We hope everyone is settling into another November week. We have a mixed bag of news for you today from across the region, beginning with one Kingston city councillor raising the alarm over the province's possible use of the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to justify municipal crackdowns on homeless people's encampments.

Cornwall's Christmas spirit is unmatched, with a highly successful parade as well as Santa's Street Hockey Challenge, while in Brockville Christmas may be coming in a different way, with a hefty year-end surplus.

In Belleville, city officials approve next year's capital budget, while, circling back to Cornwall, a production of Finding Nemo Jr. pays tribute to a young girl tragically lost.

Scroll down for these and other stories from across Eastern Ontario: 

The top stories from across our region

Sydenham Dist. Coun. Conny Glenn. PHOTO BY ELLIOT FERGUSON/The Kingston Whig-Standard.

Kingston councillor joins call against tougher stance on encampments

KINGSTON — A downtown city councillor added her voice to a coalition of municipal politicians speaking out against a call from Ontario mayors for a stronger stance against homeless encampments. 

Sydenham Dist. Coun. Conny Glenn is among 41 municipal councillors who put their names to a statement calling on the Ontario premier to commit to not using the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to overrule any court decision that limits municipal responses to homeless encampments.

“The notwithstanding clause, especially where it pertains to fundamental human rights, should only be used as a last resort,” Glenn said. “Use of the notwithstanding clause will not solve the encampment problem it will just move it to another location and taxpayer money that is desperately needed for housing and treatment options will have been wasted.” 

Santa Claus and an elf wave from atop his sleigh during the Cornwall Santa Claus Parade on Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. PHOTO BY GREG PEERENBOM /Special to the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder

Jam-packed crowds greet an at-capacity Cornwall Santa Claus Parade

The digital age has not dented the enthusiasm for one of Cornwall’s longest-running family outings.

In fact, it may have been a record year for the annual Cornwall Santa Claus Parade, starting during Saturday’s twilight and stretching into the evening darkness.

“We had to close registrations,” longtime parade marshal Terry Muir said on Monday.

Santa's Street Hockey Challenge returns to Cornwall

After a five-year absence, Santa returned to Montreal Road with his Street Hockey Challenge.

Nearly 50 kids and teenagers ground it out on four chain-link fenced-in asphalt rinks beside the civic complex on Saturday.

The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder newsroom would love to hear from you. To reach just this newsroom, email csf.news@sunmedia.ca.

The moon appears in the early-evening sky next to Brockville's City Hall clock tower on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. PHOTO BY RONALD ZAJAC/The Brockville Recorder and Times

City projecting surplus of over $950,000

We are not yet done with 2024, so things could change, but City Hall’s latest estimates point to a year-end surplus of more than $950,000.

Brockville council’s general committee was expected to discuss the most recent variance report, which tracks the city’s fiscal performance versus its budget, at its monthly meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

That report, prepared by city finance director Lynda Ferguson and finance supervisor Chrissy Ward, points to a projected 2024 operating surplus of $952,569.

Gananoque mayor seeks support for health-care letter