Open Sources Guelph - July 19, 2018

This week on Open Sources Guelph we have a very good relationship with Russia. Just kidding! Unlike the U.S. President in a press conference, there will be no butt kissing of the Russian Republic, and it's not so benevolent dictator here. Once we get these shocking developments on the international stage out of the way, we're going all-Canadian with news from Ottawa, British Columbia, and Guelph.

This Thursday, July 19, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:

The Russia Grouse. U.S. President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. The "summit" was held in the shadow of new indictments from the Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller of several members of Russian intelligence who interfered in the 2016 Presidential election. But any sliver of hope that Trump might hold Putin account vanished in a post-meeting press conference when Trump suggested that the Russians can assist the investigation by interrogating American suspects. What?!?! When it comes to U.S./Russian relations, abandon all hope ye who enter here.

Shuffle Retreat. In his last summer off before the looming spectre of an election, it seems that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is still having election thoughts. Rumours of a cabinet shuffle started making the rounds at the beginning of the week, which is a standard move for a government thinking about re-election. With most agreeing that key figures like Bill Morneau and Chrystia Freeland will be staying put, all eyes will be on who will step down from cabinet, as well as who will be stepping up, thus informing on where the Liberals will put the emphasis on their re-election efforts. So who's staying, and who's going?

Proportion Contortion. Looking to fulfill an important campaign promise, the B.C. government has laid out the rules for a referendum to determine if the province keeps the present First-Past-the-Post system, or whether a change will be coming to some form of Proportional Representation. Two groups have been formed to promote the 'Yes' and 'No' sides, and and a mail in ballot sent out to all eligible voters will determine the future of elections in British Columbia later this fall. Of course, the eyes of all PR supporters nation-wide will be watching this, so is the PR revolution finally here?

Talk the Vote. It's almost one week until the close of nominations for the 2018 Municipal Election, and if things are unchanged since this writing, then Cam Guthrie remains unchallenged for re-election as the Mayor of Guelph. Though there are a lot of big issues for the city - Clair-Maltby, the Alectra Merger, the Xinyl glass plant in Guelph-Eramosa, and more - Guthrie might sail to election victory without even really needing to campaign. Here's the thing though, Guelph's is not the only city where the mayor looks to be walking to re-election. What are we to make of this election year development, is it satisfaction of voter apathy?

Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.