Naturally, Guelph has a Communist Candidate

When we say "Naturally, Guelph has a Communist Candidate," we mean it. The Communist Party of Canada began in a barn in what was once rural Guelph in 1921, and with another Federal race officially underway, it would be almost unnatural if no one locally came forward to carry the pink (o) flag. Now, following in the footsteps of Drew Garvie and Juanita Burnett, Tristan Dineen will be representing Guelph Communists in 2015.

Tribune Clarifies the Matter with Negative Seagram Ads

The early campaign tactic to throw mud on NDP candidate Andrew Seagram by the "Regional Agent of the Conservative Party of Canada" has made national headlines, but what was missing from the conversation was an answer to an important question: did he actually say that? The answer is, of course not. Two ads have been released by the nameless "Regional Agent", both with quotes taken from social media, both taken out of context. Fortunately, the Guelph Tribune has done the dirty work of re-contextualizing things. 

Guelph Police Warn of Fentanyl Use in the Royal City

Recent deaths in the Toronto area have raised new warnings about the use, or rather misuse, of the painkiller Fentanyl. Forty times for portent than heroin, there have been 655 deaths attributed to Fentanyl alone from 2009 to 2014, and in the last week alone there was a high profile theft of patches in Toronto, two high-profile arrests in Halton Region, and 16 overdoses in a single day in Vancouver. In the shadow of that recent news, and a bulletin from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, the Guelph Police Service has issued their own warning.

"White Stuff" Found in Howitt Park

169 bathtubs. That's how much water that the City of Guelph had to remove in the an area near the pedestrian bridge in Howitt Park last week when a mysterious white substances was reportedly found in the creek. 

Campaign Gets Ugly as Seagram Comes Under Attack

There's been a lot of concern heading into this Federal Election about dirty tricks both in the campaign and at the ballot box. Those concerns seem to have been justified today with the above ad making the rounds on social media featuring a supposed comment by Guelph NDP candidate Andrew Seagram apparently mocking Christians.

Chamber of Commerce Annouces Federal Candidates Debate Date

Someone asked on Twitter Thursday if a date had been set for a debate of the local candidates, and today I discovered the answer. On September 29, 2015 at 7 pm, the Guelph Chamber of Commerce will host a debate between the four major party candidates.

Fair Vote Guelph to Hold Candidates Forum

In what maybe the first all candidates meet-up of the season, Fair Vote Guelph is advertising that they have invited the four major party candidates to a forum that they will holding the second week of September.

Elections Canada Hosting Pilot Project on 40 Campuses; U of G Will Be One

It's a problem just about every election cycle, getting young people to the polls and casting their vote. Students especially are part of this struggle because if the election in question takes place while they're away from their home riding, they'll have to either vote in their school's riding, or vote via absentee ballot back home. As fate would have it, Elections Canada is making it easier this year by hosting several days of advanced polls where students can cast ballots that will count in their home ridings.

Guelph Wants a Piece of the Mailbox Fight?

Tales of open revolt in Hamilton over Canada Post's plans to end door-to-door mail delivery seem to have inspired one Guelph city councillor to speak up on the issue of installation of community mailboxes. While Guelph is not amongst the communities already announced to be losing some portion of home delivery in exchange for community mailboxes, Leanne Piper is saying that if the day comes, then the city should be consulted about their placement.

Now This is How You Ride the Bus

It was on this day last year that the tensions between the City and Guelph Transit workers was finally resolved after a protracted and antagonistic negotiation that culminated in a lockout of the bus drivers and mass disruption to the lives of bus users. One of the problems with the way transit is run in this city, from both the point of view of management and the point of view that those that have the option to not use transit, is that taking the bus is only a grueling, uncomfortable experience. Well, at least the City of Edmonton is looking to change that opinion.

City Wants Your Two Cents About the Budget

After the truncated effort to pass a budget earlier this year, the City of Guelph, its staff, and political leaders are going to try something new for the 2016 Budget, a massive new effort to try and gather as much community consultation as possible before city council votes for the final budget in December. 

A Quick Note About Election Coverage

So here we are, another Federal campaign. This blog started with a Federal election, the 2008 by-election to replace Brenda Chamberlain as Member of Parliament for Guelph, and that became the full-blown 2008 Federal Election exactly one day before it was over. We made it though 2011, after which we were assured thanks to a majority for the Conservatives that we'd have a four years till the next one. So here we are, and I'm sure you're wondering what I have cooking...