Sudbury.com kicks off a new election series: We picked the issues; they staked out their positions

Voters want to know where the candidates stand on the issues and so does Sudbury.com.

To that end, we’ve created a new election feature: Where Do They Stand? We picked nine issues that mattered to us, and reached out to the mayoral candidates and invited them to give us their answers.

Each candidate has 250 words or less to stake out their position on each of these issues: the Kingsway Entertainment District (KED); expanded casino gambling; large project spending; downtown Sudbury and the urban-rural divide; taxation (everyone’s favourite); roads (always top of mind in Sudbury); the health of our lakes; the state of firefighting in the city, and; transparency, openness and leadership.

For the next nine week days we’ll be rolling a new story every weekday, an election issue per day leading up to Election Day.

Today, the topic is one that has come to dominate this election, and dominate every political discussion for the past year or more: the KED. This election has practically become a referendum on the massive project.

Everyone has chosen sides. Read on and find out exactly what the candidates think. Now, every candidate was invited to participate, but, for whatever reason, not all of them chose to do so. Here are the answers from those who did. Rodney Newton, Troy Crowder and David Popescu did not supply answers.

This was the question we asked:

People want to know: Do you support the construction of an event centre / casino / hotel complex on The Kingsway east of downtown? Do you support using taxpayer dollars to build a $100-million arena that will be paid off over a generation? Explain your position.

Brian Bigger (incumbent)

I do! Council agreed to pursue this project last year and we owe it to constituents and all involved to see it through. The arena must be publicly owned and paid for. Triple P is just not a feasible or responsible approach for an arena. I agree with CUPE and many who I have consulted with – this is a municipal project that needs to be owned and operated by the City.

Cody Cacciotti

Our current lack of leadership has made a complete mess of the KED. The arena debate is a symptom of our city’s lack of leadership.

This project has frustrated citizens who fall on both sides of the equation and has clearly become the main election issue for many citizens.

With a decision from the LPAT (Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) pending, I believe it is disingenuous to choose sides and that anyone promising a specific result isn’t being honest. The process is now out of the city’s control and at this point and it must play out through the LPAT.

If after the appeal is heard, we are allowed to continue with the KED as planned, we should complete the project. Ensuring every step of the way that the taxpayers of Greater Sudbury are getting the most out of this investment. If I am fortunate enough to be you mayor, I would ensure that moving forward, there are no unnecessary tax dollars being allocated to a project without a clearly defined outcome.

Bill Crumplin

I do not support building an event centre at the Kingsway location with taxpayers’ money. With my expertise in urban design I cannot support building such a complex in an area that lacks the infrastructure when we have various other serviced urban areas available. However, we have to wait for LPAT to rule on the appeals.

Nonetheless, this is the wrong location for economic and urban design reasons. Economically, it will drain the City’s already over stretched road, infrastructure and water-waste water maintenance budgets once it’s completed. Servicing this site is also going to cost taxpayers money, we just do not know how much.

From an urban design standpoint, we need to focus development on areas where servicing already exists. This means infilling and retrofitting in our core areas. Building the entertainment district outside of the City’s core will lead to further deterioration of the downtown and dilute our arts community.

If LPAT returns the arena-entertainment project back to Council and I am the mayor, I will do everything in my power to locate the benefits of this sort of development, minus a casino, downtown. We must invest in our downtown cores to rejuvenate them. This will assist us in keeping and attracting young professional people and their families.

I harbour much fear that should the KED go ahead it will cost current and future taxpayers much over decades. Besides, I am not convinced the existing arena cannot be transformed to meet many of our needs.

Jeff Huska

I support the City of Greater Sudbury getting a new community arena, however I do not support the construction of an event centre / casino / hotel complex on The Kingsway east of downtown.

I’m a firm believer in following the city’s Downtown Master Plan that would enhance the viability of our downtown and promote growth. The city also made a promise to Laurentian University that if they built the School of Architecture downtown, the city could use this as the cornerstone to build a better downtown for everyone.

I’m shocked how a $60-million arena project a few years ago has ballooned to over $100 million. Four years ago, the City of St. Catharines opened a 5,500-seat arena downtown for a cost of $50 million. Many Greater Sudburians can’t understand why Greater Sudbury’s new arena needs to be so expensive especially when there are so many other costly issues affecting our city.

Ron Leclair

There has been a lot of discussions about the Kingsway Entertainment District, all I can say is that “I’m All In.” With this entertainment district, Sudbury will have the opportunity to prosper and grow as a community. This entertainment district will also attract new investors to the Sudbury region, and more jobs will be created. As for using the taxpayer dollars, I believe it will be well worth it over time as the old arena needs upgrades and repairs and in the long run, it will eventually cost the taxpayer more by having to maintain the old arena.

Dan Melanson

The Kingsway Entertainment District is a project that, along with its $100-million-plus price tag, has a projected annual operating deficit of $850,000. It has captured the aspirations of many of our citizens, while at the same time raising the ire of others.

The basis of some of the objections to the KED development are based on environmental concerns surrounding ground water run off containing salt. I believe, as I have outlined in my environmental plank, this concern can and will be mitigated.

Other objections question whether or not this development contravenes the city’s Official Plan. These objections are proceeding through the LPAT process and the new council will have to deal with these rulings and decide what the options will be if LPAT decides to send it back to council for reconsideration or not.

There are others who oppose KED based on their objections to a casino being part of the development.

I have no objections to the KED moving forward and including an arena/event centre, casino and hotel complex as part of the project. My only concerns focus on the ownership and funding by taxpayers.

Why does the city have to own and operate the arena?

Why are taxpayers funding this project?

Why isn’t it a P3 project?

Why are there no signed contracts between the city and the developer regarding the city’s ownership of the property for the arena/event centre and parking lots?

Why is there no legal contract indicating that a casino will be part of the project?

Patricia Mills

I do not support using a blank cheque to build the arena or any large project. The decision to construct the KED has been made by this mayor and council. The project is currently being appealed before the LPAT.

If the LPAT green lights the city’s plan, then it is the duty of the mayor to ensure it is delivered in a fiscally responsible way. It is clear the majority of Sudburians want an arena. It is also clear the majority don’t support the current financial plan. As mayor, my job will be to ensure we deliver an arena that we all can be proud of and that we all can afford.

For construction purposes only (not operational) we should have a private/public partnership with the developer. We cannot afford to foot the bill entirely. But the cost-sharing agreements should be public so we all understand what we are signing on for.

We should also look at infrastructure programs, community enhancement grants and other provincial/federal incentives that may assist in off-setting some of the costs. We need to set a firm budget that includes all of the costs for construction and infrastructure such as road, sewers, water and utilities. We also need a clear understanding of the financial responsibilities of all partners involved in the project as well as clear operational guidelines set out in advance.

Bill Sanders

I support the construction of a new arena. I do not support the construction of a casino. I do not support the use of taxpayer dollars. The new arena is a want. The city priority is to focus on needs.

Any legacy project must be largely funded with private money. Take for example the Place des Arts. The city’s portion was $5 million, plus the land. That is a private-public partnership that works. We also need Community Benefits Agreements with the developers to protect the interests of the city and its citizens.

These CBAs have been adopted on large projects all over North America. My position is clear. Listen to and adopt the recommendations made by consultants. Do not borrow $100 million to build an arena on the Kingsway.