From The Editors

New Mercury website coming

Posted by Phil Andrews

The Mercury is expected to shift to a new website style -- same url -- within a matter of days.

The new look is to offer a cleaner design than the current site, a richer line-up of current top news headlines and improved community events listings and functionality -- among other tweaks.

I'll blog again when the launch date is definite.

 

Frank Valeriote goes fishing

Posted by Phil Andrews

 

Here are some informational items Guelph MP Frank Valeriote was after in the House of Commons this week.

 

May 21st, 6:10 p.m.
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns
http://openparliament.ca/debates/2013/5/21/frank-valeriote-2/
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With regard to the Prime Minister’s Office, as of February 1, 2013, how many people did it employ and of those, (i) how many make a salary of $100 000 a year or more, (ii) how many make a salary of $50 000 a year or less?


May 21st, 6:10 p.m.
Questions on the Order Paper
http://openparliament.ca/debates/2013/5/21/frank-valeriote-1/
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With respect to the organizations that officially requested the attendance of the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism at an event since January 1, 2011: (a) what were the names of the organizations, the names of the events, the organizers, the dates, times, and locations; (b) did the Minister attend the event and, if not, what is the name of the government representative who attended the event in lieu of the Minister; and (c) what were the costs of any government advertisements in event publications or greetings, and the description and costs of any gifts to the event or organizers?

Paul and Pam show would have been interesting

Posted by Phil Andrews

I know both Pamela Wallin and the University of Guelph see no reason that anyone might have believed she had even the possible perception of having a conflict on interest in serving for a period as U of G's chancellor and as a Conservative senator.

But it would have been interesting had Wallin as senator been called to serve as chancellor for the upcoming honouring of former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin at the school.

I noted national media coverage this weekend referenced Wallin as U of G's chancellor emeritus. Maybe she'll show for the May 29 event.

CJOY channels WKRP

Posted by Phil Andrews

Guelph radio station CJOY had announcer Dave Hanna drinking shots of tequila this morning during his on-air stint.

The drinking was matched with him being breathalyzered by the Guelph Police Service. Guelph Police Chief Bryan Larkin and Const. Mike Gatto made cameos on air to talk about the dangers of drinking and driving. At one point, Larkin seemed to indicate an openness for policy makers to drop the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers.

It was timed, it would seem, to have people drink responsibly during the May long weekend.

Hanna held his hooch well. He wasn't quite Johnny Fever during an old WKRP episode. In that program, the Howard Hessman character's reaction time improves as he drinks. But Hanna held up well.

I also enjoyed a segment where another CJOY employee who had been out drinking last night -- and stopped at 11 p.m. -- was tested. He blew a warning. It was made clear that he didn't drive into work today.

 A great irony: the broadcast's lead story was the deal being reached in the possible LCBO strike.

New byline for our readers

Posted by Phil Andrews

Chris Herhalt has joined the Mercury staff as a reporter-photographer.

Chris has previously worked stints at The Record of Waterloo Region and at The Canadian Press.

I look forward to the energy and varied contributions he'll bring to our news team.

Expect fireworks

Posted by Phil Andrews

We're looking at regulations related to the use of fireworks locally.

I think it's too bad there isn't a big community fireworks show locally for Victoria Day. That's in part because without that there seems to be an array of less-safely-organizated grassroots pyrotechnic performances in city neighbourhoods.

Bank on it, there will be fireworks set off this weekend on Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night and on Monday.

Good luck reining in the renegades too city bylaw crew.

 

Note: This comment has been edited. See comments.

 

 

 

It will all work out, you'll see

Posted by Phil Andrews

The are multiple, credible and invested stakeholders interwoven into this development. So, it's going to come about. What's more, there's enough buzz and goodwill associated with it that it will likely be a great Guelph success as well.

At some level, however, it's incredible how some seemingly key aspects of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats plan to play out of Guelph this season remain up in the air.

Most notably, it seems incredible that the club and the University of the Guelph have yet to reach a final contract though construction to host games at Alumni Stadium is well underway. It also strikes many as suprising that just about five weeks removed from the team's first Guelph game, the number of seats that will be available at the stadium remains a moving figure.

 

A Guelph skateboard park in 2013

Posted by Phil Andrews

With the weather blustery Sunday, I went with my family to check out the Guelph Civic Museum and the new Avro Arrow exhibit.

That's quite a Canadian story. My son gained more of an appreciation for the tale and is now quite miffed at John Diefenbaker. I suspect I know what his school speech contest topic will be next year.

I was amused at some assertions in third-floor exhibits that likely seemed true when the items were created but seem off now. One, was a photo of the 'building' of the Sikh temple in Guelph's south end in 2011, which, of course, is not yet built. The other was a suggestion made surrounding Guelph's proposed new skateboard park that it would be developed in 2013. I think that's unlikely as well.

It's tough for museums to seem up to the minute on such things.

Heck, it's tough for newspapers to do it too.

 

 

Painting the cannon with tiger stripes

Posted by Phil Andrews

Apparently, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats plan to paint Old Jeremiah on the grounds of U of G this weekend. It's to be part of a stunt to sell single-game tickets for the team's games at Alumni Stadium this year.

That drive officially starts Monday.

Can dressing up the Begging Bear as Angelo Mosca be far behind? Actually, that might be cool.

Call for Press Council reform made by J-School

Posted by Phil Andrews

There is talk of revamping of the press council that serves readers of Ontario newspapers.

The discussion has brewed for some time because of a variety of factors -- including the recent withdrawal by Sun media newspapers from the Ontario Press Council. Sun owns many Ontario dailies such as ones in London, Brantford, Sudbury and North Bay.

The latest dialogue has received a push by a recent Ryerson University look at the issues facing press councils and the gaps in service for readers looking to them for some industry regulation.