Questions around growing the economy and supporting local businesses were front and centre during Thursday’s Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce mayoral debate at Collège Boréal.
Industrial lands need to be better taken care of, Lefebvre said, pointing to the “embarrassing” status of Fielding Road as evidence they have not been prioritized. Rocca-Circelli said the city needs to create incentives for businesses and adopt a decentralized model to reallocate resources to amalgamated towns to provide them with greater autonomy.Dutrisac said the City of Greater Sudbury has to become a destination for a younger generation of workers and entrepreneurs, and pledged to put together a task force to see how the city can better retain youths who come to the city for university.
“We have to better determine what is happening in terms of developmental fees and what is stopping these organizations from coming here and starting to develop housing and creating these opportunities,” she said. Despite this increase, Greater Sudbury’s development charges remain low compared to other Ontario municipalities. According to the latest BMA Management Consulting Inc. report comparing 114 Ontario municipalities, the average single detached family dwelling development charge was $40,217.
Bob Johnston’s response was the shortest, as he responded to the eight categories with a single statement: “Full audit. Clean up the core of management in Tom Davies square and yes we our open for business. We must build a team solid, all being team players. Not I, but we can do this. We are in serious trouble.”