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Mayor bristles at 'continuing narrative' of 'diminished democracy' in Guelph

City staff works hard to ensure transparency and public input, says mayor
20190513 cam guthrie ts 1
Mayor Cam Guthrie. GuelphToday file photo

Mayor Cam Guthrie bristled Monday at what he called a “continuing narrative” that the democratic process in Guelph is being compromised by city staff and policy.

At its monthly Committee of the Whole meeting, city council was addressing the terms of reference for a new Natural Heritage Advisory Committee.

Sparked by a delegation from longtime council watcher and Guthrie critic Susan Watson, the discussion quickly turned to the broader subjects of whether citizens should be allowed to delegate at the city’s advisory committees and increased notification of when those committees meet and what is on the agenda (information currently available on the city web site).

Watson was critical of the fact people are not allowed to delegate at advisory committee meetings and that sometimes they are cancelled without notice or explanation.

After 45 minutes of questions and discussion around the council horseshoe following Watson’s delegation, Guthrie appeared to have had enough.

“I’m sick and tired of the continuing narrative” that the city is somehow curtailing the democratic process, Guthrie said.

“I’m tired of being accused of diminished democracy when it’s anything but,” Guthrie said.

“There’s nothing nefarious, nothing backhanded. Our staff is working amazingly on this kind of stuff,” said Guthrie, defending city staff.

“I’m getting tired of our staff, and us, frankly, of being accused of trying to diminish democracy in this city when it’s nothing but.”

He noted that most of the city’s advisory committees are not legislated by the province, but the creation of council.

Advisory committees are made up of citizen volunteers who advise council on specific areas and issues.

Guelph currently has 20 such advisory committees listed on its web site, ranging from provincially-legislated advisory committees on areas such as heritage and accessibility, to city-generated advisory committees on issues from public art to the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame.

Contacted later, Watson said one of her concerns is that the two committees the new Natural Heritage Advisory Committee is replacing reviewed development applications and received delegations.

"Staff is now proposing a term or reference which eliminates citizen delegations and curtails the role of the previous committees and I haven't seen a valid justification as to why," Watson said.

"There's a lot of talk about 'transparency and accountability' at election time — well this is what 'accountability' looks like. Citizens have a right to bring forward these kind of concerns."  

Councillor Bob Bell asked the city to look into allowing people to sign up for electronic notification of advisory committee meetings and agendas.


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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