2022 Municipal Election

Election Resources

REVISED Ward Boundaries for Guelph’s Municipal Election

Check If You Are On Guelph’s Voter List

Where & When To Vote

Important Dates

FAQ for Voters

Find Out What Ward You Reside In

Councillor Candidates

10C: SDG Candidate Forum

Wards 1, 2, and 3 | Wards 4, 5, and 6

Guelph Chamber of Commerce: Ward Candidate Q&As

Guelph Politico: Candidate Questionnaires

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Guelph Mercury: Candidate Voter Guide

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Guelph Today: Ward Candidate Profiles

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Breezy Breakfast: Ward Q&A Podcast Episodes

More About the Mayoral Candidates

Dublin Street United Church:

Guelph Mayoral Debate

Guelph Chamber Mayoral Candidate Q&A

CTV: Mayoral Candidate Profiles

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Guelph Today: Mayor Profiles

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What Did Our Elected Councillors Actually Say?

GIG’s first project involved a survey of candidates in the Guelph municipal election across a set of 12 issues.  As we became aware of the lack of candidate information we quickly pivoted to provide in one place all the surveys completed by other organizations as well as recordings of any all candidate meetings that took place leading up to the vote.  This information is still posted.

What we have here in table form are the results of the survey for those who were elected. Use this public record of candidate commitments to see if they have carried through with their pre-election choices.

The results of GIG’s candidate survey are particularly relevant for those who were successful in attaining office in 2022.  Here are those results:

1. Increasing Affordable Housing

Guelph’s Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw changes will, among other things, allow for more affordable housing through flexible zones {zoning}. Early in the next term it will come to council for final approval. Will you support this important element that will allow for more housing through intensification?

Link 1

Link 2

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey.

2. Making Guelph a More Beautiful City

Given the increasing evidence that beautification and attention to design enhances the quality of life, reputation and economic vitality of communities (e.g. Elora, Stratford), as a Member of City Council, would you give this more weight and priority in the City’s policies and decision-making?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

3. Fighting the Climate Crisis

The Corporation of the City of Guelph has formulated interim targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for the City itself (accounting for only 2% {3%} of Guelph’s total). The City publicly committed (2021) to collaborating with the community as a whole to develop interim targets for emission reductions for all of Guelph. This has not been done. Will you accelerate the implementation of this commitment during your term of office?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

4. Improving Crisis Intervention

Do you support reallocating some police resources to harm reduction and other community supports?

Link. 

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

5. Supporting Guelph’s rich cultural life

It has been proven that investment in the arts is an economic driver. Guelph is known as an arts-friendly city and yet the City lags behind other municipalities of a similar size in supporting its artists and arts organizations. Would you support increased funding and the implementation of a Cultural Master Plan?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

6. Revitalizing Guelph’s Downtown

Would you agree that Guelph’s Downtown needs a much more active presence from the City, providing

and promoting investment, creativity, and leadership across all functions of our community’s city centre

(e.g. economic, social, cultural)?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

7. Building the Central Library

Given City Council’s commitment to the design, building, funding and timing of the new Central Library (October,2021), can you confirm your support for this project?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

8. Addressing Guelph’s Park Deficit

Guelph is known for its considerable amount of natural space. Despite this, there is a recognized deficit in managed, public parklands. Would you commit to ensuring that the accepted standard of 3.3 hectares of active recreation parks, playing fields and related managed park lands, per 1,000 residents, is honoured and implemented?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

9A. Protecting Democratic Practice

Will you oppose the application of provincial MZOs (Minister Zoning Orders) in Guelph?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

9B. Protecting Democratic Practice

Recently council approved a motion opposing the Province’s Strong Mayors Legislation. Will you abide by this motion in the next term of council?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

10. Meeting the Need for Social Housing

Will you support a significant increase in annual funding for social housing?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

11. Fighting Sprawl and Protecting Water

Will you work to maintain city boundaries to prevent further sprawl and protect water sources, food-producing land, and biodiversity?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

12A. Reducing air pollution and traffic congestion

It is generally understood that public transit use in cities must double by 2030, to meet climate goals and emission targets. Do you commit to this target for Guelph?

Link 1

Link 2

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

12B. Reducing air pollution and traffic congestion

b. The City has plans for protected cycling infrastructure on three main corridors. The Federal government is providing part of the cost. Would you commit to the City budgeting for the balance for this project?

Link

Mayor Cam Guthrie did not respond to the survey

Candidates were also provided an opportunity to comment at the end of the survey.

Erin Caton

WITH CAREFUL PLANNING AND PRIORITIZATION OF CURRENT RESIDENTS OF GUELPH, WE CAN GROW SUSTAINABLY AND ACHIEVE ALL THE SOCIAL GOALS AND DEVELOPMENT GOALS WE NEED TO THRIVE.

Rodgrigo Goller

THE CITY OF GUELPH HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND MUCH MORE. WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE STOCK OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE GUELPH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. THIS INCLUDES OUR PARKS AND TRAIL SYSTEMS. OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTRES. OUR NON-PROFIT, GRASS-ROOTS, FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PLACES AND PEOPLE STRENGTHEN THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY, AND WE NEED TO CHERISH AND SUPPORT THEM, SO WE CAN GO FURTHER AND FASTER BY WORKING TOGETHER AND FOCUSING ON BOTH OUR SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS.

Michele Richardson

THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THIS SURVEY ALIGN PERFECTLY WITH MY CORE VALUES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SAFE COMMUNITIES AND RESPONSIBLE BUDGETS. IN PRINCIPLE I SUPPORT THESE INITIATIVES, BUT MANY MAY HAVE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS THAT MAY NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. IF ELECTED I WOULD DO MY BEST TO SUPPORT THESE ISSUES TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

Phil Alt

MZO’S MUST NOT BE USED FRIVOLOUSLY OR FOR DEVELOPMENT AND SPRAWL. PLEASE NOTE: I DO BELIEVE THERE IS *SOME* VALUE IN MZO’S. IF ANOTHER COMMUNITY WERE TO LOCATE A MASSIVE WAREHOUSE OPERATION ON THE BOUNDARY OF GUELPH, I WOULD HAVE NO HESITATION ASKING FOR AN MZO. THE MZO WAS USED BY GUELPH WITH REGARDS TO PROTECTING GROUNDWATER. IT IS A LAST OPTION TO PRESERVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT SOCIAL AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING – WORD LIMITS DO NOT PERMIT THIS..

Linda Busuttil

I DID NOT SEE EQUITY IN THE LIST OF QUESTIONS. THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR ME AND APPLIES TO ALL THE QUESTIONS RAISED, EQUITY OF ACCESS AND EQUITY OF OPPORTUNITY. EQUITY AS AN INTENTIONAL LENS FOR ALL PLANS AND A MEASUREMENT FOR OUTCOMES, I.E. EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING DO NOT IMPACT ALL PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES EQUALLY, MORE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, ELDERLY, YOUNG PEOPLE AND SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS BEING PARTICULARLY AFFECTED [SOURCES OUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE, CLIMATE CHANGE & HEALTH VULNERABILITY REPORTS].

Cathy Downer 

THE REASON SOME QUESTIONS WERE NOT ANSWERED IS THAT I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION. MUCH OF THIS WORK IS DONE WITH COMMUNITY CONSULTATION AND STAFF INPUT BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE. I THINK WE SHOULD PUT FUNDS TOWARD HARM REDUCTION WITHOUT DECREASING POLICE BUDGETS. WE CANNOT DICTATE HOW THE POLICE SPEND THEIR FUNDS. WE WOULD BE TAKEN TO A TRIBUNAL IF WE DIDN’T APPROVE THEIR REQUEST. MUNICIPALITIES GENERALLY LOSE AT THESE.

Leanne Caron

SOME OF THE ANSWERS ARE SUBJECT TO COST AND TIMING. ON THE SUBJECT OF REALLOCATION OF POLICE RESOURCES FOR HARM REDUCTION, I SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HARM REDUCTION, BUT NOT NECESSARY REALLOCATION, AS POLICING IS A MANDATED SERVICE. ON THE QUESTION OF SOCIAL HOUSING, I SUPPORT THIS THROUGH INCREASES TO OUR CMSM TRANSFER, BUT FUNDING ALSO MUST COME FROM THE PROVINCE AND FEDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW UNITS.

Dominique O’Rourke

I’M AFRAID I CAN’T ANSWER MOST OF YOUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE, FOR THE MOST PART, IT DEPENDS. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT “SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT” MEANS. IT DEPENDS ON STAFF ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. COUNCILORS ARE REQUIRED TO WEIGH A NUMBER OF FACTORS. TO DO OTHERWISE IS IRRESPONSIBLE.

Ken Yee Chew

THE LIBRARY UNFORTUNATELY HAS BECOME A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CLEAR, AT THIS TIME, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE NEW LIBRARY GIVEN THE TIME AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS MADE THROUGHOUT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. HOWEVER AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE MOST TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS IN WARD 6, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE TAX LEVIES ATTACHED TO THE LATEST PROPOSAL. THEREFORE, I WILL NEED TO TAKE A DEEPER ANALYSIS INTO THIS PROJECT TO PRACTICE GOOD JUDGEMENT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WORK WITH COUNCIL AND STAFF TO SCOPE OUT LONG TERM FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS INITIATIVE THROUGH CREATIVE COST-SHARE AGREEMENTS.