Welcome to the Guelph Politico Tip Sheet, a thrice-a-week newsletter meant to “tip” you off about some of the important stuff going on in the Royal City. It arrives directly in your inbox on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
REMINDER: There will be a recap of last night’s meeting in your email this time tomorrow!
Committee of the Whole Meeting – Wednesday April 3 at 10 am.
There’s a lot to talk about this meeting with the new Lobbyist Registry, and an update about the Municipal Accommodation Tax. Also, we’ll get the Water Services annual report, updates about the Greener Home program, and updates to the Sewer Use and Water Bylaws. You can see the agenda on the City’s website here, and you have until Thursday at 10 am to register with the clerks office as a delegate or to send a correspondence.
Planning Meeting of City Council – Tuesday April 9 at 10 am.
The agenda for this meeting will be posted on the City’s website on Thursday March 28.
Regular Meeting of City Council – Tuesday April 16 at 6 pm.
The agenda for this meeting will be posted on the City’s website on Thursday April 4.
Workshop Meeting of City Council – Wednesday April 17 at 6 pm.
The agenda for this meeting will be posted on the City’s website on Thursday April 4.
For more information on Guelph City Council meetings, from agendas to live-tweets to recaps, you can visit that page on Guelph Politico here.
The 2024 Ontario budget contains a deficit for the fiscal year that’s almost double the amount that was projected late last fall, but don’t worry guys, we’re totally going to balance the budget before the next election. In other news, extending the pause on the provincial gas tax an extra six months is going to cost the government another half-a-billion dollars.
Guelphites owes almost $12 million for more than 21,000 fines issued since 2009.
The Guelph Community Health Centre and the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area are teaming up to fill the void after HIV/ARCH Guelph announced that it will be closing for good at the end of the month.
A mysterious third party has offering to commit over $2.6 million to help fund the addition to the Stepping Stone building on Gordon Street.
In the midst of another round of rumours that Marineland is shutting down, it’s been confirmed that two more beluga whales have died at the theme park to bring the number of whale deaths up to 17 in the last five years.
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Reminder: Easter’s almost here so the spring food drive is now on at the Guelph Food Bank.
The City of Guelph has secured $13.5 million from the federal government to support the construction of the new main library, essentially shaving the amount from the City’s commitment to that $67 million project.
Later that day at this month’s library board meeting, consultants laid out a plan for how best to support the promotion of the new main library.
Metrolinx is adding more cars with bike storage along the Kitchener Line to cope with rising number of ebikes that are being taken into the city for the use of food app delivery people.
How would like to get a 5-cent (that’s $0.05) property tax bill like this Fergus man?
Look out for incoming from John Tibbits because Immigration Minister Marc Miller slyly alluded to Conestoga College’s profit margins when asked at a forum if Ontario’s colleges have an unhealthy reliance on international students.
The City of Kitchener has approved four units as of right, and the City of Waterloo took a step forward on that file too with an information meeting.
This week on Open Sources Guelph, Scotty Hertz and I are talking about last week’s effort to axe the government by axing the [carbon] tax, and then we’re about all the things that the 2024 Ontario budget did and did not deliver. Also, we will have an interview with Ward 5 Councillor Cathy Downer, who will talk to us about this week’s complicated debate about government interference and other municipal matters.
Tune in to Open Sources Guelph later today at 5 pm on CFRU 93.3 fm!
Listen to Open Sources Guelph, as well as the Guelph Politicast and End Credits, any time by subscribing to the Guelph Politicast channel on your favourite podcast app at Apple, Google, and Spotify.
Guelph Storm (OHL): The Storm finished the season strong with three games and three wins. The Owen Sound Attack came to town last Friday and lost 5-3, and then Storm when up to the Sound where they were able to drive the Attack into overtime and came out victorious 7-6. For the last regular season game of 2024, the Storm went to London where they shut out the Knights 3-0. In further good news, Guelph set a new attendance record this season with just over 4,700 people on average packing the Sleeman Centre every game. The playoffs begin Thursday in the Soo as the Storm face the Greyhounds in the first round. They’ll be back in Guelph on Monday for game three.
Guelph Royals (IBL): The Royals have a lefty! Pitcher Rhys Montgomery, most recently of the Toronto Maple Leafs IBL team, is coming up Highway #401 to Hastings Stadium as the newest member of the Royals.
Guelph United FC (League1 Ontario): We a have a full house on the women’s team with defenders Emily Costello and Gabrielle Ferland both joining the United. As for the men, they’re signing people too; goalkeeper Michael Bittner McPherson will make the long trek from Florida to stand in the net for Guelph, plus Peyton Ferdinand from Ottawa will take up position as a defender. In other news, the men’s team will kick off their season at Oriental Park in May 11, which will serve as the “home” field until late May when the Centennial Bowl is ready. The season open for the men’s team is n April 27 in Hamiton, while the women get started a day earlier in Vaughan.
Guelph Sports Hall of Fame: The line-up for this year’s Guelph Sports Hall of Fame inductees have been announced. Guelph Marlins co-founder David Clutchy, championship softball player Danielle Everitt-Sinclair, figure skating coach Pat TeBoekhorst, and Guelph Royals legend Paul Ante will all go on the wall at the Sleeman Centre after the annual Guelph Sports Celebrity Dinner and Induction Ceremony on Wednesday May 15 at the Italian Canadian Club.
#EwokReference
Finally, feel free to reach out to me by email at adamadonaldson [at] gmail [dot] com, or find me on Facebook, Twitter, and, of course, GuelphPolitico.ca!