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Dutrisac: I will push to hold council meetings in every ward

Mayoral candidate Evelyn Dutrisac says it is time for the city to explore a more decentralized model
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Greater Sudbury mayoral candidate Evelyn Dutrisac. 

As your mayor, I will promote the need to go back to a decentralized model. We need to conduct council meetings in the wards of the city on a regular basis.
We need to meet with the residents, listen to them and empower every citizen to become active in their community. Our Community Action Networks (CAN) are working independently with little involvement with the greater city and feel excluded.

Since amalgamation, the city has offered services to the amalgamated towns based on a “one city, one service” model. In other words, they are providing services as if the city was the city of Sudbury.  Mayor and council need to institute a decentralized model for delivery so that service is assigned as to the needs of individual towns as they were before amalgamation.

By holding regular monthly council meetings in the 12 wards, we will be connecting directly with all the citizens. Trust will be established between the mayor, council, staff and the residents. This community empowerment is about working in ways which empower people — ways which mean that people feel confident, that they and the groups they are involved with are inclusive and organised, that networks are formed, are co-operative and support each other and ultimately they are influential.

By confident, we mean, that we are working in ways which increase people skills, knowledge and confidence, and self-esteem. Confidence instills a belief that every resident can make a difference.

By inclusive, we recognize that discrimination exists, we promote equality of opportunity and good relations with groups and that we challenge inequality and exclusion.

By organized, we mean working in a way which brings people together around common issues and concerns in the community and that we are open, democratic and accountable.

By co-operative we are working in ways to build positive relations in the city and we identify common messages. We also develop and maintain links with community residents and groups and promote strong partnerships.

By influential, we work in ways which encourages and equips communities to take part and influence decisions, services and activities.

As mayor I will encourage council to hold regularly meetings in all the 12 wards. Community empowerment is the product of putting the values of community development into action. 

Evelyn Dutrisac is a candidate for mayor in the Oct. 24 municipal election.


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