Mail bag: 10/22/26
‘Exercise your vote’
Dear Editor:
The municipal election is fast approaching its Oct. 26 voting deadline. I encourage my fellow residents to exercise their voice with their vote.
Please bring in a strong council with the essential skill-set to face the important urban and rural issues and challenges that we will face in the next four years.
We need councillors with strong financial, business and technical (engineering, environmental) expertise to guide us. We need an experienced mayor with council, and more importantly, county council experience, and presence who will advance our interests and concerns there. There are seven municipal mayors who make up county council, each promoting their respective interests.
If you need to review the candidates, please view the Erin candidates meeting on YouTube.
Mail-in voting ended on Oct. 16. Now, all votes need to be dropped off at Erin Town Hall on Trafalgar Road near Hillsburgh in the vote box outside the hall or in the mail slot. The deadline is 8pm on Oct. 26. Votes can be dropped off in person at that time.
Please, fellow residents, exercise your vote. Your vote is very important.
Anna Spiteri,
Erin
‘Connect the pieces’
Dear Editor:
The Advertiser’s recent election coverage has highlighted housing, infrastructure, farmland protection and municipal costs. Wellington County voters should also ask: how will candidates make these priorities work together?
A young person hoping to stay in their community needs an affordable home and local employment. A farmer needs productive land and reliable roads. A senior needs accessible services. A business needs customers, workers and predictable municipal decisions. Each experiences a different part of the same community.
The next councils have an opportunity to bring those needs together.
When candidates propose more housing, voters should ask how roads, water and wastewater capacity will keep pace, what housing will actually be affordable, and who will carry the long-term costs. When they promise tax restraint, which efficiencies will protect services and avoid more expensive repairs later? When they support development, how will they assess consequences for farmland, groundwater and existing businesses?
Good answers require more than individual effort. They require councillors who can work constructively with staff, residents, the county, other governments and partners in business, academia and community organizations.
Experienced candidates should offer verifiable examples of that cooperation and its results, acknowledging others’ contributions. New candidates can demonstrate those abilities through their work and community service.
After the election, residents should be able to follow a public plan showing responsibilities, funding, timelines and intended results. Quarterly updates should explain what improved, what cost more than expected and what needs to change. Residents’ evidence and suggestions should receive meaningful responses.
That would help councils build trust and improve decisions throughout their terms.
Wellington’s communities have much worth preserving and strengthening. Let us choose leaders who can connect the pieces – and show that the whole community benefits.
Jeff Wilson,
Puslinch
Mayoral candidates
Dear Editor:
On Oct. 7 I attended an all-mayoral-candidates meeting for Centre Wellington. As I faced the candidates who sat on stage, there were three from the previous council on my left and two from the current council on my right. Maybe the split was intentional, I don’t know, but the approaches to questions were often split along those lines.
I was reminded how fractious, divided and confrontational council meetings had been prior to 2022 and I hope there is never a return to that type of governance. I was also reminded that the previous council was responsible for Centre Wellington having to spend around $2 million to buy the Middlebrook well last year.
In 2017, Nestlé had offered to donate the well for some support from Centre Wellington at the provincial level. That $2 million would have come in handy now to repair the residential roads in Fergus.
Many topics were discussed but one stood out for me and was a surprise. The previous council all went after the current council over the lack of action in the Business Park that had been set up during their term. Yes, a booming Business Park providing lots of local jobs would be ideal, but given the current economic climate, I can’t see many companies being prepared to take the risk of starting up or growing their business. If you want to blame anyone you need to look far to the south to our tariff-loving neighbour.
Many years ago, I worked for two mayors and I was amazed at what the electorate thought council was responsible for. Sure, there may be things you don’t like that the current council has done but you can’t blame them for companies taking a “wait and see” approach.
Whichever candidate you do favour, I hope that every citizen of Centre Wellington will exercise their democratic right and vote – either online or by phone. There are many people in this world who don’t have this right.
Sandra Solomon,
Belwood
‘Serious questions’
Dear Editor:
Public confidence in municipal government depends not only on the decisions council makes, but on whether those decisions are carried out, material changes are transparent and elected officials are accountable.
The Town of Erin’s handling of the Hillsburgh Pit commercial fill agreement raises serious questions.
On June 11 council passed a motion directing that letters be sent to the appropriate provincial ministries requesting a pause in rehabilitation approvals to allow time to address community feedback and negotiate proper procedures with the proponent. Yet the amendment proceeded, was approved, and the aggregate licence was surrendered. The requested pause did not occur.
Was council’s direction carried out? If not, why not? The public deserves a clear answer.
There are also unanswered questions about the final agreement. The version presented to the public provided for a three-year term, with a potential extension. However, the agreement signed by the mayor and clerk on April 7 provides for a straight 20-year term.
Council authorized the agreement to be finalized substantially in the form presented as Appendix A, subject to revisions. We have not identified a separate council resolution expressly authorizing this change. The town should explain publicly what authority was relied upon to make such a significant change.
For more than four months, council has stated that it is discussing this matter with its legal counsel. Yet the explanation offered is that the town has signed an agreement and has been reminded by its lawyers and the CAO that it is legally binding. The public already understands that. What remains unanswered is what advice council has received about the circumstances surrounding the agreement, the change in term, and the options available to address the concerns raised.
We recognize that solicitor-client privilege must be respected. However, council should communicate what it can about the advice received and the options considered. Legal advice should not become a substitute for meaningful public accountability.
Residents may disagree about this project, but confidence in local government requires that council’s directions be followed, material changes be transparent, and legitimate questions receive meaningful answers.
Accountability means explaining not only what was decided, but whether council’s directions were followed and who authorized the final outcome.
The people of Erin deserve those answers.
Jacqueline Guagliardi,
Erin
‘Doesn’t listen’
Dear Editor:
RE: Ignoring job losses? (Oct. 8).
I agree totally with the letter by Bernice Robinet.
At a town council meeting, we were told that Centre Wellington has met its due diligence regarding the housing crisis.
Residents of Ward 5 have signed petitions pleading to have developments stopped and yet both Ward 5 councillor Bronwynne Wilton and Mayor Shawn Watters voted in favour of rezoning for more housing in Zone 5.
It’s extremely frustrating when your local councillor doesn’t listen to the wishes of her constituents.
Pamela Horricks,
Centre Wellington
‘Receptive, responsive’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Ignoring job losses?,’ Oct. 8.
The author of this letter bemoans the rezoning of the factory property at 650 Victoria Terrace and the subsequent job losses, while criticizing two members of Centre Wellington council for having voted in favour.
My wife and I were plagued, over a span of several months, by incessant noise pollution emanating from that same manufacturing plant.
Our Ward 5 councillor Bronwynne Wilton and Mayor Shawn Watters were both receptive and responsive to our concerns, such that we now have a measure of serenity.
In fairness, and in the context of the upcoming municipal election, I felt compelled to offer a different perspective.
Allan Berry,
Fergus
‘Not just a slogan’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Support local,’ Oct. 8.
Bravo! I was delighted to see your letter in the Advertiser championing the idea of “support local.” It needed to be said – and it deserves to be said again.
I’m relatively new to Elora, and have been astonished by the negativity expressed by a surprising number of people in town about the number of visitors we attract; visitors who bring their dollars and cents with them!
I imagine that our merchants, retailers and restaurateurs, whose livelihoods depend in part on tourism, are very happy to see them.
Ironically, some of the people I’ve heard express the strongest opposition to visitors are often those who don’t actually shop locally themselves, preferring instead to shop at big-box stores in Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, and beyond.
“Support local” is not just a slogan!
Mary Anne Divjak,
Elora
‘Breath of fresh air’
Dear Editor:
RE: The truth still matters, Oct. 15.
Nicole Fawcett’s opinion article was a badly needed breath of fresh air. She gives us the reset we need. Sometimes a person gets too close to the trees to see the forest. It was a great article, we need more like it.
Bob Flagler,
Elora
‘We can do better’
Dear Editor:
I am sitting outside watching two people fight on Water Street East in Elora.
It is Saturday and of course a very busy day on Mill Street and I am not a person who is unhappy about the tourism. There was a really good letter to the editor (‘Support local,’ Oct. 8) on the importance of tourism and the 28-plus jobs that have been created for our residents who live in Centre Wellington by her business. The tourists are important to our economy in Elora! Like it or not, they are.
However there needs to be a better system to manage the parking on Water Street, which is busy – very busy. It’s designated as a bike path and there are two parks off of it as well as a splash pad. It is very narrow parking and buses park here on our street as well from time to time.
I did approach the town about getting lines painted in front of the homes so cars would not have to fight with each other and perhaps the lines could be back from residents’ driveways to allow the home owners a bit of room to see when backing out. So far, the message from town staff has been no.
I’m hoping, soon, the town will see merit in a little more organized way of parking on one of the busiest streets in Elora.
I’m hoping tourists won’t have to fight with each other when parking too close to another car like today. Lines would solve this.
Just a thought. There are several streets that would benefit from lines and designated spots. We can do better if we try!
Brenda Chamberlain,
Elora
Define remediation
Dear Editor:
Re: ‘Deserve an explanation’, Oct. 8.
On reading Jacqueline Guagliardi’s excellent letter demanding “an explanation” followed by Dave Adsett’s recent praise for the autumn serenity of the Erin hills, what is required is a definition.
What is considered to be pit “remediation”? Is it a restoration to natural conditions? Is it “landscaping architecture” suitable to a small public golf course? Or “plantings” suitable to decorative gardens/parkland/outdoor cultural venues?
Where are the proposals for this present or future “remediation”?
None would require leveled ground, full of potentially toxic imported industrial fill, hauled through pristine countryside at the rate of one double-exhaust diesel truck every three minutes for approximately 20 years (as described, with approximately 250 trucks daily). Regular monitoring of which would be highly unlikely.
If so-called “remediation” has already been approved/achieved, the challenge is to work with what one already has to create something beautiful.
Bronwen Stanley-Jones,
Mount Forest
‘Throw the bums out’
Dear Editor:
Erin council and its planning department stayed true to the prediction that residents’ voices are a hindrance.
After 809 days, the planning department submitted its recommendation to council to pass a commercial zoning amendment on agriculturally zoned land in Cedar Valley, at the exact last council meeting of the term in a lame duck vote.
Exceeding the 120-day time frame guarantees the applicant can take the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal if they lose. Not so for the delegates, due to Bill 185 ensuring that a township vendor gets their zoning uncontested.
In case you are wondering, a 1.1 hectare commercial severance exceeds the county cap of one hectare. At the same meeting, Water Watchers presented to protect town aquifers from water taking at the Cedar Valley bottling well. It is too bad they didn’t stick around to see council put a commercial salt storage yard on that exact aquifer minutes later. Let’s also point out The Erin CARES (Community Action, Reporting Enforcement System) rolled out at the same meeting.
Council is aware that its existing vendor only submitted an application in response to a bylaw complaint that triggered enforcement to conclude the property was not zoned properly for this application and directed the applicant through every hurdle over 809 days. Transparency ... huh.
I need to quote my father in a letter over 25 years go to this very paper regarding electoral candidates’ abuse of process: “You owe it to yourself every four years to throw the bums out.”
Markus Rabstein,
Elora
Food insecurity
Dear Editor:
Enough food starts with enough income. This municipal election, let’s talk about income solutions to food insecurity.
As community organizations, food banks and food access providers across Guelph and Wellington County, we see every day what happens when people do not have enough income to afford the basics.
It can look like a parent skipping meals so their children can eat. A senior choosing between groceries and medication. A worker with a full-time job running out of money before the end of the month. A household paying the rent and having little to nothing left for food.
This is not an isolated problem. One in four households in Guelph-Wellington experienced food insecurity in 2024 – the highest rate on record. The cost of a nutritious food basket for a family of four is $1,187 per month. And food insecurity is not limited to people who are unemployed: 60 per cent of food insecure households rely primarily on wages, salaries or self-employment for their income.
Behind these numbers are people making impossible choices.
We are deeply concerned about the growing number of people turning to our services for help. We are deeply grateful to the people, volunteers and donors who make that support possible. At the same time, the growing reliance on emergency food and supports is a sign that too many people do not have enough income to afford the basics.
While food banks and community food programs provide support for immediate needs, they cannot solve food insecurity.
Preventing and solving food insecurity means addressing its root cause: inadequate income.
That requires lasting solutions, such as decent work with fair wages and working conditions, adequate income supports and a basic income, along with action to make housing, transportation and other essentials more affordable.
Municipalities cannot solve food insecurity alone. Provincial and federal governments have critical roles to play in income supports, employment standards and wages, but municipalities also have tools and influence: they can be living-wage employers, support affordable and deeply-affordable housing, use public spending to create community benefit, make municipal services more affordable and accessible and advocate for strong income security.
As we approach the municipal election, we are calling on candidates to make income security part of their plans for our community. We are asking voters to ask candidates: What will you do to help prevent food insecurity and ensure people have enough income to afford the basics?
People should not have to choose between paying the rent and feeding themselves and their families.
We need to address food insecurity at its root – not simply respond when people run out of options. Enough food starts with enough income.
Dominica McPherson, Guelph & Wellington Poverty Elimination Collaborative; Alyssandra Kent, Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington; Curt McQueen, Centre Wellington Food Bank; Natalie Orr, Mount Forest Family Health Team; Shawna Lougheed, Arthur Food Bank; Kari Simpson, East Wellington Community Services; Debbie Reynolds, Bungalow Community Luncheon and Community Pantry; Karyn Kirkwood, The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington; Melissa Kwiatkowski, Guelph Community Health Centre and The Seed; Nayssam Shujauddin, Food Uniting Neighbours; Glenna Banda, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin; Gary Skinn, Orangeville Foodbank; Perrin Valli, Stepping Stone; Kristen Cairney, Wyndham House; Crystle Avery, Chalmers; Mike Weickert, Hope House Guelph; Kevin Coghill, Royal City Mission; Marilyn Worobec, Guelph Food Bank; Barb McPhee, North End Harvest Market; Brendan Johnson, Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition; Brian Janzen, All Saints Lutheran Anglican Church and Silvercreek Community Market; Donna Bailey, West Village Community Development Co-operative; Ash Ames, Central Student Association (CSA) and CSA Food Bank
‘Bit of a struggle’
Dear Editor:
The Erin Fall Fair is obviously an incredible success every year; so much time and effort put into it with something for everyone.
Thanksgiving weekend on Sunday was definitely not the best of days: cool/cold with on-and-off rain, but still a busy day for the fair. We were visiting friends in Newmarket on Sunday and driving home through Erin around 8pm was a bit of struggle.
It was dark, the road was wet, cars were parked on both sides of Main Street and down the side streets.
There were people everywhere, a lot of them dressed in all black, walking back to their cars, people getting into their cars, etc. It was a very unsafe situation for everyone, pedestrians and drivers.
We realize this is a volunteer-run fair and they do an amazing job, but perhaps they could have a dedicated crossing area for pedestrians, similar to what they do at golf tournaments, at the main entrance to the grounds, with parking restrictions within say 15 feet from that crossing on both sides of the street. That would be a much safer setup for everyone. Amazing that no one gets hit.
So just a suggestion to ensure everyone’s safety.
Jane Cullen,
Rockwood
Lots of information
Dear Editor:
I recently was spending time with family in Mount Forest when they handed me a copy of the Oct. 8 edition of the Wellington Advertiser.
I couldn’t believe the amount of information contained in this paper. To be honest, I haven’t seen a newspaper like this in too many years to remember.
I have been to the east coast and purchased papers that were excellent in past years, but contain nothing of interest today. And I have the Ottawa Sun delivered that certainly is no comparison to your paper.
So I would like to thank those that support your paper and you for still producing the news that takes me to what I believed to be gone-by days. Keep up the good work.
Pete McLellan,
Brockville
‘Significant progress’
Dear Editor:
I’m excited to share that significant progress has taken place over the past six months on the redevelopment taking place at Guelph General Hospital (GGH).
The new Angel Gabriel Foundation Centre for Mental Health and Addictions was officially opened last month. This area doubles our capacity to care for the people who need these services. With its new location on the first floor, it also helps alleviate crowding in the main emergency department area.
Automating laboratory services at the hospital has also been a key priority in 2026.
The first phase of the transfusion medicine area was completed this summer; streamlining process flow. We are incredibly grateful for the community support through the Foundation of Guelph General Hospital that made these improvements possible.
Further renovations to prepare for the lab’s automation track will be completed over the coming months.
Since opening in March this year, the hospital’s Speedvale Campus has had an average of 1,850 diagnostic tests performed every month. GGH now operates one of the most efficient MRI programs in the province.
We recently occupied an additional 15,000 square feet at the Speedvale Campus and planning is underway for renovations that will increase access to bone fracture services and endoscopy. Community support is vital to support the construction and equipment needs of this phase, expected to total $18 million. To make a gift to The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital please visit its website.
We were also pleased to welcome Sylvia Jones, deputy premier and minister of health to GGH last month. She made an announcement about a grant of $7.1 million from the provincial government to help complete construction and support our operations.
Of the funds, $1 million is designated to help hospitals with infrastructure needs, coinciding with the arrival of new generators. They provide on-site power when electricity demand and utility costs are at their highest.
Our redevelopment is underway to ensure patients and their families continue to receive a high quality of care in the most modern facilities we can offer while continuing to work towards the development of a new hospital campus in Guelph.
As we continue our journey to the future of health care in Guelph Wellington, we welcome your contributions, questions, and insights. Please share your thoughts with us by contacting info@gghorg.ca.
A video update on our redevelopment efforts, is also available on our YouTube channel.
Mark Walton, CEO,
Guelph General Hospital