“I am a whole picture thinker and collaborator with those supporting thoughtful collaborative decision making. I am a Guelph City Councillor. That I represent Ward 3 does not mean I only think of this Ward. […] There is no way to escape the responsibility of caring for all people living in Guelph. A park in the South End, a Recreation facility in the East is a Guelph facility – we cannot balkanize the city and fragment our population.”

Why do you want to be a city councillor?

The encouragement of the community was the strongest factor guiding my decision. Many people urged me to continue or run for Mayor. I believe that this term I can assist whoever is Mayor by offering sound guidance and representation from Ward 3.

What is your background and experience, and how do you think that will serve you as a city councillor?

I have been a City Councillor for Ward 3 for 12 years. I have past experience as the House Speaker for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. I have been Treasurer of the Guelph Jazz Festival and my District Teachers’ Federation. I have served as chair of many parliamentary organizations – too many to mention.

I care about Guelph.

My education and experience provides me with the ability to be a thoughtful decision maker. My schooling – studying History, Philosophy, Economics, Politics, Theology at Western, Guelph, McMaster, Toronto and Conrad Grebel College  (University of Waterloo) prepared me to make decisions that require careful consideration and which address many different perspectives on our challenges.

Given Strong Mayor Powers, how do you see your role as a city councillor when the mayor can override the will of council with just three votes?

Great question: I am not in favour of Strong Mayor Powers. My job however is to ensure that these are only used appropriately and for what they were intended. I have worked with our current Mayor and advised him on the judicious use of these. My responsibility will be ensure these are used reasonably and in the best interest of the community

Affordability is important to a lot of voters, and municipal budgeting can be very difficult. How will you balance the needs of a growing city with the demands for low or zero tax increases over the next term?

As long as the province expects Guelph to pay for downloaded services and policing, our taxes will continue to go up. We must advocate for a better tax system that provides cities with the capacity to offset the outdated property tax system with a fairer method of paying for our needs.

The province is able to raise money and tax using at least 29 different revenue sources including income tax, sales tax, casino revenue, gas taxes.

Guelph and other municipalities are hampered by relying on the most antiquated and worst form of revenue bases: property tax. Tax reform time is now. Guelph must continue to improve our busing, our infrastructure and facilities. We need the province to step up and use our provincial tax dollars to offset property taxes.

Council this past term has done a lot of housing policy, but that hasn’t translated into more shovels in the ground. How will you help close the gap over the next four years?

Guelph is very challenged on the housing front. To my disappointment, we have approximately 6,000 housing units approved and ready to go. Some of these have been approved for over two decades but are not anywhere near to being built.

Guelph must implement a “use it or lose it” principle when approvals are made for developments. Some believe that land speculation is behind approvals being sought and then land being left fallow as land owners seek a good price for their landholding. This is a black eye to good developers who are regarded merely as profiteers.

If Guelph were to implement a time specific period for development we could see many of these units built or the approvals would expire.

As for “Affordable Housing”, Guelph is in a crisis. We do not have the funds at the municipal level to build the nearly 7000 units of affordable housing we need.

We must accelerate our advocacy to our provincial and federal government for a new housing deal similar to that which existed in the 1970’s when affordable housing was built for purchase and rental under the guise of making homes accessible to all. Coops, non profit housing, social housing must return en masse if we are to make a dent in our housing costs.

I worry about seniors today who are  often “house wealthy” but live on fixed incomes. If we do not provide some ways for seniors to stay in their homes and afford the costs associated with home ownership including huge repair bills for roofs, electricity, plumbing and unexpected disasters like flooding, we will find many seniors who must leave their homes and they have few options on where to go.

Aside from the demands for more housing, land use planning also means assuring that there’s enough room to account for growth in business, institutional and commercial land uses, how will you balance all these priorities?

Thoughtful, careful analysis and decision making are needed by council members. Our city staff must be given the latitude to bring us recommendations that are made from solid research, establishing priorities and assessing our capacity to implement them. Furthermore, Council must continue to assign to our staff the responsibility of research and analysis – that might take time –  but in the long run will lead to good decisions being made. We need to stop making decisions on the fly because a proposal came to us at the last minute. This costs Guelph money and affects our whole decision making process and the integrity of decision making.

Water availability is a growing concern. How will you ensure that Guelph has the capacity it needs to support this growing city?

We are in a water crisis. Instead of growing to over 200,000, Guelph should put a moratorium on expansive growth (with the exception of truly affordable housing) until an environmental audit is completed of our water needs and supply.

In the near future, Guelph risks needing a water pipeline from Lake Erie or turning to using the water from the Speed and Eramosa Rivers to offset our limited ground water.  Both of these alternatives are costly and inferior to what we have. Kudos to Water Watchers for realizing over 20 years ago that we were entering a crisis.

Trust in government and institutions is a major issue. How will you keep your constituents well informed about city hall business, and help them feel included when it comes to decision making?

Currently I respond to my constituents 7 days a week by phone and email. I meet with those who request a meeting in a reasonable time. No issue is too small to reach out to a person concerned with how the city is running. I value the input from all residents regardless of the issue. My city number is 519 827 6579. Call me anytime but if the Jays are in the World Series, I might not answer until after the game is complete.

What would you say is *your* issue? What is the one thing you want to talk about on the campaign trail this fall and have a thorough debate about it before this election is over?

Safety and Security: Economic Security, Housing Security, Ground Water Security and Property and Personal Safety are paramount for me. As a member of the Guelph Police Services I am proud of how we exercise the capacity of the police to offer support to all our population. However, safety and security is not just about theft and violence. It is also about poverty, homelessness, job security, water, our air, our planet, our energy sources.

Guelph must make sound decisions that address safety in a multifaceted way. We need to continue to advocate for more renewable energy, we need to protect our water, we need to improve our infrastructure, our bike lanes, our sidewalks and our accessibility. We need to attract good clean business to Guelph that provide fair wages to workers. When we think security, think buses, having and holding a job, having the health and mental health supports needed to sustain this beautiful city.

What perspective do you think you will bring to council that is not currently reflected?

I am a whole picture thinker and collaborator with those supporting thoughtful collaborative decision making.

I am a Guelph City Councillor.

That I represent Ward 3 does not mean I only think of this Ward.

I must always consider that what happens in the South of the City, in a manufacturing facility in the West End affects those of us living in the core. There is no way to escape the responsibility of caring for all people living in Guelph. A park in the South End, a Recreation facility in the East is a Guelph facility – we cannot balkanize the city and fragment our population.

BONUS: Is there anything else you want to tell voters as they make their decision?

For further information please contact me at the addresses, phone numbers or social media sites below. I always have time to have a coffee and discuss what matters to you.

philallt.ca
Email: phil [at] philallt.ca
I am on Facebook, Instagram and other social media. (I no longer pay any attention to Elon Musk’s X)
Personal and Campaign Number 519 900 1441