Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour

Episode 147 : BUDGET PRIMER - Multi-year 2024 - 2027

In December, the city of Guelph will pass its first four-year multi-year budget, with an increase of over 10%; why is the proposed tax increase so high?

 

The City of Guelph's Chief Administrative Officer, Scott Stewart, answers many of our questions about Guelph's budget.

 

Councillors Phil Allt, Linda Busuttil and Erin Caton join in a discussion about local boards including the police services, the long awaited main library and south end recreation centre as well as provincial downloading - the transfer of responsibility from the province to municipalities WITHOUT any compensation.

 

CAO Stewart points out that while the city contributes $35 million to the county each year for social services, it has no authority over how this money is spent. How does the City deal with social housing without in house expertise?

 

Breezy Breakfast, where the opinions are as energizing as an espresso!

 

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Episode 146: One Year of New Council in Review

Welcome to Breezy Breakfast Municipal Digest where every bite a nutritious energizing spoonful of food for thought. 

We are joined by first time School Trustee and Upper Grand District School Board Chair Ralf Messenbrink who speaks on current issues at the local board of education. Whether its budget, library offerings, support for students with extra learning needs and challenges, local boards are often expected to provide solutions to gaps and sometimes they are not necessarily in charge - it’s the province that makes the rules and establishes the budget for everything from teaching to school supplies.

We are also joined by first year councillor Erin Caton. Erin discusses their first year around the Horseshoe. As a passionate advocate for accessibility Erin has transformed themself from active citizen to engaged councillor. Erin and Phil engage a lively discourse on budget, transit, parks and most importantly the big unknown - how does one build the thriving community of the future when the rules change almost daily.

Breezy Breakfast: food for thought with topics as hot as your morning tea.

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Episode 145: Seasonal Stories with Local Historians Susan Ratcliffe, JayWalking and Bonnie Durtnall

This week's Breezy Breakfast talk turns to Halloween with seasonal stories ... some scary ... some historical ... all true?

Local historian and librarian, Susan Ratcliffe recounts some frightening real life local lore and some of the horror is happening right now!

Jay Wilson, known locally for his entertaining historical recounting as JayWalking, walks us through some spooky Guelph streets and stories.

And Bonnie Durtnall, historian and author, talks about her latest book "Haunted Guelph". Do you know who had the largest funeral in Guelph?

Sit back and listen in as Phil Allt hosts ... BOO!

 

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Episode 144 : Parliament Update with MP Lloyd Longfield

This week on Breezy Breakfast, we are joined by Guelph's MP Lloyd Longfield.

 

Among other things, Lloyd talks about Universal Basic Income, water issues in Indigenous communities, the current Middle East crisis, and housing in Guelph.  Along the way, Lloyd discusses decorum in the House and civility in society. 

 

Breezy Breakfast is your source for local discussion of current issues. Why not participate? We meet almost every Thursday at Rise N’ Shine on beautiful Macdonell St in beautiful Downtown Guelph. 

If you have an opinion and a hunger for knowledge that is complimented with thirst for input from others, join us. Breezy Breakfast: where everything is Sunny Side Up

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Episode 143: 15 years of 10C in Guelph

This week, we learn about 10C, the hub for community activators and changemakers in the City of Guelph.

"10C uses placemaking, social enterprise, social finance, social innovation – and food – to create new ways to connect, collaborate and share resources."

Julia Grady, Executive Director & Co-Founder of 10C, gives us the scoop on 10C's history, the unique opportunities it provides for Guelphites, and its role in the Guelph Farmer's Market.

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Episode 142: Greenbelt Shenanigans and What’s Next

Greenbelt Resignation Roundup:  August 22 - September 21, 2023

Amato:  developers who had access to him got 92 per cent of the GB land that was removed.
Clark:  violated two sections of the Members Integrity Act; was "unaware" of the machinations of his chief of staff
Rasheed:  got an "opulent" massage in Las Vegas (!!) at the same time as his developer pal.
Truesdell:  Also in Las Vegas at the same time as Rasheed.  Cannot confirm or deny that he received an opulent massage.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023:  The day of reckoning

"I made a promise to you that I wouldn't touch the Greenbelt. I broke that promise. And for that I'm very, very sorry.

“It caused people to question our motives. As a first step, to earn back your trust, I'll be reversing the changes we made and won't make any changes to the Greenbelt in the future.

“Because even if you do something for the right reasons, with the best of intentions, it can still be wrong.”
- Premier "Sorry, not sorry" Doug Ford

Mike Marcolongo of Protect Our Moraine and the Wellington Water Watchers takes us on a deep dive into the Greenbelt Scandal.

For the past few months Mike has been at the forefront of the campaign to right this political, economic, and environmental wrong.  Mike took a leave of absence from his job to devote his time to saving the Greenbelt.

Mike and Phil Allt discuss the Greenbelt, next steps, and future challenges Ontario might face as more developers attempt to initiate deals while getting massages in Las Vegas. 

The truth is stranger than fiction.

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Episode 141: Human Rights & Equity in the Upper Grand District School Board

On Thursday September 28th, Alicia Ralph joined us at Rise and Shine to discuss Human Rights and Equity. 

She is the newest member of the Upper Grand District School Board in a new role:  Human Rights and Equity Advisor.

Alicia's goal is to address human rights and equity for students and staff and to promote system-level and organizational change throughout the UGDSB.

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Episode 140: John Galt, Protests & Counterprotests, Downtown Parking

We had an open mic on Thursday September 21st.

Topics included Guelph's founder John Galt, the protests and counterprotests of September 20th, and, one of Guelph's favourite topics, Parking!

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Episode 139: Queen’s Park Update with MPP Mike Schreiner

On Thursday September 14th, Guelph's MPP Mike Schreiner joined us at the Rise and Shine Restaurant to give us a Queen's Park update.

The challenges that Ontario face are legion; the lack of affordable housing, ever-increasing rents, and the shortage of healthcare workers are at the top of the list.

August was a big month for the Greenbelt land swap scandal.  Mike has plans for three new bills regarding the greenbelt, 400-series highways, and quarries.

Get ready for a lively discussion about the state of our province.

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Episode 138: SOLID WASTE in GUELPH

From July 2023 to the end of December 2025, all municipalities in Ontario will transition their blue box program to a new collection model. 

Under this new model, the companies that produce blue box materials will be required to fully fund and operate the recycling system.

In other solid waste news, Guelph has started the downtown waste project with the following goals:

- to prioritize public space containers for use by pedestrians visiting the downtown, and,
- to implement a dedicated collection strategy for downtown residential, industrial, commercial, and institutional properties.

Check out https://www.haveyoursay.guelph.ca/downtown-waste-project for more details.

Our guest is Cameron Walsh, Division Manager of Solid Waste Resources, Environmental Services, City of Guelph.

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