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Open Council
@opencouncil.ca
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What your elected representatives are up to. opencouncil.ca/links
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opencouncil.ca
Budget Basket in Belleville had the best unit price for 51% of the 56 products compared to local major grocery chains.

opencouncil.ca/budget-basket/
Budget Basket offers lower prices - but has ties to a Russian billionaire family sanctioned by Ukraine and Poland - Open Council
Shoppers may save at Belleville’s new Budget Basket, which plans to expand to Kingston and Peterborough, but its ownership is tied to a Russian family sanctioned by Ukraine and Poland. First reported ...
opencouncil.ca
August 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
opencouncil.ca
Only 34% of Belleville's food/organic waste is diverted from landfills, well under the 50% benchmark set by the Ontario government. Rural households placed around 50% more food waste in the garbage per households compared to urban households.
https://opencouncil.ca/belleville-waste-audit/
June 23, 2025 at 6:52 PM
opencouncil.ca
The Trudeau government will send $250 to the 18.7 million Canadians who made less than $150,000 in 2023 in early spring 2025 - shortly after Doug Ford's $200 payment to every taxpayer in Ontario.
opencouncil.ca/federal-gove...
Trudeau government to give out $4.7B in pre-election rebate payments
November 21, 2024 - The Trudeau federal government announced the Working Canadians Rebate which would pay $250 to 18.7 million Canadians who worked in 2023 and
opencouncil.ca
November 21, 2024 at 11:06 PM
opencouncil.ca
The Trudeau government supported by the NDP is pausing GST/HST for 2 months starting December 14, 2024 to February 15, 2025 on certain categories of products including alcohol and video games.
opencouncil.ca/federal-gove...
Trudeau/NDP government provides 5% GST tax break pause for 2 months on select products
November 21, 2024 - The federal Liberal government with the support of the NDP is pausing the 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) for 2 m
opencouncil.ca
November 21, 2024 at 11:03 PM
opencouncil.ca
In 2016, the Wynne government gave municipalities the option to use ranked ballots.
London used ranked ballots in the 2018 election, and other municipalities made moves to switch.
In 2020, the Ford government banned the use of ranked ballots.
opencouncil.ca/ranked-ballo...
Ford government bans ranked choice voting by municipalities
In 2014, the Wynne government mandate letters ordered the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to give municipalities the option of using ranked ballots in
opencouncil.ca
October 27, 2024 at 5:51 PM
opencouncil.ca
Based on our calculations, the Ford government plans to invest $525-675M now to receive $580M back in present value, plus an estimated $128M in GDP and 800 jobs, assuming 3% discount rate, business operates for the full 95 years and grows by 3% per year.
opencouncil.ca/theme-spa-on...
Ford government spending $525-675M on Therme Spa to get up to $380-580M in value back if it is successful for 95 years: analysis
What is the Therme Spa project? In 2017, the Wynne government issued a Request for Proposals for Ontario Place redevelopment and a bid from Therme Group was
opencouncil.ca
October 24, 2024 at 10:12 PM
opencouncil.ca
Apr 8 - Premier Ford orders LCBO to reintroduce paper bags
Oct 9 - LCBO awards $10.9M contract to Rosenbloom Groupe Inc. of Quebec
Oct 22 - Premier Ford orders LCBO to redo the process and give the contract to an Ontario company instead
opencouncil.ca/lcbo-paper-b...
Doug Ford orders LCBO to give paper bag contract to an Ontario company after it had already been awarded to a Quebec company
Timeline October 22, 2024 - LCBO says it will re-do the procurement process as soon as possible LCBO recognizes direction received from the provincial go
opencouncil.ca
October 23, 2024 at 3:54 PM
opencouncil.ca
Ford's government decided it couldn't wait another year and a half for the agreement to expire, choosing instead to pay out $225M to Molson and Labatt to break the 10 year long Beer Store contract 1 year, 7 months, and 9 days early on May 23, 2024.
opencouncil.ca/ford-governm...
Ford's government pays $225M to Molson and Labatt to allow lobbyists' clients to sell beer 1.5 years ahead of schedule
On September 22, 2015 the Ontario Liberal government entered into 10-year Master Framework Agreement (MFA) effective January 1, 2016 that gave the Beer Store -
opencouncil.ca
September 23, 2024 at 6:09 PM
opencouncil.ca
On September 12, 2024 the NDP, Green Party, and Liberal candidates for the 2024 Bay of Quinte by-election debated for the second time. The debate was pre-recorded and hosted by YourTV (Cogeco 4/700) studios in downtown Belleville.
opencouncil.ca/yourtv-quint...
YourTV Quinte hides election coverage during election day
On September 12, 2024 the NDP, Green Party, and Liberal candidates for the 2024 Bay of Quinte by-election debated for the second time. The debate was pre-rec
opencouncil.ca
September 19, 2024 at 4:10 PM
opencouncil.ca
Belleville Council agreed in principal pending a public consultation to re-apply to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund for $16.8M that would add an estimated 460 additional units over 3 years by allowing 4 unit dwellings on urban residential lots.
opencouncil.ca/belleville-m...
Belleville residential intensification project to support missing middle housing
On September 9, 2024 Belleville Council agreed in principal pending a public consultation to re-apply to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund for $16.8M to add
opencouncil.ca
September 13, 2024 at 6:48 PM
opencouncil.ca
Council agreed in principal pending a public consultation to re-apply to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund for $16.8M to add an estimated 460 additional units over 3 years. This time, they'll allow 4 units as-of-right on an urban residential lot.
opencouncil.ca/belleville-h...
Belleville to re-apply to Housing Accelerator Fund after denial, agrees in principle to 4 units as-of-right pending public consultation
Belleville applied to the first round of the $4 billion federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) for up to $22.3M to build an estimated 875 housing units, but was
opencouncil.ca
September 13, 2024 at 6:23 PM
opencouncil.ca
For over 100 years, Canadian political parties have supported electoral reform while not in power and during election campaigns, only to back away from the promise of reform once elected, when proportional representation is no longer in the short-term self-interest of
opencouncil.ca/electoral-re...
Proportional representation case before Ontario Supreme Court
Various political parties in Canada have supported electoral reform while not in power and during election campaigns, only to back away from the promise of refo
opencouncil.ca
September 13, 2024 at 6:18 PM
opencouncil.ca
Belleville requests feedback on allowing “Missing middle” housing options, including four-unit dwellings on urban serviced residential parcels of land.
forms.belleville.ca/Engineering/...
September 13, 2024 at 6:09 PM
opencouncil.ca
Open survey: What practical life skills should be taught in Ontario schools? Tell the Ontario government here.
www.ontario.ca/form/survey-...
September 11, 2024 at 1:43 PM
opencouncil.ca
Here's how you can donate.
opencouncil.ca/the-bridge-b...
Mayor's Challenge to fund the Bridge has raised $20k so far
The Bridge Integrated Care Centre known as "The Bridge" or "The Hub" is operated by Bridge Street United Church and opened in May 2021.It was initially mea
opencouncil.ca
September 10, 2024 at 6:20 PM
opencouncil.ca
Submit debate questions before the virtual debate on September 10, 2024 at 7 pm (stream location TBA) for the upcoming by-election on September 19.
Please note your question may not be quoted directly and may be combined with others.
opencouncil.ca/bay-of-quint...
Submit questions for Bay of Quinte by-election virtual debate Sept. 10
September 6, 2024 - Submit debate questions herePlease note your question may not be quoted directly and may be combined with others.September 10, 2024
opencouncil.ca
September 6, 2024 at 9:45 PM
opencouncil.ca
A provincial by-election has been called for the electoral district of Bay of Quinte. Election day will take place on September 19, 2024 in Belleville, Quinte West and Prince Edward County. Here is the complete list of candidates.
opencouncil.ca/election/202...
2024 Bay of Quinte by-election Sept. 19
A provincial by-election has been called for the electoral district of Bay of Quinte. Election day will take place on September 19, 2024 in Belleville, Quinte W
opencouncil.ca
September 6, 2024 at 9:43 PM
opencouncil.ca
Tyler Allsopp is running in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection as the candidate for the PC Party of Ontario.

Before being named the candidate, he was a councillor of the City of Belleville for Ward 1, requesting an unpaid leave of absence from council.
opencouncil.ca/representati...
Tyler Allsopp – PC Candidate for MPP of Bay of Quinte
Tyler Allsopp is running in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection as the candidate for the PC Party of Ontario, requesting an unpaid leave of absence from council.
opencouncil.ca
September 6, 2024 at 9:41 PM
opencouncil.ca
Amanda Robertson is running in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection as the candidate for the Ontario New Democratic Party.

Before being named, she was Vice-chair of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) representing Belleville.
opencouncil.ca/representati...
Amanda Robertson - NDP Candidate for MPP of Bay of Quinte
Amanda RobertsonAmanda Robertson is running in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection as the candidate for the Ontario New Democratic Party.Before
opencouncil.ca
September 6, 2024 at 9:37 PM
opencouncil.ca
Sean Kelly is running as the candidate for the Liberal Party of Ontario in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection, requesting an unpaid leave of absence from council.
opencouncil.ca/representati...
Sean Kelly – Liberal Candidate for MPP of Bay of Quinte
Sean Kelly is running as the candidate for the Liberal Party of Ontario in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection, requesting an unpaid leave of absence from council
opencouncil.ca
September 6, 2024 at 9:35 PM
opencouncil.ca
Lori Borthwick is running in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection as the candidate for the Green Party of Ontario.

Born and raised in Sarnia, Borthwick has called the Bay of Quinte home since 1989.
opencouncil.ca/representati...
Lori Borthwick - Green Candidate for MPP of Bay of Quinte
Lori Borthwick is running in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection as the candidate for the Green Party of Ontario.Born and raised in Sarnia, Borthwic
opencouncil.ca
September 6, 2024 at 9:09 PM
opencouncil.ca
Mark Snow is running as the candidate for the Ontario Libertarian Party in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection.
opencouncil.ca/representati...
Mark Snow - Libertarian Candidate for MPP of Bay of Quinte
Mark Snow is running as the candidate for the Ontario Libertarian Party in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection.Snow is the Leader of the Ontario Libertar
opencouncil.ca
September 6, 2024 at 9:07 PM
opencouncil.ca
Margaret Schuler is running as the candidate for the New Blue Party in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection.
opencouncil.ca/representati...
Margaret Schuler - New Blue Party Candidate for MPP of Bay of Quinte
Margaret Schuler is running as the candidate for the New Blue Party in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection.EducationProfessional education program c
opencouncil.ca
September 6, 2024 at 9:05 PM
opencouncil.ca
John Turmel, born on February 22, 1951, in Rouyn, Quebec, Canada, and resident of Brantford, Ontario is running as an independent candidate in the 2024 Bay of Quinte byelection.
opencouncil.ca/representati...
John Turmel - Independent Candidate for MPP of Bay of Quinte
John Turmel, born on February 22, 1951, in Rouyn, Quebec, Canada, and resident of Brantford, Ontario is running as an independent candidate in the 2024 Bay
opencouncil.ca
September 6, 2024 at 8:56 PM
opencouncil.ca
2018: We’re cancelling 462.5 MW of “unnecessary and wasteful energy” energy projects
2023: We’re ordering 2,000 MW of renewable energy projects, “ensuring long-term affordability for Ontario’s ratepayers and businesses“
opencouncil.ca/wind-farms-c...
Ford government cancels wind farms, pays $231M in penalties, then orders more wind farms
One of Doug Ford's first acts as premier of Ontario just days after taking office on June 29, 2018, was cancelling 759 renewable energy projects for a total of
opencouncil.ca
September 5, 2024 at 6:28 PM