Tag: COVID-19

Now (or in April), Everyone Will be Able to Do Council Business at Council

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Now, you too can enjoy the hustle and bustle of an in-person council meeting. Stating with the Committee of the Whole meeting on April 4, all members of the public will be able to attend city council meetings in-person, in the council chambers, in city hall. Naturally, there are still options for the people not so sure about being among the public in an enclosed setting, but for the most part, it’s back to business as unusual at the horseshoe! Continue reading “Now (or in April), Everyone Will be Able to Do Council Business at Council” →

Mask Mandates: City Changes Rule and School Board Has No Power to Contest

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

As you may have heard, mask mandates in Ontario are coming to end on March 21 in almost all settings, and that includes City of Guelph facilities. City Hall confirmed as much today, and so did the Upper Grand District School Board who confirmed that masks will become optional in their schools after March Break, and that they have no power to change that even if parents want them to. Continue reading “Mask Mandates: City Changes Rule and School Board Has No Power to Contest” →

Mask Mandate Removal Reaction is Generally Very Concerned

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Mask mandates are done in Ontario as of March 21. The new broke yesterday, and with all things COVID-19 there was an immediate reaction that was far from universal. While some people are looking forward with relief and optimism that the worst is over, there are still a lot of people raising the red flag that the province could be in danger in the short-term without masking mandates. Here’s some of the reaction from politicians, educators, and health workers. Continue reading “Mask Mandate Removal Reaction is Generally Very Concerned” →

ONgov Offers Nurses $5,000 to Stick Around, Many Unimpressed

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Nurses. We say they’re our heroes, but is that how we treat them? Through the course of the pandemic, many politicians, activists, and nursing representatives have said we don’t treat them like heroes, and that responsibility has been thrown at the feet of the Ontario government. So on Monday, the health minister literally raised the ante by $5,000, which will be made available to Ontario’s nurses if they stay in the nursing business. Continue reading “ONgov Offers Nurses $5,000 to Stick Around, Many Unimpressed” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #313 – Still COVID with Dr. Mercer (Winter Edition)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

As you click play on this episode, we’re officially in a new phase of the pandemic. More restrictions were lifted on March 1, and Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is assuring us that it’s only a matter of time now till our masking days are behind us. So it’s good news, right? Maybe. Let’s ask *the* local expect if the reason for optimism is real! Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #313 – Still COVID with Dr. Mercer (Winter Edition)” →

We’re Back! (Sort of.) Council Returns to In-Person with Hybrid Model This Month

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

March 9, 2020. That was the last time that Guelph City Council met in-person. Appropriately enough, almost exactly two years later, city council will once again be meeting in-person again starting on March 7. Well, half of them will be meeting in-person anyway. That’s one of the caveats announced by the City of Guelph’s clerks’ office on Tuesday, another sign that we’re slowly entering a post-pandemic world. Continue reading “We’re Back! (Sort of.) Council Returns to In-Person with Hybrid Model This Month” →

ICYMI: Proof of Vaccine Mandates Lift Tomorrow

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Just over two weeks from the second anniversary of the first COVID-19 lockdown, the Government of Ontario will take its next, great leap back to normalcy with the lifting of COVID-19 proof of vaccination mandates. While some places will have to decide for themselves whether they’re ready to roll without mandates, our different levels of government are now looking to the light at the end of tunnel. Continue reading “ICYMI: Proof of Vaccine Mandates Lift Tomorrow” →

Ontario Government to Add Work Protections from Employer Surveillance

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

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” →

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

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

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

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

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” →