No regrets, no cooking – yes transit
To say that the recent mayoral campaign was fiery might be an understatement. However, the campaign is over and session has officially begun; the city’s new mayor, Cam Guthrie, is now looking to put his words and promises into action.
…the city’s new mayor, Cam Guthrie, is now looking to put his words and promises into action.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Guthrie to talk campaign issues, new developments, and personal cooking skills.
Speaking to the recent campaign fires, I asked Guthrie if there was anything he might like to speak to or clear up.
“No,” Guthrie responded immediately. “Like any election, there’s choice, and I presented a choice. Democracy wins at the end of the day.”
“I am a mayor for all,” Guthrie continued. “There is enough room in the city for a bunch of ideas, and they don’t have to be mine. I am all ears [to] any ideas that can move our city forward; as long as those ideas are coming to me respectfully, that’s all I care about.”
Delving deep into the issues facing Guelph, I asked Guthrie about his plans for dealing with transit issues – like often being unable to catch a bus to campus, which affects many University of Guelph students. I also asked if Guthrie would implement his idea to sell a universal bus pass to secondary school students.
“Really, to me, that’s a small piece within a greater context of transit as a whole. Personally, I believe that transit needs to be reviewed in its entirety and put back together with those pieces,” Guthrie responded. “One [piece] could be giving high school students or students in general a different kind of pass. Another piece could be bus shelters and better routes.”
Recently, the Central Student Association (CSA) – the University of Guelph’s core student government – passed a motion that will assist in the lobbying of the university to divest in the global oil trade and re-evaluate their portfolio. During the recent mayoral campaign, however, Guthrie had placed more emphasis on the local within his platform.
“While Mayor Karen Farbridge wishes to focus on global initiatives,” Guthrie told The Guelph Tribune, “I’d like to tackle issues located right outside your door.”
With this in mind, I asked Mayor Guthrie if he felt that Guelph, the community and the campus, has a responsibility to global concerns, like carbon emissions and global warming.
“I do believe the city should be worried about the global issues,” said Guthrie. “We can still focus on [these], but not at the expense of local issues that might not be getting the attention that they require. Municipal tax dollars should go to municipal issues. It’s not an ‘either-or,’ it’s just making sure that it’s put into the right balance.”
Inspired by the recent CSA vote to endorse an anti-racism taskforce on campus, I found it prudent to ask Guthrie what social policy he had in mind to implement, looking to build both equality and culture.
“I think there is a certain role for government to play in [promoting equality]. I think actions speak louder than words,” Guthrie replied. “I don’t know if government is the best thing, sometimes, to be trying to help spread wellness. Sometimes non-profit associations can do a way better job of promoting [equality], and I don’t want to see government step on toes of other organizations that are already doing a really good job.”
When looking at the unique culture of Guelph, Guthrie weighed in on the prominent and important role of the arts.
“We are very well known not only outside but within the city for [culture and] arts,” said Guthrie, “and I think [that presence is also] growing.”
On a more colloquial note, I asked Guthrie if he considered himself to be a good cook. His response was “negatory.”
Concluding the interview, Guthrie took the time to acknowledge the positive atmosphere that the University of Guelph students bring to the community.
“Thank you to all the students for being here; [the community] completely embraces you and we want you to come off-campus and explore our great city,” said Guthrie. “Why don’t you consider setting up roots in Guelph? We would love for you to stay and be a part of our community.”
Of course, many more questions face Mayor Guthrie, but only time – and what are sure to be intense council sessions – will bring the answers.