City of Guelph meets with provincial decision-makers about Guelph's innovation district, climate change prevention, and energy conservation.

GUELPH – A City of Guelph delegation led by Mayor Karen Farbridge went to the home of the Provincial Legislature late last week to engage the Ontario government in discussion about key issues on Guelph’s agenda.

The group met with five cabinet ministers during a day of meetings that established greater awareness of three high-priority Guelph issues, and created a positive foundation on which to build future Provincial commitment for Guelph priorities.

The delegation introduced the Ministers of Environment and Energy to Guelph’s Community Energy Plan and the City’s goals for its organics facility. It also met with the Ministers of Research and Innovation; Training, Colleges and Universities; and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, along with the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade to discuss Guelph’s future in the agri-food and environmental sectors.

"We feel there’s tremendous value in building productive, working partnerships with the Province, particularly in today’s climate of intensified interaction between provincial and municipal governments," says Guelph mayor, Karen Farbridge. "We left Queen’s Park knowing Guelph is on the Province’s radar with respect to several important issues."

The City of Guelph also came away with commitments from the ministers to move forward collaboratively in the areas of energy conservation and climate change prevention, and to explore developing the York District Lands as an innovation district.

In addition to the Mayor, members of Council and City staff, the delegation included the Presidents of the University of Guelph and Conestoga College, representatives from Guelph Hydro, and leaders from the business and industry sectors including the Guelph Chamber of Commerce and Guelph Partnership for Innovation.

A Guelph-inspired luncheon for Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and their staff was hosted by the University of Guelph and featured foods with a connection to research at the University. The Speaker of the House and Guelph MPP Liz Sandals later recognized the delegation and the Guelph community in the legislature.

The goal of last week’s meetings, arranged at the City’s request, was to distinguish Guelph so that its issues are well understood by both elected and non-elected decision-makers, to build support within the Provincial government, and to secure subsequent meetings to advance important Guelph issues.