Have been taking the time to listen and understand Guelph citizens’ concerns over the upcoming City budget. My wife attended a Ward town hall, I jumped on the live stream to listen to public delegations speak to a variety of issues and I also attended the Guelph Chamber of Commerce Budget breakfast to hear viewpoints from the business community.
In hearing and reading fellow Guelphites competing concerns it is clear that Guelph, like many Ontario cities, is under significant social and financial strain from forces outside our control. People have genuine concerns with affordability and the threat of another big property tax increase. Many have legitimate concerns about the most vulnerable in our city and the challenges they face gaining accessibility to services and basic mobility. While others want to move past the annual budget squabble and want to see a plan to spark the strong economic growth needed to fund a prosperous and just city.
In all of this, one issue stood out as a head scratcher. It is one that also seems emblematic of a city that needs to get its priorities back in line. The issue - bike lanes. I should say, the snow ploughing of bike lanes to be precise.
Snow ploughing of bike lanes? Really? In an affordability crisis. During the public consultation I heard delegates note that food bank use among fellow citizens is at an all-time high, yet some on council want to spend money ploughing bike lanes that are scarcely used even in the summer. I have no issues with bike lanes, they can be an affordable, green method of transportation and the hope was that when given the option people would use them. Look around - we don’t. Maybe that will change, but it’s certainly not going to happen in the winter - snow or no snow.
In terms of past funding decisions and projects like the new Library - what’s done is done. But those decisions have saddled the city with spending commitments that make properly funding even core services a challenge. Restraint has to be shown to avoid another eye popping tax increase. The Mayor has rightly has asked the boards to do their part, but the City must also lead by example and make affordability for all the priority.
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| Myself and Mayor Cam Guthrie |
So while I can’t support more bike lanes or ploughing of them. I do believe that a top notch public transit system is where precious dollars should be going to address affordability and environmental concerns. Let’s get that right, before embarking on another costly initiative that drains money away from services that do the most good for the most people. A safe, clean and affordable transit system that we all can be proud of - that serves everyone - will restore confidence in taxpayers that the government can get things right.
As for that vision for better tomorrows... stay tuned.
By Greg Cawsey
