If you’re running for re-election to city council this is probably both good news and bad news. Good news because with the announcement of a settlement marks the end of what can liberally be called a debacle for the City of Guelph; but on the other hand it puts the issue right back on the front page as it were. Continue reading “PRESS RELEASE – City and Urbacon Settle Out of Court for Over $6.5 Million”
Considering that financial prudence (or lack there of) is going to be an issue in the municipal election, it came as somewhat suspicious that the City of Guelph would release the following press release on the Friday before the long weekend that official launches the campaign in earnest. Yes, the city wants to remind citizens that Standards & Poor’s has decided to continue our status as an AA+ credit rated municipality. That sounds pretty good, but will it be persuasive enough for city hall’s critics endorse the current administration when it comes time to case ballots? Continue reading “PRESS RELEASE – City Touts Continually Strong Credit Rating”
Despite my personal opinion about the somewhat audacious idea of bringing online voting to the hometown of the robocall, the City of Guelph is moving full steam ahead with it in this year’s municipal election. If you’re at all interested in learning more about the nuts and bolts of the computer-assisted democracy, then city hall is having a tutorial next week and you’re invited to bring your favourite device along to see how it’s all going to work. Continue reading “PRESS RELEASE – City of Guelph Invites You to Learn to Vote Online”
From some it’s a return to normalcy, for others its the deafening end to a precious few months of peace and quiet. However you see the start of a new school year, it’s beginning again this weekend, and the city is responding to the influx with the implementation of the Safe Semester Program. Taken for a test drive last year and deemed a success, the program makes a comeback with one small change, and the hopes that the weekend flock to pub row downtown is run as smooth as humanly possible (given that many of those humans are deeply inebriated). Continue reading “Safe Semester Kicks Off Next Weekend”
A new candidate who entered the mayoral race this week hopes to shake things up, and he’s making a pretty big noise as he’s filing his papers. University of Waterloo professor Jason Blokhuis is the sixth candidate to declare for the mayor’s race in Guelph this election cycle, and he’s making a play to position himself as a middle path between incumbent Karen Farbridge and her immediate challenger Cam Guthrie. Continue reading “New Candidate Aims to Shake Up Mayor’s Race”
August 8 has always been a politically significant day, in 1942 it was the start of the Quiet India movement, in 1974 it was the day that Richard Nixon announced he was stepping down from the presidency, and in 1990 it was the day that Iraq invaded Kuwait, setting off a series of events that would lead to the Gulf War.
Now August 8 is the date when the Guelph Transit lockout ended and the buses will start rolling out onto city roads once more. The City of Guelph and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1189 have both ratified a new contract and service will be restored once schedules are made and the bus fleet is inspected, which should be Friday at the earliest. What’s in the agreement, and what’s next for riders? Read on… Continue reading “Guelph Transit Back Friday; ATU & City Both Ratify Agreement”
As the lockout of Guelph Transit nears the end of its second week, there’s a sign of hope that this time next week we may be able to get back on the buses again. Word came in late last night that the City of Guelph and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1189 have reached a tentative agreement.
The key point is that this means there’s no immediate end to the lockout. The ATU members will vote this coming Thursday, August 7, and if they vote to ratify, council will hold a special meeting to vote it through on their end. Meeting day and time to confirmed soon. Now the question is, for the union, will the third time be the charm? Continue reading “City & ATU Reach Tentative Agreement; Bus Service to be Restored After Ratification”
It turns out Baker Street is just the beginning. Adding to the recent talk about re-orienting the north end of Downtown Guelph, is the news below that city staff has released a draft of the new Downtown Streetscape Manual and Built Form Standards, which will come before the Planning, Building, Engineering and Environment Committee a week from Monday on April 7. Continue reading “City to Present Streetscape Manual for Downtown Facelift”
Coming perilously close to being taken out with the trash, came word late Thursday afternoon that the City of Guelph was seeking conciliation from the province as contract negotiations with the employees of Guelph Transit, represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1189, appear to have come to an impasse. Continue reading “City Seeking Provincial Conciliator for Transit Contractor”
It’s always a conundrum, does our government do enough to engage its citizens and encourage them to get involved with policy and city matters? Continue reading “City Wants Your Help to Make Government More Open”
Guelph Politico 