About the Book
This book describes and analyses the political and planning decisions taken by Guelph City Councils between 2000 and 2015. It describes the conflicts among councilors of different political persuasions and numerous conflicts among citizens, developers and Councils. It examines the conduct of activist citizen groups during this period and explains why many decisions by Councils have taken so long. Some of the topics discussed are: waste disposal, housing, termite control, rowdies in the city centre, battles with major corporations, excessive spending by Councils, questionable dismissals of staff by Councils, drought and water supply, influence of Provincial legislation on Guelph's growth, Brownfield development, Economic and Transportation Planning, the Halon Business Park confrontations, the Civic Administration building lawsuit, the new Museum and a number of specific planning disputes. The book also examines several bitter elections and the effects of social media on political campaigning. It ends with an evaluation of the performance and expenditures of Guelph's politicians during the fifteen years being discussed.
About the Author: Fred Dahms is Professor Emeritus, founding member and former Chair of the Department of Geography, University of Guelph. For eleven years he was a member and Chair of Guelph's Planning Advisory Committee. In addition to many academic books and articles, his Popular books include: Wellington County, Boston Mills, 2008; Picturesque Ontario Towns, Lorimer, 2003; Beautiful Ontario Towns, Lorimer, 2001; The Growth and Planning of Guelph in the Twentieth Century, in Guelph, Perspectives on a Century of Change, Guelph Historical Society, 2000 and The Heart of the Country, Deneau, 1988.
