingston and The Islands
In 2012 I was asked by a close friend to help his brother that was running a new business in Kingston. I came to Kingston to work and use my construction skills to repair a very complicated repair and help a friend with his new business. During my stay in Kingston I purchased a house on Rideau St where I lived with my daughter. My family fell in love with Kingston and its small city feel. I have felt at home in Kingston ever since. I have ask the city of Kingston for land to build homes for the homeless with no offer of land up to this point. As I am Near Rideau St homelessness is everywhere and am very aware of the great need of homes. I now am the director of a not for profit that primary goal is to eliminate homeless in Kingston.

Entry into Federal Politics
Prior to the 2019 Federal election, James sought to mobilize small parties around Canada to a united cause of destabilizing the major parties tight grip on political power in Canada. While he found that many preferred to stay in their own groups, he found a few organizations who were interested in collaborating despite branding and ideological differences. The goal being to combine a diversity of approaches to issues such as the economy, the abuses and treatment of marginalized people, climate change, and rising costs of living.

It was during these meetings that he learned about Direct Democracy. This is a system of citizen voting where everybody is able to cast votes on bills moving through parliament. While Trudeau and others had campaigned on proportional representation, he believes that this is not enough to shift power into the hands of the Canadian people. Instead, he began to champion and fund the development of technological resources that will make participation in Canadian politics accessible to all Canadians

1. Why are you running for public office?

I am running for public office because I could not keep voting for the best of the worse options. I would try to vote and had such a hard time choosing between all these parties that have failed us. The definitions of insanity is voting for the same parties and expecting a different outcome. I know that if I get elected I can use my skills to make things better and improve the lives of everyone that calls Kingston home.

2. Homelessness and housing affordability have become increasing issues in Kingston and the Islands, as with much of Ontario. What steps would you take as MPP to improve housing for residents?

Firstly I would stop talking about the problem and actual start building homes. As I have worked with low income housing projects and also I am a expert in construction I would use my seat in public office to eliminate homelessness in Kingston once and for all. This problem can be fixed by starting to build homes. We have lots of skilled building company’s in Kingston and lots of land lets get building homes. I am also a businessman I can deal with the Ford government better then any liberal and get the funds and land and zoning changes needed to build homes. As it is unlikely liberals will form government voting for liberal in Kingston will not help you.

3. Health care — including access to family physicians and increasing wait times at clinics and emergency rooms, as well as for surgeries — is a major concern for many in the area. What would you do as MPP to help the situation?

As a MPP I would use technology to improve triage at clinics and Hospitals. Once the very sick or the critical patients and targeted and treated quickly others with less serious conditions can be seen by a doctor or nurse online. Testing can be scheduled by online doctors and the paperwork for the test can be sent directly to the testing facility saving a lot of time and using the doctors that we do have more effectively. We must also attract doctor and nurses by paying them more then other provinces in Canada, as cost of living rises, we must make it easier for doctors to live. We must avoid healthcare worker burn out and keep doctors and nurses happy as there job is to take care of us. Make sure doctors and all health care providers have very little red tape to open clinics and even open government building to open clinics rent free.

4. As the threat of tariffs looms from the U.S., what are the most important things the Ontario government can do to advocate for its citizens and lessen the blow of any consequences?

The best way to weather the storm is to stay positive and the Government can invest in the form of grants and Loans for food producers and manufacturing. The government can quickly ensure the markets are flooded with cheap Canadian made food and Products quickly. President Trump is trying to cause our company’s to leave Canada and move to the States to avoid the tariffs we can stop this if we make it easier for company to stay In Ontario.

5. Beyond the above three issues, what is another key policy/idea that could be implemented to improve life for people in your riding?

I would ensure that any idea decision and plan is what the people of Kingston want. I do believe In Direct Democracy and some of the best places in the world use Direct Democracy as there system of governance.

6. If you could share one message with voters in Kingston and the Islands, what would it be?

Please stop voting the same way and expecting a different outcome that is the definition of insanity. Vote for Direct Democracy and spark a change in Ontario and then in Canada.