Welcome to the Guelph Politico Tip Sheet, a twice-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 Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) has announced that they’ll be holding a one day walkout on Wednesday if they can’t reach a deal with the Government of Ontario by then. Education Minister Stephen Lecce is urging the union to stay at the table and not upset the lessons of the province’s high schoolers (even If it’s just for a day).
The pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have found expression in Guelph around a peculiar local landmark. Old Jerimiah, the cannon at the centre of campus, was painted Sunday with a message of solidarity with protestors by the Hong Kong Student Radio Association, but the message was painted over the next morning, the University of Guelph’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association were accused of the repaint. On Monday night, emotions between the HKSRA and pro-China students at the U of G got hot, with the sometimes tense exchange being caught on video. Things seemed cool till Tuesday afternoon when a someone with their face covered carved “Death to the CPC” with a boxcutter on the Cannon. The HKSRA has since gone to Change.org to ask for the U of G to make an official statement of solidarity with the protestors in Hong Kong.
The Upper Grand District School Board unanimously passed a motion to declare a climate emergency at their meeting on Tuesday. The board will be creating a new committee to come up with recommendations to reduce the board’s carbon footprint.
Also in the News…
The City of Guelph is launching a new app that will give Guelphites tips and information to keep themselves safe in the event of an emergency. It’s called Alert Guelph.
Janice Folk-Dawson, the long-time labour activist and member of the Guelph and District Labour Council, has been elected executive vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL).
Updating two of the police news items from the last newsletter, at least one of the suspects from a shooting on Sunday has been arrested by Guelph Police. Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man has been arrested as the suspect that’s been dumping buckets of human waste on passersby outside university libraries in Toronto.
The Town of Asbestos, well-known for being named after that cancer-causing stuff dug up from the mine nearby, is looking to rebrand. Apparently, they’re having trouble attracting new investment with a name like “Asbestos.”
The Politico Tip Sheet is open for anyone to subscribe, so if you know a friend or associate that might like to receive this newsletter, send it to them, and get them to click on the button below:
Check out the highlights from the Ward 4 town hall or watch the live stream here.
Winter parking restrictions start on Sunday, make sure all your permits are in order.
Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has appointed himself as his party’s critic on Indigenous Affairs.
Donald Trump’s verbal slip-up at one of his rallies has been a boon for a Calgary company that gives away three pairs of socks for every pair that they sell. Yes, Virginia, there is a “Sock Rocket.”
30 seasons and a movie? Danny Elfman, who composed the theme music for The Simpsons, recently said in an interview that he thinks the long-running show might be ending soon.
November 27 – Budget Meeting, Delegations for the Tax Supported Operating Budget, Local Boards and Shared Services Budget.
Council heard a dozen different delegations on Wednesday night concerning the 2020 Tax Supported Operating Budget, and the Local Board and Shared Services Budget.
Chamber of Commerce President Shakiba Shayani, TAAG Chair Steven Petric, and Transport Futures’ Martin Colloer all spoke to the need to enact transit improvements; representatives from the Guelph Community Health Centre, Stonehenge Therapeutic and the Welcome Drop In Centre all spoke to the need to continue funding on the initiatives from the mayor’s task force on homelessness; and, Dale Mills of the Guelph General Hospital Board petitioned for the requested renovation funds. A couple of delegates opted to appeal to council to not approve the 9.8 per cent increase for the Guelph Police Services budget.
As to what will happen at next week’s budget decision night, Councillor Christine Billings said that she’ll be looking at a way to get funding to keep the recently cancelled playgroups sponsored by CHC going in eight neighbourhoods. Councillors Leanne Piper and Rodrigo Goller both spoke to the desire to set up a reserve fund for harm reduction housing so that council can move swiftly if an opportunity comes up. Several councillors also discussed the possibility of spreading out the hospital’s request for funds over six or seven years as opposed to five, and what moves they can make to further fund new programs like the Support Recovery Room and the Welcome Streets workers downtown.
December 2 – Committee of the Whole.
In the last Committee meeting of the year, there will be a sign bylaw variance request, the update to the Waste Free Ontario Act, and the third quarter operating variance. Get all the details here.
The meeting will begin at 2 pm and so will the live blog, which you will be able to follow on Guelph Politico, or on Twitter @adamadonaldson.
December 3 – Deliberations on the Tax Supported Operating Budget, Local Boards and Shared Services Budget.
The meeting will begin at 2 pm and so will the live blog, which you will be able to follow on Guelph Politico, or on Twitter @adamadonaldson.
Also coming up at City Council:
December 5 - Deliberations on the Tax Supported Operating Budget, Local Boards and Shared Services Budget. (If Required.)
December 9 – Planning Meeting.
This meeting will see the decision report on one Gordon Street development, the statutory public meeting of another, and the new Commercial Build Form Standards will be discussed. Check out the agenda here.
If you want to delegate on any of the items at Council, you have until 10 am on Friday December 6 to get in touch with the Clerk’s Office. Here’s how.
December 11 – Special Council Meeting – Workshop on Transportation Master Plan and the Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw.
There will be no delegations at this meeting. Though it’s open to the public, this is a council workshop.
December 16* – Regular Meeting of Council.
The agenda for this meeting will be released on Thursday December 5.
*Council goes on Christmas Break after this meeting.
The Mayor’s Tree Lighting takes place this Saturday at 7 pm in Market Square.
The 8th Annual Worlds AIDS Day Gala takes place this Saturday at the Frank Hasenfratz Centre for Excellence in Manufacturing at 7 pm. (You’ll need tickets to that though.)
Also on Saturday, Out on the Shelf is hosting an open house at their 10C Shared Space location from 11 am to 2 pm.
Next Friday is the 30th Anniversary vigil for the “Montreal Massacre” at Gilbert MacIntryre & Son Funeral Home at 6 pm.
If you missed any of this weeks shows, you can listen to them all, right now or any time, by subscribing to the Guelph Politicast channel on your favourite podcast app at iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and Spotify.
Fridays for Future will be holding a climate strike this Friday at noon in St. George’s Square.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott will be making an announcement in Guelph tomorrow concerning funding for the Guelph & Area Ontario Health Team. Guelph’s OHT is one of the first organizations of its kind to get funding as part of the Ontario government’s grand re-organization of health services.
The 200th episode of the Guelph Politicast is in the can. No, I won’t tell you who the guest is.
Tuesday is “Giving Tuesday,” so would you, or someone you know, should consider giving to journalism?
https://guelphpolitico.ca/donate/
And finally, feel free to reach out to be by email at adamadonaldson [at] gmail [dot] com, or find me on Facebook, Twitter, and, of course, GuelphPolitico.ca!