The City of Kingston is considering the creation of a Municipal Service Corporation (MSC) to manage water and wastewater services as the city continues to prepare for significant growth. The establishment of an MSC aims to enhance operational efficiency, improve service delivery and ensure sustainable infrastructure development.

A number of municipalities across Ontario are moving toward this model of service delivery as a means to keep pace with the rising costs of delivering water and wastewater services and maintaining the infrastructure necessary to serve communities. An MSC would help meet increased service needs by offering greater financial flexibility, opportunities for revenue generation and dedicated governance focused on water and wastewater services.

An MSC is a corporation established by a municipality under Ontario Regulation 599/06 of the Municipal Act, 2001, to manage specific services or assets. An MSC is not a private company, and it remains wholly owned by the municipality and is still subject to public accountability and municipal oversight.

Kingston Hydro, owned 100 per cent by the City of Kingston, is an Ontario Business Corporation and currently operates under a similar model.

Get Involved

Community members are invited to review the business case and share their feedback by completing the survey on Get Involved Kingston before Jan. 9, 2026. A report with public feedback will be brought to City Council in early 2026.