The original plan was to unveil the fiscal 2020/2021 budget in the Ontario legislature tomorrow. Instead, the Government of Ontario announced this afternoon that they’re going to spend billions of dollars in the short-term to help the province fight the COVID-19 pandemic with new health spending, and economic support for workers and businesses. Continue reading “Government of Ontario Announces Billions in New Funding to Fight COVID-19”
The City of Guelph has announced that the closures of all City facilities will continue until the end of April. Although the original intention was that some facilities like City Hall, rec centres and the library were going to re-open on April 6, they will now remain closed till May. In-person council meetings will also be cancelled for the time being. Continue reading “City Facilities Closed Till April 30, All Council Meetings Cancelled”
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”
It’s been a busy couple of days in our area for breaking COVID-19 diagnoses, but the latest news hits Guelph General Hospital hard as two members of staff there have tested positive for the virus. The leadership of the hospital says that they’ve got things under control, but recent events should show the whole community that COVID-19 is here, and we need to take it seriously. Continue reading “Two Healthcare Workers at Guelph General Have COVID-19”
All non-essential businesses in Ontario will be closed by midnight tonight as mandated by the Government of Ontario, and they’ve released a comprehensive list featuring 74 categories of businesses that will be allowed to remain open. At the same time, the Government has also announced that they will be providing rate relief for hydro prices by suspending time-of-use metering for the next month-and-a-half. Continue reading “Ontario Government Reveals List of Essential Business, Plus Hydro Rate Cut”
It’s been a long time coming, but Guelph has its first confirmed case in COVID-19, and in terms of the people who are the most vulnerable to the pandemic, it’s been found in the worst possible place. Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health confirmed Tuesday that a case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Guelph, and the patient is a resident of St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Continue reading “Guelph First Case of COVID-19 Confirmed at St. Joe’s”
The Government of Ontario is ordering that all non-essential business be closed by midnight on Tuesday, and the province’s grocery stores will not be considered among the “non-essential.” But what about farmers’ markets? One concerned citizen is pushing the City of Guelph to re-open the weekly market in Guelph, but City staff says that there are practical considerations that make that impossible. Continue reading “If Grocery Stores Are Essential, Why Can’t We Open the Farmer’s Market?”
For the first time, we’re going to live blog an emergency meeting of city council. You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along on Twitter, or follow the tweets below. You can also watch the City’s own live-stream of the meeting here. Continue reading “LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for March 23, 2020”
The City Clerk’s office has released a consolidated agenda for Monday’s emergency city council meeting, which includes more details about what emergency action that city council is considering in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some local fiscal stimulus is being planned, and according to City staff, the emergency measures could come with a $4 to $6 million price tag. Continue reading “Amended Council Agenda Promises Fiscal Relief With (Maybe) a $6 Million Cost”
Just when you thought there was nothing left to close in Guelph, the City has announced that they are closing all playgrounds in the Royal City as well as the fenced-in dog park, the skate park, and other outdoor rec facilities upon the advice of the Medical Officer of Health. The closures will take effect immediately. Continue reading “City of Guelph Announces Closure of Park Facilities”
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