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."

MEETING PREVIEW: Guelph Public Library Board for April 29, 2024

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

No April foolishness here because this is the end of the month, not the beginning! As usual, the Guelph Public Library Board of Directors will gather in the public meeting room at the central building to talk about all manner of library oversight business from the new building to recognizing the people helping to support the construction of that building. Also, what’s the new library’s biggest booster group up to? Let’s preview! Continue reading “MEETING PREVIEW: Guelph Public Library Board for April 29, 2024” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #416 – Day of Mourning 2024

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

If it’s the end of April, then you know it’s time for the annual National Day or Mourning. Although the pandemic is over, it’s worth remembering there was a whole class of workers who had to keep working as it happened, and that meant intentionally putting themselves at risk. This was important, but even before the pandemic, workers across Canada in all sorts of work were taking risks every day, often unknowingly, and they still are. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #416 – Day of Mourning 2024” →

This Week at Council: This Hour Has Lobbying, Tourism and Integrity

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

The last meeting of the month at council was mostly about the recap, but it also had some traps that could have lead to controversy. Yes, there was a report from the integrity commissioner regarding complaints about the mayor’s social media, but there were also some pointed critiques made to the mayor around the lobbyist registry too. In other unfinished business, council had more notes about the Municipal Accommodation Tax. Continue reading “This Week at Council: This Hour Has Lobbying, Tourism and Integrity” →

POLICE NOTES: Explosive Injury, Hammer Threat, and Fire Truck Accident

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

There are 145,000 stories in the Royal City, and this is some of them. Looking at a week’s worth of media releases from the Guelph Police Service, there’s a lot going on in our little city crime-wise speaking, so let’s run down some of the charges, issues, and requests for information from the Guelph Police Service over the last seven days. Continue reading “POLICE NOTES: Explosive Injury, Hammer Threat, and Fire Truck Accident” →

RECAP: Mayor’s Memo to Have Impact on Transit Plans for Fall, TAC Hears

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

By the end of the summer, 11 total EV buses will be on the road in Guelph. That was one of the revelations from this month’s Transit Advisory Committee. That was good news, and it was good news to hear that mobility services will soon be given a much needed review, but where there is good news, there must also be bad news. September service expansion will be delayed because of the mayor’s request for budget cuts. Let’s get into all the news with this month’s recap… Continue reading “RECAP: Mayor’s Memo to Have Impact on Transit Plans for Fall, TAC Hears” →

Organizers Say There’s Forward Momentum After Health Housing Symposium Day #3

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

“We either succeed together or we fail together,”Luisa Artuso said to kick off day #3 of the combined Guelph and Wellington County Health and Housing Symposium. Two days were held at the end of January with an invite-only crowd of local service providers, government staff and election officials, but this third day was open for the media to observe, and while a lot of ground was covered, this remains, if anything, only the beginning. Continue reading “Organizers Say There’s Forward Momentum After Health Housing Symposium Day #3” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #415 – Doors Open Preview

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Doors Open Guelph is one of dozens of similar events across Ontario that celebrates local history and heritage by throwing open the doors to buildings that are typically pretty inaccessible to the general public. There’s no shortage of history and heritage nerds in Guelph who all have their favourites so how are the sites chosen, why are they chosen, and why are these buildings on the 2024 tour? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #415 – Doors Open Preview” →

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for April 16, 2024

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Strangely, we’re getting the regular meeting at mid-month. 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 April 16, 2024” →

RECAP: Accessibility Committee Plots Its Own Path for Election Options

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

After a timing forced delay back in February, the time was finally right for the final showdown between City of Guelph staff and the Accessibility Advisory Committee about voting options for the 2026 municipal election. Well, showdown was a bit strong, but so were the concerns that the AAC has about another election without internet voting. Now the matter is going to council next month, but for now there’s the recap of this month’s AAC meeting… Continue reading “RECAP: Accessibility Committee Plots Its Own Path for Election Options” →

This Week at Council: The Four Unit Problem

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

This month’s planning meeting of city council was all about four, and despite what you’ve heard it’s actually the loneliness number. That was the impression you might have gotten watching what happened when staff deliver their draft report about allowing fourplexes and four units as-of-right in Guelph. It looks like this policy might have an uphill climb, but staff have until June to make a case, in the meantime, here’s the recap…. Continue reading “This Week at Council: The Four Unit Problem” →