POLICE NOTES: Homicide Arrest, Trafficking Arrest, and Threats on a Bus

There are 137,000 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 gong 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: Homicide Arrest, Trafficking Arrest, and Threats on a Bus”

Schreiner Says He’s Still Against a Highway Through the Holland Marsh

It was a rough week if you’re a fan of the environment and want to see fewer reasons to drive around Ontario. In the last seven days, Premier Doug Ford cancelled tolls on two provincial highways, and cancelled licence plate renewal fees, but there’s still a chance to stop the construction of at least one more highway in Ontario. At least that was the hope of Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner this Friday afternoon. Continue reading “Schreiner Says He’s Still Against a Highway Through the Holland Marsh”

Ontario Government to Add Work Protections from Employer Surveillance

It’s been said before, but the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work in more ways than one, and while many people probably enjoy the freedom of being able to work from home, how and when you’re working, as well as what else you’re doing on a work computer, could be being monitored by the boss. Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton apparently doesn’t like the sound of that, and wants to take steps to protect workers. Continue reading “Ontario Government to Add Work Protections from Employer Surveillance”

Committee of the Whole Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the March 7 Meeting?

March comes in like a lion at city council as next month’s Committee of the Whole will tackle a variety of fairly contentious issues including the fallout from a heritage property demolition last fall and the compensation for the next iteration of city council to be elected later this year. At the same meeting, committee will aim to add some oversight to those groups receiving Community Benefit Agreements. Continue reading “Committee of the Whole Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the March 7 Meeting?”

Walker to Step Down as the Head of Guelph General Hospital

It’s been a long, hard pandemic for everyone that works in the hospital, even the people that work in the executive offices. So it shouldn’t come as an especially big surprise that the current president and CEO of the Guelph General Hospital is about to be the outgoing president and CEO of the Guelph General Hospital. Marianne Walker has announced her intention to retire by the end of the year. Continue reading “Walker to Step Down as the Head of Guelph General Hospital”

And Just Like That… The Emergencies Act is Over

After all the sturm und drang about the Emergencies Act, which was passed on Monday night with a slim 185-151 vote, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came out late Wednesday afternoon and said it was over. With Ottawa now clear of convoy protestors, and some of the organizers now struggle to get bail, Trudeau affirmed that the work of the act was now complete even as the Canadian Senate was debating about passing it on their end. Continue reading “And Just Like That… The Emergencies Act is Over”

GUELPH POLITICAST #312 – It’s in the Wastewater!

The University of Guelph has been one of the leaders in COVID-19 research, and in the wake of Omicron, one specific area research took on new importance as the regular channels of COVID testing were overwhelmed. The future of monitoring COVID-19’s prevalence and resilience may be in wastewater testing, and we have the man that could write book on it if he weren’t so busy. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #312 – It’s in the Wastewater!”

For Real This Time, the State of Emergency is Over on March 1

Almost two years after both the City of Guelph and the County of Wellington initiated states of emergency in dealing with COVID-19, both governments are announcing their end next week. Coinciding with the previously announced end to proof of vaccination from the Government of Ontario, both the County and the City will end their emergency declaration and measures on March 1. Hopefully for real this time. Continue reading “For Real This Time, the State of Emergency is Over on March 1”

Busy First Morning Back at Queen’s Park Begins With More Sticker Drama

Members of Provincial Parliament and their staffs returned to Queen’s Park on Tuesday for the commencement of another legislative session, the last one before the Provincial Election, which is presently expected on June 2. For opposition parties and interest groups, it was a chance to talk about the challenges and issues still being caused by the pandemic, and for the Premier, it was a chance to just play politics. Continue reading “Busy First Morning Back at Queen’s Park Begins With More Sticker Drama”

Opposition Gets Ready for New Session (and the Election)

Family Day is supposed to be a day of rest, and an occasion to spend time with the family, but that doesn’t mean that there can’t be a little time for politics. Some of Ontario’s political leaders were thinking the same thing. The Ontario’s Members of Provincial Parliament return to Queen’s Park on Tuesday for the last legislative session before the election, but before that, they want to talk about their agendas. Continue reading “Opposition Gets Ready for New Session (and the Election)”