Ward 4
Name: Linda Busuttil
Occupa+on: City Councillor/Volunteer General Manager of West Village Community Development Co-operative Charity

 

How long have you lived in Guelph?

45 years

Do you reside in the Ward you are running in?

Yes, I have lived in Ward 4 for over 20 years, we have raised our family here and are actively engaged as volunteers in the Ward. I have also lived in other city Wards.

 

Why are you running in this election?

We all want healthy, safe, livable neighbourhoods for our families and the community as a whole. While this is what we want to achieve we’re also trying to balance the cost. Many candidates speak about Affordability as a local property tax burden, the reality is that affordability is compounded by the rising cost of rent, family food, transportation, utilities, clothing and health care. As a municipality we are in a time when our growing community has increased service expectations, there is also a great need for increased supports, and yet our ability to generate revenue is constrained.

As a current city councillor, I have advocated for affordable unit requirements in development applications, supported Affordable Housing seed grants for the development of low-income housing and supported Renter Protection measures.

It has been an honour to serve this past term as your Councillor and I would ask for your support to continue to be your voice on council making informed decisions for the city as a whole.

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Why should people vote for you?

Over the past 20 years I have held various leadership roles in the community but I am most proud of my responsive volunteer action at the grassroots here in Ward 4, this is where I see the biggest impact of my efforts for individuals and families. When families struggled with food access during the pandemic I developed a free on-line order and delivery system for vulnerable households. When isolation and food insecurity was on the rise I led the development of a large garden, and a neighbourhood food hub and partnership pilot with the Guelph Food Bank.

When families shared that they could not afford recreation programs for their children, we developed free soccer, cricket, basketball, adult fitness and other programs to keep the community active and healthy.

I have conversations with residents of Ward 4 on a daily basis, and not just during an election campaign, at the food support program, community garden, tree plantings, Fall Fair event, the free recreation programs, and speaking with parents at the splash pad, parks and playgrounds.

 

Always listening, making connections and helping residents access services and supports, working to identify and address local issues. While two decades of elected public service are important, the governance and fiscal responsibilities, it is the connection to the community that sets my candidacy apart.

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What do you see as the three top issues facing Guelph residents right now?

Housing
Housing and affordable housing development is very important, but there is also a need to retain our stock of low-cost affordable rental housing and advocate with all levels of government for the investment and development of community public and supportive housing.

We have seen how high rent costs and low vacancy rates contribute to homelessness in our community. While it is true that average rental costs are decreasing, the reality is that new rental units have been built at the higher end of the market. There remains a lack of low-cost housing for seniors, families and for single adults.

My priority will be to continue to ask if development applications include affordable and accessible units, and units suitable for families, and work with the County and city staff to develop public community housing.
 

Infrastructure and Maintenance

As the city grows we need to fund the development and maintenance of our infrastructure. Water and waste water, lights, roads, sidewalks and all of the maintenance to keep this in good repair.
 

For decades municipalities collected Development Charges to fund the building of new infrastructure and its maintenance. Legislative changes have constrained this funding source and as the city welcomes more development and growth, we are restricted in the amount and timing of when Development Charges may be collected. This means we have to provide the
infrastructure upfront and wait for the development to take place before we are able to collect any Development Charges and these do not cover our costs.
 

This arrangement creates revenue shortfalls as without the Development Charges the pressure is shifted to existing property taxpayers. While city staff work hard to access federal and provincial grants to offset these costs this is not a sustainable, predictable or reliable long term infrastructure funding strategy.

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Parks and Trails

The city of Guelph does not own land suitable for additional parks, and the Parkland Acquisition Funds come from Development Charges which are increasingly limited and contested. This was the topic of a recent City of Guelph public consultation. With the intensification of neighbourhoods comes a desire and increased need for access to outdoor green spaces, trails,
sports fields and other amenities, and yet we have the operational reality of limited funds to pay for land acquisition.

Much of what we think are city parks and that residents use for recreation are actually school board and Conservation Authority properties. Monitoring our ability to provide parkland for a growing city is a concern.

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What is the most important thing you want to see changed in Guelph?

I sincerely respect and appreciate the work that city staff have undertaken this term to facilitate affordable housing on three city properties, Edinburgh Road, Normandy Drive and Eastview Road. It is important to recognize that these developments are “affordable” as defined by the province’s Affordable Benchmarks of at least 10% below the average market rent – so currently
approx. $1,253/month for a Studio to $1,881/month for a three bedroom. As a city we need to ensure that there are housing opportunities even more affordable than this.

What I would like changed is for the city to become further engaged, take on a leadership role and strongly advocate with provincial and federal levels of government for an investment in community, public, deeply affordable, rent geared to income housing. This is an investment that was ended by the federal and provincial governments in the early 1990’s and has resulted in
families on long wait lists, often for over a decade.

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What is the most important thing you don’t want to see changed in Guelph?
We have a great community of caring neighbours and residents who come out for each other and the city as a whole. I see this in the many Ward volunteers who come out to the annual Park Clean Up and Tree planning, and activities like Skating Rinks, Food, Clothing and Back to School drives to support children and families.

While we may be a city there is still a pride in knowing and caring for your neighbour.

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Is Guelph growing too fast, just the right amount, or not fast enough?

I do not believe that Guelph is growing too fast but I do think investment in our infrastructure needs to catch up, our parks, transit and public services. This is a maier of investment and is an item our Mayor as a member of the Ontario Big City Mayors has raised this past term. Grow but at the same time the province needs to provide municipalities with a new financial [income]
framework if Development Charges continue to be restricted.

 

We want to grow, but we want complete communities, healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods.

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What makes Guelph great?

I think our events, festivals and markets are great. From Multicultural and Jazz to film festivals, the Pottery market and Art on the Street, there is something for everyone and a community-wide effort to connect, engage and celebrate the community. I love this vibrancy!