Letter: City’s spending priorities seem out of whack

Being on the front line for over 15 years, I have watched acquaintances, good friends, even family members die due to the ignorance, arrogance and incompetence of city hall on all three fronts (arena, affordable housing and drugs). 

Blame usually falls on other levels of government. 

References from Sudbury.com show that these are not recent events. My many attempts to have current mayors, from Mayor David Courtemanche to now mayor Paul Lefebvre, to come and see first hand the effects of ignoring the most important of the three fell on deaf ears. 

Budget woes? All three are taken from the same pot. So try to explain that, just letting all three waste a huge amount of resources (time and money). Maybe start by taking those that are hampered by challenges and try keeping them healthy and safe, and that could slow the need to borrow. The repeated intervention by the police, health-care professionals, support services and not to mention legal costs would definitely free up needed funds for arenas and proper living spaces. 

In an article in Sudbury.com (then Northern Life), “City wants plan to end homeless crisis” (March 20, 2006) things such as “Calling the large number of homeless people a casualty of Mike Harris Common Sense Revolution, Ward 2 Councilor Claude Berthiaume agreed city council needs to help out community agencies at risk of losing their funding.” And, “the resolution also calls for municipalities to develop, in conjunction with the federal and provincial governments, a strategy to prevent homelessness. Council will also work with the community in their efforts to attain long-term sustainability for programs that serve the homeless or at-risk populations.” 

So now,18 years later, is this city hall’s answer to the long-term affordable housing crisis? But then again in 2013, this appeared on Sudbury.com. “Arena debate a refreshing change” (Re: Article “City ices plan to fast-track new arena,” which appeared in the Oct. 10 edition of Northern Life.) 

After almost three years of in-fighting among city council, it seems the dust is settling. In the same year, we get “As city councilors examine options for renewing arenas in Greater Sudbury, the issue of whether it’s time to replace Sudbury Community Arena is coming up for debate.” (Architect: Sudbury Arena – Jan 21, 2013 a 'the worst').

So will it take another 11 years for our new arena? What about long-term affordable housing or treatment facilities? Sad to see what is being addressed as priority. 

As repeatedly seen over the years, city hall has big city ideas but a small town mentality. 

D. Maisonneuve
Greater Sudbury