After Much Pressure, Ontario Government Moves to Ban Commercial Evictions

As businesses continue to struggle through the pandemic, one of the primary concerns has been whether all shop owners will have a storefront to go back to once the economy re-opens. It’s why for weeks now business owners and politicians have been asking the Government of Ontario to put a moratorium on commercial evictions, and after all that advocacy, Queen’s Park finally granted that request. Continue reading “After Much Pressure, Ontario Government Moves to Ban Commercial Evictions”

Board of Health Told that Public Health is Already Planning for the Next COVID Wave

We’ve done good so far, but the outbreak’s not over yet. That was the message from the staff of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health at an unusual July Board of Health meeting on Wednesday. Nearly a month after the area entered Stage 2 of the re-opening, Dr. Nicola Mercer and her colleagues tried to peer into the future and see what we all might be facing pandemic-wise in the months to come. Continue reading “Board of Health Told that Public Health is Already Planning for the Next COVID Wave”

Downtown Dining District Now a Regular Thing Till Labour Day

After a successful inaugural weekend, the first downtown dining district is now set to be a permanent thing through to the Labour Day long weekend. Many people enjoyed the closed down streets at the intersection of Wyndham and Macdonell last Saturday and Sunday, and after looking at the results, this dining district will be a regular feature for the rest of the summer. Continue reading “Downtown Dining District Now a Regular Thing Till Labour Day”

GUELPH POLITICAST #228 – Still COVID with Doctor Mercer

Our area has been under Stage 2 of the re-opening for nearly a month now, and people are eagerly looking for signs that we might soon enter the final stage. Still, our position is precarious. We see what is happening in the United States, and if there’s one thing that we can all agree on, it’s that we do not want to re-enter lockdown. So shall we get a doctor’s advice on how to avoid all that? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #228 – Still COVID with Doctor Mercer”

Nestlé Waters Bugs Out of Canada, as Ontario Looks to Change the Rules

It was the news that water protectors and environmentalists have long waited to hear, the announcement that Nestlé is getting out of the bottled water business, or at least the “Pure Life” brand of bottled water that is taken from so many wells and aquifers in our area. The news comes on the heels of the Government of Ontario’s announcement that they’re seeking input on enhancing water quality programs that will affect the bottling industry. Continue reading “Nestlé Waters Bugs Out of Canada, as Ontario Looks to Change the Rules”

CITY PAGES: Heat, Construction, and More GRCA Services Opening

The City of Guelph puts out a lot of information on a weekly basis, and while it all ends up on the City’s website somewhere, wouldn’t it be easier to just scroll through it all on one easy-to-read article on Guelph Politico here…? Continue reading “CITY PAGES: Heat, Construction, and More GRCA Services Opening”

City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the July 15 Meeting?

The monthly meeting of city council to consider the local response to COVID-19 is almost upon us again. Last month, we got the re-opening of some City facilities and an all-new patio bylaw. What might we get out of this month’s meeting? That’s still to be determined… Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the July 15 Meeting?”

City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the July 13 Meeting?

July’s planning meeting of city council will have three big items on the agenda including a heritage designation, a report on new planning policy to get feedback, and a decision on what might be the most controversial planning application to come before council in some time. Will it be another swift night around the virtual horseshoe, or are things going to get complicated? Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the July 13 Meeting?”

Guelph Announces First Downtown Dining District for this Weekend

As approved by Guelph City Council last month, the City of Guelph will open the proverbial door for the first downtown dining district this weekend. The intersection at Wyndham and Macdonell Streets will be closed to allow restaurants to extend their patios into the streets for the weekend in what the City is calling a “pilot” to assess the viability of these districts before more of them are approved. Continue reading “Guelph Announces First Downtown Dining District for this Weekend”

Protestors Make It Clear in Canada Day March: ‘Defund the Police’

The slam of a hammer against wood echoed throughout the street. It was the sound of a demonstrator hitting the post of a sign depicting a gravestone into the carefully manicured grass in front of the Guelph police headquarters late on Wednesday. Like many communities across Canada, Guelph activists spent the anniversary of the country’s birth demanding an end to police brutality, and to add their voices to the “Defund the police” movement.
Continue reading “Protestors Make It Clear in Canada Day March: ‘Defund the Police’”