Dec 12 – Mercury questions Valeriote’s private member’s bill
Guelph Mercury – Editorial – Mon Dec 12 2011
Proposed privacy act needs a long look-over
Guelph MP Frank Valeriote’s Protecting Canadian Privacy Act is sure to generate discussion among lawmakers and many citizens. As an opposition private member’s bill, however, it stands little chance of becoming law.
Valeriote says he’s open to the meat of the proposed legislation being adopted or even being taken over as a government side policy notion. It will be most interesting to see how the Conservative government reacts to the premise, if not the letter of this suggestion, to put more bite in one aspect of the Criminal Code. One could see the government liking the optics of cracking down on what’s being depicted as a form of voyeurism that isn’t yet covered by the Criminal Code. Taking some action of this sort sounds like the fodder for a nice policy sound byte for a tough on crime government.
This bill seeks to protect citizens from being photographed or videoed without their consent on their private property and in their homes. It’s a nice-sounding policy notion but it poses the risk of criminalizing all sorts of actions that Canadian society would likely widely support as legal, reasonable and important. Read more
May 22 – Harper’s Conservatives Here to Stay?
Susan Delacourt – May 22, 2011 – Guelph Mercury
New Conservative party built on values, pollster says
WATERLOO — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is building a Conservative coalition in Canada that will probably be more enduring than Brian Mulroney’s conservatism of the 1980s, according to Ipsos pollster Darrell Bricker. Bricker, delivering his election analysis to a Canadian political scientists’ convention last week, said he believes Harper’s brand of conservatism is built on a stronger base than Mulroney’s.
The big difference, says Bricker, is that Mulroney built his Conservative party out of regional grievances, while Harper is forming a Conservative party around individual voters’ values. Read more
Mar 11 – Harper makes science funding announcement in Guelph
Greg Layson, Guelph Mercury – Fri Mar 11 2011
GUELPH — Prime Minister Stephen Harper began a routine funding announcement Friday with somber thoughts and prayers for those affected by the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan hours before he arrived in Guelph. “I’d like to offer our most sincere condolences to the Japanese. Our thoughts and prayers go to all those who are affected by this terrible quake and the tsunami that hit that country,” Harper said, in French, while addressing staff, students and others at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic School.
Harper was in Guelph to announce a $2-million injection in the national Let’s Talk Science program. He made the announcement after briefly participating in a Grade 6 science display. Read more
Dec. 3 – Guelph officials welcome stimulus funding extension
Rob O’Flanagan, Mercury Staff – Dec. 3, 2010
GUELPH — With infrastructure projects in jeopardy of missing a federal funding cut-off date, Guelph city officials breathed a collective sigh of relief Thursday on news that the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund deadline has been extended by seven months.
Three projects that were not going to be completed by the original March 31, 2011 deadline will now be finished, a city official said. Missing the original deadline would have cost the city millions of dollars.
Those extra months — the deadline is now Oct. 31, 2011 — will give crews time to complete the new intermodal transit terminal on Carden Street, and replace the Canadian National Railway bridge over Wyndham Street. The $2 million rink/water feature of Civic Square, which was also in jeopardy of missing the original deadline, will now secure $1 million in stimulus funding, said Rick Henry, general manager/city engineer. Read more
Oct 15 – PM Announces Support for Small Businesses in Southern Ontario
“Our Government is committed to creating jobs and making Canada’s economy more robust, diversified and competitive,” said Prime Minister Harper. “This program will provide start-up businesses in Ontario with the tools they need to attract investment capital, get new products to market and generate wealth and jobs.”
The Investing in Business Innovation program is based on direct feedback from business leaders, academics and community leaders from across Southern Ontario who suggested the Government take action to address funding challenges for emerging businesses. It is supported through FedDev Ontario’s Southern Ontario Development Program. Read more
Oct 12 – Government of Canada Funds Youth Employment Research in Southwestern Ontario
“In today’s environment, it is more important than ever that young Canadians have the information they need to participate and succeed in the job market,” said Minister of State Goodyear. “Our government is proud to support activities like this one, which benefits both employers and youth.”
The Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin will receive over $48,000 through the Government of Canada’s Youth Awareness program to produce a report on how to best link youth with service providers and employers to increase employment rates. Read more
July 30 – Guelph companies get federal cash for skills training
