We are asking candidates to sign our Transit Pledge, making their commitment to push for more reliable, affordable, accessible, frequent, fast, and safe public transit if elected.
Don’t see your candidate on the list? Ask them why they haven’t signed the TAAG pledge for better transit yet!
If you are a candidate and wish to be added to this page, email us contact@taaguelph.com
All candidates listed below have made the following pledge:
1. I pledge to champion a Guelph Transit network that is affordable, reliable, accessible, and publicly owned.
2. I will work to keep transit affordable for riders, champion transit priority measures like dedicated lanes, and advocate for increased service investments so that transit becomes faster, more frequent, and more reliable.
3. I will commit to pursuing sustainable funding for public transportation by advocating for stable, ongoing operating funding from provincial and federal governments.
4. I will work to protect Guelph Transit as a public service that is safe, inclusive, and accessible to everyone, and defend Guelph’s authority to make local transit decisions in the best interest of riders.
The following signed supporting all 4 pledges. Listed by (Name - Ward - Comments (if applicable) ) and in no paticular order:
Kevin Bowman - Ward 3
Rodrigo Goller - Ward 2
Phil Allt - Ward 3
Comments: "I will continue to support transit as I have all my life. Transit is an essential component of our economic and social matrix. Furthermore, it is part of the solution to reducing greenhouse gases."
Kim Fry - Ward 2
Comments: "As a non car driver, I have used public transit and cycling as my main modes of Transportation for years. This is very difficult to do in Guelph and even though I live very centrally, car ownership almost feels necessary. Cars are super expensive and as a commitment to climate action AND affordability, I will do everything in my power to make it possible for people (including families) to be car free if they so choose. This means less congestion and competition for parking for those people who require vehicles."
Alec Purves - Ward 2
Comments: "Two additional initiatives I have on my platform: 1) Speed up the building of a public washroom at Guelph Central Station; providing transit dignity to riders, commuters, families, seniors and students. It will also service the night crowd and homeless. 2) Establish the "Safe Haven" initiative. Anyone being stalked, harassed or followed, can enter a Guelph Transit vehicle for free; provide a safe haven; and the proper authorities will be notified."
Leanne Caron - Mayoral Candidate
Comments "Transit is key to an affordable, accessible, and liveable city. As a family of transit users, I hear and experience first hand where we need to focus improvements to increase ridership. Investments in transit have a return on investment in making life more affordable."
Linda Busuttil - Ward 4
Comments: "Looking forward to seeing transit improvement plans."
James Doran - Ward 5
Morgan Dandie - Ward 2
Michelle Bowman - Ward 2
Laura McQuillen - Ward 6
Marty Williams - Ward 3
Daniel Kaufmann - Ward 1
Evan Silva - Ward 1
Jon Christensen - Ward 5
Comments: "In September I asked the City five written questions about what Guelph Transit costs and what we get for it. Its answer: the cost to property taxes went from $16.6 million in 2019 to $25.4 million in 2025, up 53 per cent, for 5 per cent more service hours and 4 per cent more riders. An hour of bus went from $122.65 to $160.68 and nobody has explained why. Riders paid 45 cents of every dollar in 2019. Now it's 38 cents, and students cover 63 per cent of all transit revenue.
That can't continue. Either the cost of an hour of bus comes down or the revenue comes up. Probably both. My version of investment is frequency on Gordon, Stone, College and Victoria, where people actually ride. Fewer low-ridership loops around the edge of the city. Group passes sold to employers and Conestoga, the way the U of G pass works. And a quarterly scorecard on guelph.ca so every dollar is accounted for. Frequency before free fares. The numbers are at jonchristensen.ca/transit"
Dakota Cherry - Ward 5
Michelle Richardson - Ward 3
Comments: "1. YES 2. I support keeping transit affordable, frequent and reliable. Transit priority measures should be considered on a case by case basis, based on evidence, need, traffic impacts and cost. 3. I support advocating to provincial and federal governments for stable, sustainable transit funding so the burden does not fall disproportionately on Guelph property tax payers. 4. I support keeping Guelph Transit publicly owned, safe, inclusive and accessible with decisions focused on providing reliable service and good value for residents."
Derek McCaughan - Ward 4
Comments: "The available choices don't fully capture my position. I support pledge #1 during this term of Council. I also support the principles of pledge #4, with local decisions considering the best interests of riders in conjunction with those of the broader community. My positions on pledges #2 and #3 are subject to the considerations outlined in my responses.
#1: I support affordable, reliable, and accessible public transit. My priority is to address gaps in the current service and improve reliability so residents can depend on transit for their daily needs. I support discounted fares for those who need assistance. Any proposed service enhancements or additional funding must be considered alongside the City's other priorities and taxpayers' ability to pay.
I support retaining public ownership of Guelph Transit during this term of Council.
#2: Council already has programs to assist segments of transit ridership, and I support continuing these programs. I'm willing to consider proposals to make transit faster, more frequent, and more reliable, including transit priority measures. Any proposal to increase the level of assistance or enhance service will be considered alongside other priorities requiring public funding.
#3: I support advocating for predictable senior government funding for public transit. Ontario's dedicated gas tax program already permits operating and capital expenditures, while federal transit funding has primarily supported capital investment. Establishing an ongoing federal contribution to municipal transit operations would represent a significant change in federal funding policy.
I'm open to advocating for ongoing federal operating support, provided it offers predictable funding. Any financial commitment required from the City to secure that support must be considered alongside other priorities and taxpayers' ability to pay. We must also consider the potential impact on the City if federal funding were later reduced or withdrawn.
#4: I support Guelph Transit as a safe, inclusive, and accessible public service. I also support Guelph's authority to make local transit decisions in the best interests of riders in conjunction with the best interests of the broader community."
SUBMISSION WITH COMMENTS ONLY:
Ryan Meunier - Mayoral Candidate
"My position at this time for ALL surveys, because it represents more efficient use of my most valuable resource, my time, is to direct people to continue to follow the public meetings and to visit my website, which is being regularly updated with my direct responses to citizens on myriad topics. Also now included on my website is the 30 question Vote Compass Survey I completed in July. These sources of information are quite detailed and varied. If after information from these sources has been reviewed people still have questions, they can ask me them directly and disseminate my responses as they would like. There is transit-related information in this resource, and I have publicly stated my support for transit based on proven need and within my budgetary objective, and I have also made it abundantly clear that provincial and federal governments should be providing much more support to address the situation they have created with their forced growth agenda. I would prefer this explanation to “did not respond to the survey invitation, “ as I have responded and explained my position, but it’s your game your rules, so proceed however you would like."
Rajee Sinha - Mayoral Candidate
"I am positive that through mutual understanding and working together we can make our public transit in Guelph to be more efficient and better for our community. I don’t know if we can have dedicated lanes in already congested streets. We can certainly make it more affordable and reliable. We have to expand our services on weekends especially on Sundays. Not just election purposes, I am saying this but I believe in it that we have to work together and make it reliable, better, efficient and affordable for everyone living in our city."
