Author: Adam A. Donaldson

When he’s not the main/only contributor to Guelph Politico, Adam A. Donaldson also contributes to GuelphToday.com as their city hall columnist and co-hosts a political and current affairs show on CFRU 93.3 fm called “Open Sources Guelph" as well as the movie review show "End Credits."

This Month at Council PART 2: Workshops, Development Charges, and More Drama

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For a time, the second half of the month at council was more dry and wonkish with special meetings and workshops about dry subject matter like Development Charges and the multi-year budget. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your point of view), council made up for some of the lost drama at the month’s regular council meeting, where they revisited the internal misunderstandings that stared the month. Here’s the second part of the recap. Continue reading “This Month at Council PART 2: Workshops, Development Charges, and More Drama” →

City Expands Capacity at Facilities, Province Expands Capacity Outdoors

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It’s getting a bit easier to get together as capacity limits are changing in Guelph and across Ontario as the COVID-19 case loads remain relatively low. Locally, more areas and activities at Guelph recreational facilities will be a little easier to access, while the Government of Ontario is loosening the limits on outdoor gatherings just in time for Halloween, Remembrance Day, and Santa Claus Parade season. Continue reading “City Expands Capacity at Facilities, Province Expands Capacity Outdoors” →

City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the November 8 Meeting?

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At every planning meeting, council hears about applications to change the zoning bylaw to allow for the construction of some new project somewhere in the city, and they’re usually looking for some kind of change to the regulations as well like a bigger yard or less parking. But who or what decides what can and can’t be done? That’s the comprehensive zoning bylaw, and this month’s planning meeting is literally all about it. Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the November 8 Meeting?” →

This Month at Council PART 1: Emergency Meetings, and Demolition Fallout

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This October recap of the events of city council actually started in September. Unexpectedly, an emergency meeting was called on September 30 to talk about events that occurred at the September 27 regular council meeting. Maybe you heard about it. The events of those meetings cast a shadow over a lot of council business for the rest of the month, and that includes the Committee of the Whole and planning meetings covered here. Continue reading “This Month at Council PART 1: Emergency Meetings, and Demolition Fallout” →

Ontario Government Announces Plans to Fix Long-Term Care, Opposition Has Doubts

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Nearly 4,000 Ontarians have died in long-term care homes because of COVID-19. It prompted a new independent commission to investigate the subject at Queen’s Park that returned several recommendations this past spring, and on Thursday the government announced the legislative plan to act on those recommendations. Still, all the opposition leaders are suspicious about whether today’s bill is the change everyone was seeking. Continue reading “Ontario Government Announces Plans to Fix Long-Term Care, Opposition Has Doubts” →

U of G Students Approve New Deal on Student Bus Pass

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Graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Guelph have voted in favour of getting back to normal in a very specific way for the next semester. The results of a mid-term referendum overwhelmingly endorsed a new contract between the Central Student Association, the Graduate Student Association, the City of Guelph and Guelph Transit to bring back the universal student bus pass (Upass) in January. Continue reading “U of G Students Approve New Deal on Student Bus Pass” →

RECAP: Ward 5 Town Hall Covers Traffic, Train and Drive Thru Concerns

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The above picture is from a time when these sorts of town halls happened in-person, but not for the first time, this town hall was held on Zoom. On Wednesday night, Ward 5 Councillors Leanne Caron and Cathy Downer talked to constituents about traffic issues in the ward and other updates including recent developments and the ward boundary review. Check out the recap of the live coverage below. Continue reading “RECAP: Ward 5 Town Hall Covers Traffic, Train and Drive Thru Concerns” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #295 – Link the Watershed?

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A group of transit workers and advocates have done the impossible, they’ve put on the table a regional transit plan that doesn’t involve Metrolinx, the Ministry of Transportation, or new private carriers. The need for regional connections is more pressing than ever since Greyhound stopped all Canadian service earlier this year, but is that finally about to change? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #295 – Link the Watershed?” →

Trudeau Announces New Cabinet; Some New Faces, Mostly Old Faces

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In a lavish Rideau Hall ceremony on Tuesday, more than one month after the completion of the election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finally unveiled the cabinet that will (hopefully) lead Canada to the end of the pandemic and a brighter future beyond. The 38-person cabinet maintains Trudeau’s commitment to gender parity in cabinet, and aims to shake up some important portfolios with some newer faces. Continue reading “Trudeau Announces New Cabinet; Some New Faces, Mostly Old Faces” →

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for October 25, 2021

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Council wraps up a month of city business. You can click here for the amended agendas from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along on Twitter, or follow the tweets below. You can also watch the City’s own live-stream of the meeting here. Continue reading “LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for October 25, 2021” →