Category: Guelph Politicast

GUELPH POLITICAST #496 – Still Taking, Just More Easily (feat. Theresa McClenaghan)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

There was a lot of celebrating this time last year when it was announced that Blue Triton was closing their water bottling operations across Ontario, including the one down the road in Puslinch. Current events have conspired to put water taking issues back on the frontburner but between concerns about the impact on renters in Bill 60 and the undermining of local oversight of school boards in Bill 33, is there any room on the agenda for protecting our water? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #496 – Still Taking, Just More Easily (feat. Theresa McClenaghan)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #495 – Civic Advocacy Still Works! (feat. Ken Thompson & Susan Watson)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

If there’s a reason that Guelph City Council opted to proceed with a vacant home tax a few weeks ago, at least some of that credits goes to Get Involved Guelph who have been raising concerns for years about the number of houses in the Royal City staying empty, especially in the midst of a housing crisis.  Well, the City of Guelph finally agreed that it’s time to act, so what does Get Involved Guelph do for an encore? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #495 – Civic Advocacy Still Works! (feat. Ken Thompson & Susan Watson)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #494 – Electoral Reform? It Could Still Happen (feat. Kevin Bowman)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

It was about 10 years ago this time that Justin Trudeau strode up to Rideau Hall and made history being sworn in as Canada’s 23rd prime minister. There was a lot of hope about what the future of Trudeau’s premiership held, but perhaps no other constituency were hit harder by the political realities of the Trudeau-mania hangover than electoral reform activists. Can changing our voting system still possibly get a fair hearing? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #494 – Electoral Reform? It Could Still Happen (feat. Kevin Bowman)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #493 – They’re Coming for the Conservation Authorities… Again (feat. Phil Pothen)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Since they resumed sitting the week after Thanksgiving, the Government of Ontario has been throwing a lot at us, and then on Halloween they proposed sweeping changes to conservation authorities in Ontario. If it feels like we’ve been here before we kind of have, and while conservation authorities have weathered provincial meddling before, can they survive it again? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #493 – They’re Coming for the Conservation Authorities… Again (feat. Phil Pothen)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #492 – A Broken Political Scene (feat. Doug Craig)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

It was about this time two years ago that former Guelph CAO Scott Stewart told city council in an open meeting that there needed to be a new deal for Ontario municipalities; that they were trying to solve 21st century problems with 19th century rules. As Guelph tackles another difficult budget season, one regional councillor is putting this issue in stark terms: Ontario’s councils are “on the verge of life support”! Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #492 – A Broken Political Scene (feat. Doug Craig)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #491 – The Science of the Guelph Lab (feat. Dr. Elizabeth Jackson & Jodie Sales)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

You might not have heard of The Guelph Lab, but you’ve definitely seen the fruits of its research. From food insecurity to public washroom access downtown, The Guelph Lab highlights s unique partnership between the City of Guelph and the University of Guelph by taking academic research power and applying it to problems facing our municipality. This week, we’re going to take a peek under the hood to learn how they do it… Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #491 – The Science of the Guelph Lab (feat. Dr. Elizabeth Jackson & Jodie Sales)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #490 – Climate Action is Back on Menu! (feat. Donna Jennison)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Climate change, despite the inference, is not a hot topic, politically speaking. We had two big elections this year and you can probably count on one hand how many times the environment came up in conversation. Perhaps the time has come for a re-examination of our priorities: Can Guelph still be a climate leader in a political time when no one wants to talk about climate change? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #490 – Climate Action is Back on Menu! (feat. Donna Jennison)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #489 – The Bike Mayor Says Safety First (feat. Andrea Bidgood)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

It seemed like we had turned a corner on making cycling a true equal partner when it comes to road share, but like a lot of progressive policy now we’re in the midst of a blowback. The Ontario government voted to tear out bike lanes last year, and now they have their sights set on pulling down all automated speed enforcement cameras. Perhaps, the time is right for the a new kind of Guelph mayor… A Bicycle Mayor! Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #489 – The Bike Mayor Says Safety First (feat. Andrea Bidgood)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #488 – Real Audio News (September 2025)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Sometimes information gathering doesn’t happen in the perfect audio conditions of a studio or the Zoom link, you have to occasionally get out there and find the news. To that end, we will visit a picket line on Speedvale Avenue, attend an annual event that reminds us that there’s still some ways to go when it comes to eliminating gender-based violence, and hear about a program fighting food insecurity in the west end. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #488 – Real Audio News (September 2025)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #487 – Inside the Mind of a CAO (feat. Stacy Hushion)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

StrategyCorp puts out a report every year called the Ontario Municipal Chief Administrative Officer Survey. The CAOs profiled have some strong feelings about Strong Mayor Powers, intergovernmental relations, housing, growth, financing, and and more, but what’s interesting is not what the CAOs had to say, it’s the fact that they said it. What are CAOs thinking when they’re given the cloak of anonymity? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #487 – Inside the Mind of a CAO (feat. Stacy Hushion)” →