Guelph-Wellington's a Smart City, as Pitch Passes First Round of Competition

In April, the City of Guelph and Wellington County revealed their submission for the Federal Government's Smart City Challenge: the creation of the Canada's first circular food economy. As luck would have it, the selection committee liked what Guelph and Wellington are offering, and now we're off to round two.

Zombie Play Tries to Make a Point About Electoral Reform for MP

One year after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that electoral reform was not going to happen, despite numerous promises to the contrary, a group of Guelph activists said that they're still invested in holding the PM to his word. To do this, some concerned Guelphites decided to put on a little show, one that might appeal to the drama teacher background of the present occupant of the PMO. Watch the "zombies" descend on Lloyd Longfield's constituency office.

VIDEO: Justin Trudeau at Linamar. He Sees Stuff, Talks to People

The prime minister coming to town is big news, but does Justin Trudeau make any news when he comes to Guelph other than the fact that he was here? Today, as it was this time last year, the answer is no, but he made the day of a lot of the working folk at Linamar's Innovation Centre in a tour of the plant floor that saw no press questions, and no PM answers (not that we would be able to hear ourselves anyway). We do, however, have the following video of his visit.

GUELPH POLITICAST #67 - The Voices of Electoral Reform

Two protests in two weeks. Guelph hasn't been this riled up about something since the anti-Walmart days! But the passionate demands of Guelphites for electoral reform seems to have not been silenced by the apparent disinterest of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to keep his campaign promises. In fact, the PM's dismissal of the issues seems to have created a new urgency.

Electoral Reform Advocates Give Trudeau a Hot Take on a Cold Guelph Day

Considering that they were feeling like Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government was giving them the cold shoulder, the chilly air and lightly falling snow provided the perfect atmosphere for a demonstration on  electoral reform today at Market Square. Although bitter, angry and disappointed that the Liberals will not be following through on a campaign promise to reform the electoral system, between 60 and 70 protestors promised to not give up the fight.

Reporter's Notebook: What Does a Prime Minister Photo Op Look Like?

You may noticed that coverage of the Prime Minister's visit to Guelph didn't say much, because when Justin Trudeau was here he didn't say anything. Well, he did talk to staff at Polycon, a plant owned by Magna on Independence Road, but nothing was said to the dozen or so in the local press that was there, no announcement, and no speech about the awesomeness of Guelph and/or Canadian manufacturing. Still, I'm sure there's some curiosity out there: What does a prime ministerial photo op look like?

Trudeau Comes to Guelph; Sees Some Stuff

It was a good day to be on the first shift at the Magna Polycon plant on Independence Road in Guelph, because work literally came to stop as a special guest toured the facilities and made play that he was a regular everyday Joe Lunchbox. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in town for a photo op this afternoon, and in true Trudeau Mania fashion, it was a mob scene. 

Trudeau #First100: Reasons for Optimism; Challenges Ahead, Says Panel

Friday marked the end of the first 100 days in office for the 42nd Parliament and the government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. The October 19th election last fall saw not just a change in government, but the beginning of a highly ambitious agenda of grand promises and firm deadlines along with the day-to-day priorities of governing. So, 100 days later, a panel of experts gathered at the University of Guelph to talk about how it's going so far.

GUELPH POLITICAST #26 - Lloyd Longfield, MP-Elect

After nine years in the cold of the Opposition bench, Guelph has a seat in government again, and it will be filled by former Chamber of Commerce president Lloyd Longfield. The newly elected Libeal Member of Parliament for Guelph sat down with the Guelph Politicast this past week for his first, full-length post-election interview.

VIDEO - Valeriote Will Not Seek Re-Election as Guelph's MP

"Representing the people of Guelph is a great privilege. Service is an honour, but family is paramount. Indeed, fatherhood is a greater honour. It is for that reason that while I will continue to represent Guelph as its Member of Parliament until the next election is called, I will not be seeking re-election."

With those words, Frank Valeriote, the Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Guelph, laid out the new political reality for the Federal Election here in Guelph next year. It is now an open race with no incumbent running in the Royal City, as Valeriote in an emotional address shared with the media his desire to re-focus his attention to his family and find new ways to serve the Guelph community here are home.

SCOC Says Senate Reform is More Complicated Than the Commons

Stephen Harper laid all his senate reform hopes on the Supreme Court of Canada ruling his way, but given his history with the SCOC maybe that was the wrong move. Indeed, the Supreme Court has tossed the senate reform hot potato back into the hands of the Prime Minister, which is as good as not doing anything considering the options now in front of the government and the PM. All the chips Harper had left in regards to senate reform were bet on the Supreme Court to give him the wiggle room he needed to do what he had always promised to do, but didn't, and had to after the expense scandal. He lost.

Valeriote Adds Veterans Affairs to List of Liberal Duties

Justin Trudeau may be the face of the party, but it seems that Guelph MP Frank Valeriote is doing all the heavy-lifting. Now, along with deputy whip and co-chair of the policy caucus, Valeriote will head up the Liberal Party's criticism on Veteran's Affairs in the Commons. Valeriote's new position in the Liberal caucus was announced Monday. 

Top 10 National/International Stories of 2013

Last week, I looked at the Top 10 Local and Provincial stories of 2013, and, as promised, we now open our scope wider to the national and international stages. I believe I said that last week's list was easier to compile than this one, but the struggle with the National/International Top 10 was a "Sophie's Choice" of which stories make the cut and which to leave off. A couple of the stories below could be easily separated into their own categories, but since the year was jam-packed with activity, I can be understandably forgiven to fold a couple of things together in order to create a more inclusive picture of the year that was. So, without further ado, let's look at the national and international news that made the head of the headlines in 2013.

Game of Thrones Speech

This afternoon, Governor General David Johnston delivered the Speech from the Throne, a Hail Mary of oratory, with which Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants to put a summer of scandal behind him. Proroguing Parliament in mid-August, the government said they need an extra month and half to prepare a new list of objects they wanted to tackle in the fall session, and the result was a veritable recital of Conservative talking points on the issues of budget, economy and law and order. But the question remains: are the opposition and Canadians willing to hear the government out on their new wish list, or continue to fight the battles already in progress?

Valeriote Gets Parliamentary Promotion

Parliament may be prorogued, but when it comes back in session in October our local MP Frank Valeriote will be sitting with a new role in the Liberal caucus, Deputy Whip.

Reefer Madness

We tend to be highly critical of our politicians, whether they actually gamble on landing on either side of a controversial issue, or just pass the buck with a typical act of rhetorical sleight of hand. While the second option opens up a politician to all kinds of accusations about tip-toeing and saying nothing in order to remain electable, the politician that actually picks a side does so knowing that he might honk off as much as 50 per cent of the electorate. And if  you're the leader of a major political party, the act of speaking your mind is even more daring.

So kudos to Justin Trudeau for coming out this past week in favour of the legalization of marijuana. The gamble's either going to be a big win for the young Trudeau, or he's just handed the Conservative spin machine enough ammo to sink him, and possibly the party.

Of Pantywaists and Politics

At this point, I think maybe Marty Burke likes to write letters to the editor as a way to irk those of us still sore about his campaign of silence back during the 2011 election, a soreness that remains stinging in the wake of the robocall scandal for which Guelph was the epicentre, and on which Burke has yet to really comment on the record. And that brings us to Burke's latest screed to be published in the storied pages of the Guelph Mercury, and it's nice to see that in spite of everything that Burke is still doing the good work of the Harper political machine, which is to pile on Justin Trudeau.

And That's a Month of Scandal

Oh what a hectic month for political scandals. Seriously, one of things you notice doing a weekly radio show on politics is that there's really not enough time to cover it all, and it just keeps getting worse too. Happening at all levels of government, let's rundown what I like to call the Month of Scandal.

Justin Time!

Well that didn't take long. Of course, Justin Trudeau has long been the hands down winner of this past weekend's Liberal Leadership Race, so the Tories had a long lead time to get attack ads prepped, but to come out less than 24 hours after the man himself takes office - that's blitzpolitik.

But having said that, this is the best they could do?

Garneau Quits, Says Trudeau Inevitable

A bit of a shocker today coming from the race for Liberal leadership with the withdrawal of Marc Garneau, former astronaut, MP for Westmount-Ville-Mari, and Justin Trudeau's nearest competition in the race.