Category: Guelph Politicast

GUELPH POLITICAST #222 – The [No] Transit Pass [Needed]

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We normally do a quarterly discussion of transit matters with a couple of our friends from the Transit Action Alliance of Guelph, or TAAG, but there’s been a lot going on lately, and it’s been really hard for friends to get together like we usually do. Getting people to take the bus in the best of times is hard, but during a pandemic? It’s time for another edition of the Transit Pass, even though these days you don’t need one. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #222 – The [No] Transit Pass [Needed]” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #221 – Old Marcolongo’s Farm

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The detailed Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan was going to be one of the biggest issues before city council this year, and it still might be, but in the almost literal centre of the debate is the Marcolongo Farm property. With council returning to some kind of regular order in the next few weeks, look for the planning of Clair-Maltby to pick-up again, and there is almost no one that has as much invested in that plan both personally and professionally than Mike Marcolongo. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #221 – Old Marcolongo’s Farm” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #220 – Supporting Our PSWs

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There are 130,000 Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in Ontario alone. They are a vital link in the healthcare chain for people that need assistance at home, or in long-term care. They assist people who are seriously ill, and the elderly, and they perform a variety of functions including help with healthcare needs, personal assistance, palliative care, supportive care, and work around the house like cooking and housekeeping. So why do we know so little about them? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #220 – Supporting Our PSWs” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #219 – Better Days

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As we’re entering this third calendar month under a state of quarantine, we’re starting to  feel that it still might be a long time until we get back to what we consider normalcy. It might be a long time before we can sit comfortably again in a room filled with a few hundred people to hear the city’s mayor talk about a grand ambition for Guelph that has nothing to do with responding to a global pandemic. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #219 – Better Days” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #218 – COVID Administrative Officer

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From time to time, the Guelph Politicast likes to do a sit down with a member of City of Guelph staff to talk about their job in detail with all its day-to-day demands, challenges and rewards. This podcast is in the mode of one of those past explainers, but with a COVID-19 twist because what is possibly affecting City business more these days than the global pandemic? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #218 – COVID Administrative Officer” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #217 – Missing the Movies

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It would be unfair to say that independent art house movie theatres like the Bookshelf Cinema are feeling the biggest impact from the COVID-19 lockdown, but things weren’t exactly easy for them before the outbreak. From the fewer number of films being released theatrically, to big monopolies at the studios and national theatre chains, to the growing number of streaming options, indie cinemas had a lot to deal with before a global pandemic. But is it a lost cause? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #217 – Missing the Movies” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #216 – Seriously, Keep Your Rent

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One week ago was rent day for people everywhere, and many of those people were not able to submit those rent cheques because the COVID-19 quarantine has meant no money in the bank. April 1 was the first hurdle in what might be a months long dilemma for Canada’s renters. We could be on lockdown for the foreseeable future, so what happens when the rent cheques stop entirely? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #216 – Seriously, Keep Your Rent” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #215 – The Future, and Present, for Workers

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What a difference a pandemic makes, huh? For years now, there’s been a grand debate about whether service industry workers deserve a living wage, whether or not they should be able to access employer benefits, and if we need to change our assumptions about the quality of work provided by mostly minimum wage employees at our retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants. Now, these are the people who are keeping our economy a float. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #215 – The Future, and Present, for Workers” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #214 – Food Security and Sick Pay

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It’s been noted frequently that the COVID-19 pandemic is touching just about every aspect of our society, but aside from healthcare, perhaps no two areas of everyday life have been more affected than how we shop, and how we work. How fortunate then that the University of Guelph has two experts to help us out with understanding that! Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #214 – Food Security and Sick Pay” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #213 – Community Reporting on COVID-19

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As of Tuesday night, there have been almost 200,000 worldwide cases of novel coronavirus and nearly 8,000 fatalities. In Canada, there are 424 confirmed cases, another 16 suspected cases, and so far only one death. The details are changing hourly, and all levels of government are scrambling to find the best way to respond. What we need right now is some community radio. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #213 – Community Reporting on COVID-19” →