Online Town Hall

I like Gerry Barker – I find myself waiting eagerly for his editorial column; a longstanding diatribe about local municipal politics published bi-weekly in the Mercury.

I also like Steven Colbert – Steven is a popular late night TV talk show host featured on the Comedy Network who plays an opinionated and self-righteous commentator who “unwittingly” uses a number of logical fallacies to ridicule the actions of politicians and other public figures. By taking their statements and “the facts” to the furthest (supposedly) logical conclusion, he uses irony and sarcasm to paint a twisted picture of reality.

Both of these gentlemen are gifted satirists and both of them can be very entertaining (and even enlightening) if you don’t take them too seriously.

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On June 5, 2009, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced a joint investment of more than $44.4 million for 21 infrastructure projects identified as priorities for the City of Guelph that will create jobs and help build a stronger community.  The City of Guelph will contribute $22.2 M.
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government has established a new $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund that provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects. Funding to Ontario communities, which will be matched by the government of Ontario as part of its 2009 provincial budget, Confronting the Challenge: Building our Economic Future, is available for two years for projects that will be built during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.,

As part of our commitment to good governance, Guelph City Council met last night to learn more about the City’s Long Term Financial Plan and a new tool that will help prioritize capital projects, both of which will strengthen strategic and fiscal management for the City.

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I find it interesting that when city staff reported the possibility of a 6.5% tax increase it was front page news. However, when Council pared down this estimate to deliver the lowest tax increase of the last two terms of council it was reported on page three of the Mercury.

Well, I certainly feel that the lowest tax increase in 5 years (despite being among the fastest growing urban areas in Canada) is VERY significant.

Along with growth demanding increased use of the city’s roads, water, wastewater, housing and quality parks and public spaces we have dramatically improved public transit with the implementation of 20 minute bus service this year.

6.9% in 2004 – Previous Council
5.1% in 2005 – Previous Council
4.7% in 2006.
4.3% in 2007
3.8% in 2008

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I have received a number of emails regarding the rumors surrounding Guelph Hydro fueled in part by some of the misleading editorials written by outspoken critics of the current Guelph City Council.

Gerry Barker recently wrote one of most ludicrous, misleading and inflammatory editorials that I have ever read on the issue which was echoed again by David Birtwistle (who as a reasonably intelligent person probably knows better but thought he would stir the pot anyways) a few weeks later.

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Guelph City council passed the city’s 2007 operating and capital budget on Tuesday evening and approved a 4.3% increase over last year’s budget. The increase is equivalent to an $88 increase on property tax bills for households with a $200,000 assessment.

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