SaltToday

OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this

You hit the nail on the head Adam.One key observation; and this is critical. The City already committed to having the Royal City Mission operate and run the full time daytime centre until April.That carries the burden through the winter months, when it is most needed.Come April, everything was supposed to move over to 23 Gordon.Logic dictates that the City should continue to honour it's commitment to Royal City Mission to run over the winter months.Did that happen? No!The City and Council chose to scrap the entire plan.A total lack of vision, leadership and planning.To the Mayor and City Council - honour your commitment.

- Alec Purves

Tim Hortons outlet at Guelph General Hospital has closed

I'm glad it's gone. Sorry, the coffee is terrible, nothing is fresh, always brought in frozen, like other Timmies. Quality has gone down hill very fast, staff don't care, etc.... I will never set foot in another Tim Hortons, ever!!!! Especially after all the news stories of letting long time staff go to hire "cheaper" labor subsidized by "us" tax payers money. So happy there will be a fresh place at the hospital, long overdue!!!

- LabsRule

‘We’re in an emergency state’: Guelph rallies for immediate daytime shelter

Its astounding that Guelph Council can find the millions of dollars needed to clear bike lanes in the winter, in the name of safety, yet when it comes to people possibly dying from lack of shelter and resources, they withhold funding. Shame on the Councilors who voted against this.

- SMJD

Guelph prepared to handle any amount of snow, says staff

By the condition of the main roads you could have fooled me, it doesn't look or feel handled

- Emanuel Fitzpatrick

‘We’re in an emergency state’: Guelph rallies for immediate daytime shelter

The Mayor and City Council had already agreed that the Royal City Mission would be operating a fulltime day centre from Jan to April.To scrap the entire plan because 23 Gordon will not be ready in April is both irresponsible and reactionary.Folks it is very simple; - the Mayor and City Council have two options - 1) Honour their commitment to fund the Royal City Mission to run the centre fulltime from Jan- April. That is roughly $280,5000.2) They have 3 months to decide whether Royal City Mission continues afterwards at $850K annually; or they continue to doubledown and insist on reinventing the wheel and duplicating social welfare services.That is it. Very simple choices.One thing I will add. The Mayor and City Council need to visit the Royal City Mission and apologise in person to the RCM leadership and volunteers. The strategies and political maneuvering to discredit and handcuff the people and work at Royal City Mission was shameful and embarrassing to watch.

- Alec Purves

OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this

i strongly suspect that the city is being influenced by the downtown guelph business association here. and it’s so misguided as now our downtown will have more visibly homeless people spending their time outside.

- J3551C4

‘We’re in an emergency state’: Guelph rallies for immediate daytime shelter

Cam Guthrie and council talking in January about how to prepare for the winter again.

- DR64

OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this

Simple. Move the RCM away from downtown.

- Splurfy

OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this

I couldn't agree more with you, Adam. How short-sighted that some people don't want a drop-in so close to St. George's Square. Now, instead of hanging out at Royal City Mission, Guelph's homeless will be hanging out in the Library, in the Quebec Street Mall, and all around the fountain in the square. Instead of trained and diligent staff from the Mission being out on the street all day keeping things peaceful and tidy, there will be no one. In short, without the Mission being open, Downtown Guelph will be even less welcoming than usual! Didn't anybody at City Hall think about that? I guess they were too busy thinking about how they could waste more tax dollars on redundant speed limit signs, and bicycle traffic lights, and ......

- RWM

Guelph prepared to handle any amount of snow, says staff

Not sure who coordinates the response to these weather events but year after year its not working

- Sjeff

Guelph prepared to handle any amount of snow, says staff

It all takes time and people. Guelph only has so many people. Thanks for doing a great job!

- MakeGuelphGreatAgain

OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this

It is clear that the Mayor has NO commitment to take care of homeless people. Even went so far as to cut funding to Royal City Mission. When Stepping stone withdrew from honoring their part of the contract the city could have directed the funding to RCM and they would run their program. But No. Get those homeless people out of the city Centre. Time for a different Mayor.Time for a different city council. Lets not forget this at the next election.

- Klaus B

OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this

This town doesn't care about the homeless just about how they can use up all taxpayers money on stupid and frivolous things. I think someone has to look into where all the money is going. If you eat out and ride bikes or read books ,the city has no use for you. This town has really changed and not for the better.

- Mary Riddell

OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this

The City tried to shut down the informal organization called The Bench from serving meals pop-up style at the corner of Woolwitch and Wyndham by posting a 'No Stopping' sign (possibly illegally, since there does not appear to be a bylaw that allows the sign to be posted) where the volunteers stopped to drop off the food, but to absolutely no avail. The Downtown Bench continues to operate at his location, distributing a meal to those in need. The catch is, absolutely NO City money goes into this operation, so the City can not play 'cut off the funding' or 'switch the shells around and guess where the money is' games with this organization.

- Daryl Eves

‘We’re in an emergency state’: Guelph rallies for immediate daytime shelter

When i googled 'Cam Guthrie' I got a picture of an empty suit.

- Grandad

City seeks groups to fill shelter and food gap until March

Why not just give it to RCM? They are the only other party who submitted the ability to supply daytime shelter needs aside from Stepping Stone. Seems a shame to make them go through all the paperwork again.

- Wendy (ex- nurse)

Tim Hortons outlet at Guelph General Hospital has closed

The longer hours at a hospital is a must.....bad enough to sit with a loved one for hours and hours in emerge or after being admitted and then not having anywhere to get something to eat. I always found that odd.....never is a coffee shop more needed. I'm sure staff will be happy as well.

- Mar Z

Guelph prepared to handle any amount of snow, says staff

City does a very poor job overall. Main street are not in great shape, take a look at Speedvale west, side streets are an afterthought and forget the residential roads. overall I would give the city a clear D- on handling snow falls of over a CM.

- Fergusone

Fusion Homes allowed to continue cash crop farming on GID lands

Terrible article and title Editor! Correction: Fusion Homes is free to farm this property as long as they want. What Fusion Homes asked for and received from the City of Guelph is to continue qualifying for the Farmland Property Class Tax Rate. The implications here is that their 300 acre property will be taxed at no more than 25% of the residential tax rate. So they are paying 1/4 of the tax bill that rest of us would pay if we owned this land with a residential designation. That is quite the gift from Guelph taxpayers to one of the largest housing developers in Ontario. You're welcome.

- Marcol2

‘We’re in an emergency state’: Guelph rallies for immediate daytime shelter

Plan, plan, plan ... Then do nothing 🙄

- Doug Frank