6.5K
Downloads
190
Episodes
Looking for Guelph political discussion? The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is 60 to 90 minute audio version of Guelph’s weekly ”Breezy Breakfast” community meetings. Each week we invite guests to discuss issues of interest to Guelph residents.
Episodes
Monday Apr 03, 2023
Monday Apr 03, 2023
March is going out like a lion which is appropriate for the topic today: Bill 23.
When Bill 23 roared through Ontario last fall, many questions were raised by supporters of municipal democracy, those concerned about urban sprawl, and others who feared it was now open season on urban development and profiteering.
The "More Homes Built Faster" Act purports to increase the number of affordable housing units; however, the definition of affordable is no longer related to income but rather to market value. In fact, there is nothing in Bill 23 that actually promotes affordable and supportive housing.
Bill 23 decreases Development, Community Benefit, and Parkland Dedication charges. This loss of revenue will lead to higher property taxes as cash-strapped municipalities must now pay for the infrastructure, parkland, and neighbourhood amenities that were once the responsibility of developers.
City Staff everywhere are scrambling to make changes that conform to Bill 23 regulations.
Municipalities have been forced to sign housing "pledges" to indicate their commitment to massive increases in housing stock by 2031.
Furthermore, there is great debate over whether Ontario actually needs 1.5 million units of housing by 2031.
Today, we are joined by three City staff members:
Jayne Holmes, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services
Tara Baker, Treasurer and General Manager of Finance
Krista Walkey, General Manager of Planning and Building Services.
They offer their perspectives on Bill 23 and respond to the many thoughtful questions posed by listeners.
We are also joined by Councillors Erin Caton and Phil Allt who provide a political lens on what is clearly the most controversial legislation affecting municipalities in Ontario in over 50 years.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybreakfast
BREEZY BREAKFAST IS RUN BY VOLUNTEERS.
ZOOMING AND PODCASTING ARE NOT FREE.
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
OR, if you are old-school like me,
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com
and we can work it out.
NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL.
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Last week we discussed the state of the healthcare system in Guelph.
This week, we focus on the Guelph General Hospital (GGH).
Our guest is Melissa Skinner, VP Patient Services and Chief Nursing Executive at GGH.
Melissa describes the nature of GGH's upgrading efforts, the options available to increase hospital capacity, and the partnerships with other health facilities.
What is the role of the community in funding a hospital?
What is the current capacity of our hospital?
How many people are in hospital purgatory while waiting for spaces to open up in Long Term Care homes?
What about Emergency Care wait times?
How do paramedics help with Emergency Care?
Will the provincial proposal for private clinics help to solve our capacity issues?
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybreakfast
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Monday Mar 20, 2023
The healthcare crisis is worldwide and the challenge is to find both global and local solutions. At Breezy Breakfast, we encourage frank and open discussion with guests who share their expertise. We hope that our discussion provokes thoughtful engagement on an issue that affects us all.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybreakfast
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Guelph will soon collect a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).
How will the MAT work?
What does it mean for residents?
What effect is expected on Tourism in Guelph?
Our guests give us the scoop.
John Regan: General Manager of Economic Development & Tourism
Alex Jaworiwsky: Manager of Tourism & Destination Development
Hilary McCann: Destination Marketing Lead, Guelph Chamber of Commerce
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybreakfast
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Monday Mar 06, 2023
International Women's Day is on March 8th, 2023.
Join us on an eclectic journey as we explore urban farming, biodynamics, animism, and the relationships between Mother Earth and everything she sustains.
We kick off this episode by asking: what is soeurcery?
Our guest is Karen Houle: Poet, Philosopher, Compost Queen, Gardening Guru, and founder of The Art of Soil Collective.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybreakfast
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Monday Feb 27, 2023
Monday Feb 27, 2023
It's February 23rd, and today we're participating in a conversation about Community Engagement in Guelph.
When does the City ask for public input?
How much weight is given to public input in decision-making processes?
One thing is clear: Community Engagement is an iterative process.
Currently, the City is re-examining the way it conducts Community Engagement. If you have questions or comments, please visit:
https://www.haveyoursay.guelph.ca/community-engagement-framework-and-policy-update
Our guests from the City of Guelph are:
Glen Lombard, Manager, Community Engagement
and
Tracy Suerich, Community Engagement Coordinator
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybreakfast
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
On February 11th, Wellington Water Watchers presented Watershed 3, a digital convention for water justice.
Horeen Hassan gives us an overview of that online conference.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybullhorn
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Monday Feb 13, 2023
It's Thursday February 9th and we've got two updates today.
Danny Williamson from Wellington/Dufferin/Guelph Public Health discusses the new drinking guidelines, drug poisoning, and, of course, COVID.
Mike Marcolongo outlines how the provincial government rushed Bill 23 and the Greenbelt carve-outs into law with very little regard for public consultation. Conservation Authorities and Municipalities are scrambling to comply with draconian rules. Bill 23, the "More Homes Built Faster" Act, is a short-sighted piece of legislation that dismantles environmental protections; sadly, everyone but the government sees that it will make the housing crisis even worse.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybullhorn
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Sunday Feb 05, 2023
Sunday Feb 05, 2023
Both my mother's and father's parents employed seasonal workers to harvest tobacco; some came from Quebec and some lived in the area. The Quebeckers loved my Nagymama's cooking and baking so much that they had a slogan: "no pork, no work; no pie, goodbye!"
Fast forward 50 years: while some seasonal workers continue to be part of an extended family, others endure appalling conditions. Furthermore, their wages are garnished by middlemen who arrange the work placements. Clearly, Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program needs to be closely examined and updated.
Our guest today is Gabriel Allahdua, the author of Harvesting Freedom: The Life of a Migrant Worker in Canada.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybullhorn
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
A range of topics raised by the audience.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breezybullhorn
Support us via e-transfer to breezybullhorn@gmail.com
Email us at breezybullhorn@gmail.com