The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce has long been engaged with its members on issues of crime, safety, cleanliness and community well-being.
In recent months, we’ve intensified those efforts, amplifying members’ concerns about worsening conditions, gathering data and meeting with public officials to push for meaningful action.
Our consistent goal is to advocate for a balanced plan that supports those in need while ensuring safety for the broader community. We want Sudbury’s business owners to operate safely, sustainably and with confidence.
A recent announcement from the mayor and the Oct. 7 city council report on downtown services and supports are steps in the right direction. We want to thank our city and police leadership for hearing the urgency of the concerns brought forward by the chamber and others about the escalating crime and social disorder, and worsening challenges with cleanliness.
We are hopeful the action plan referenced in the report and outlined in more detail during the mayor’s announcement will follow swiftly. These challenges are not new, and it’s important to acknowledge that.
While we’re encouraged by recent momentum, what’s still needed is a clear, detailed plan with concrete actions, timelines, budgets and accountabilities. Urgent, co-ordinated action is now essential.
For many business owners, this goes beyond frustration. The members we speak to are feeling hopeless, anxious and exhausted, with some facing significant financial loss. Many have stopped reporting theft, vandalism or hazardous conditions due to lack of follow-up. Others are spending thousands on security measures, cleaning services and repairs. These are unsustainable costs, especially for our small businesses, and they’re forcing difficult decisions about staffing, investment and location.
Business owners need clarity, not on what’s being considered, but on what is actually being done, when it will happen and who is responsible.
While downtown requires urgent attention, our current member survey makes clear these issues extend beyond the core. Of the 155 respondents to date, 55 per cent are located downtown, but 80 per cent say their business is impacted daily or weekly by issues related to crime, drug-related activity, safety or cleanliness.
Additionally, 86 per cent say these issues have worsened over the past six months. We need a citywide plan that reflects the realities in all commercial areas and neighbourhoods.
These are complex, deeply human challenges. Business owners are on the frontline of these social issues. Many of our members know the people affected by homelessness, addiction and mental health conditions who visit their businesses. They interact with them directly every day and recognize they are people deserving of compassion, dignity and co-ordinated support.
We are so grateful for the vital work of community organizations serving vulnerable populations and firmly believe safety and empathy can (and must) go hand in hand. The Chamber is not in the social services profession, but we are in the business of advocating for a safe, vibrant and economically resilient city. We want to be part of the solution and are ready to work with partners across the community to ensure actions support vulnerable people and protect the broader public.
In our letter to the mayor and police chief this summer, we outlined specific short-term recommendations to improve safety, cleanliness and foot traffic downtown and in other commercial areas. These recommendations are available on the chamber’s website and include actions such as expanding the city’s clean-up and maintenance programs, improving co-ordination between enforcement and outreach teams, and implementing policy changes to increase events and visitors. We also identified potential funding sources and emphasized the impact of these actions to reiterate the importance of establishing clear, measurable outcomes to track progress and ensure accountability.
Downtown is not just a geographic location. It is critical to our economic growth. Its success is our collective success. Without clear and immediate action, we risk long-term damage just as major public and private investments are beginning to take shape.
Sudbury’s business community is resilient, innovative and deeply invested in this city’s future. But we can’t do this alone. We urge city council to move swiftly from strategy to implementation, and to bring forward a complete, transparent plan that includes the clarity, timelines, costs and accountability our members need to plan and invest with confidence.
Marie Litalien is the president and CEO of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.