Tag: City Council

BUDGET 2016: Many Concerned About Proposed Transit Cuts

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Tonight, Guelph City Council received feedback from the general public regarding the proposed Operation budget for 2016, and of the 37 delegations that spoke, nearly more than a third, had transit on their minds. City staff recommended that one-way fares be raised from $3 to $4, and that service should be rolled back to one hour on Sundays and holidays, and it was the opinion of all 13 that spoke on the matter tonight that such moves were a bad idea. Continue reading “BUDGET 2016: Many Concerned About Proposed Transit Cuts” →

PRESS RELEASE – Negotiations Begin Again with Local Firefighters

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If you’re thinking to yourself, “Wait a minute, didn’t we just secure a new contract with firefighters a year ago?” you’re wrong. It was actually 10 months ago. But since the agreement was backdated to January 2013, that means that by the time the agreement was reached it was about 60 per cent over. So the time has come to arrange a new contract, and the City of Guelph and the Mayor’s Office has outlined the process. Continue reading “PRESS RELEASE – Negotiations Begin Again with Local Firefighters” →

PRESS RELEASE – Public Invited to Discuss the Capital Budget

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The city council has had budget pre-occupations since the beginning of the year, but now we’re getting down into the meat of the matter with public delegations and hard decisions as Mayor Cam Guthrie and the new council look to pass their first capital and operating budgets. If you have strong thoughts about the city finances, this is your chance to make them known. Continue reading “PRESS RELEASE – Public Invited to Discuss the Capital Budget” →

Budget 2015 Update – Opening Moves

Published on by Adam A. Donaldson1 Comment

The year started off with council already contentious about the budget process. Mayor Guthrie had announced his intention to bring a motion to the January 19 council meeting that would state that the city government should set itself the goal of not raising taxes anymore than the rate of inflation for the coming fiscal year. Of the seven councillors out of 12 that responded to the Guelph Tribune‘s request for comment, four were against the motion and three were against. Although the motion has since been delayed, some feel as though the mayor was going too far too soon. Continue reading “Budget 2015 Update – Opening Moves” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #20 – “Fireside Chat” with Phil Allt and James Gordon

Published on by Adam A. Donaldson1 Comment

October 27 marked a bold new venture for the City of Guelph with the election of seven new councillors and a brand new mayor. But campaigns are one thing, how does our city council, new and old members alike, intend to work together? That’s one of many questions I put to Ward 2 Councillor-Elect James Gordon and Ward 3 Councillor-Elect Phil Allt when we met recently for a series I’m calling “Fireside Chats,” the first of which forms the basis for this latest entry in the Guelph Politicast. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #20 – “Fireside Chat” with Phil Allt and James Gordon” →

Greg Schirk (Ward 4) – Candidate Questionnaire

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Like many candidates, Greg Schirk’s pride and dedication to the Royal City comes from spending most of his life as a Guelphite. He grew up in Guelph and then studied carpentry and broadcasting at Conestoga College. Career-wise, Schirk is a licensed glazier metal mechanic and has a successful career selling energy efficient window and door products to home owners and property managers. Continue reading “Greg Schirk (Ward 4) – Candidate Questionnaire” →

Bob Senechal (Ward 5) – Candidate Questionnaire

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Active in politics for many years now, Bob Senechal hopes to now join city council and represent the people of Ward 5. If you know the name then you might remember the 2007 Provincial Election when Senechal ran locally for the Progress Conservatives under John Tory (who, as you may have heard, is also making a run at local politics). Continue reading “Bob Senechal (Ward 5) – Candidate Questionnaire” →

Scott Butler (Ward 5) – Candidate Questionnaire

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First time candidate Scott Butler joins an active and accomplished slate in Ward 5 as one of six candidates looking to represent the voters in and around the University of Guelph neighbourhood on city council. Continue reading “Scott Butler (Ward 5) – Candidate Questionnaire” →

Martin Collier (Ward 2) – Candidate Questionnaire

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Martin Collier says he could have moved anywhere in the world with his wife Mary, but they decided to settle in Guelph for its “progressive municipal government, unique and historic downtown, multitude of sports and cultural activities, array of wellness practitioners and programs, proximity to nature and, especially, the friendly people.” Continue reading “Martin Collier (Ward 2) – Candidate Questionnaire” →

Who Endorses the Endorsers?

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With Election Day coming up, and advanced voting already begun, people are going to have to start making up their minds about who they want to represent them on Guelph City Council, but if you’re one of those indecisive types, perhaps you may be open to a few suggestions. Suggestions are not an issue this election, sorting through the bias and implications of said endorsements, is. There have been a few major endorsements by local political groups, and whether those endorsements speak to you will likely depend more on your personal politics than the more general criteria of who is the right fit for the job. Continue reading “Who Endorses the Endorsers?” →