Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your weekend.
GSPS accounts for lion’s share of recent tax increases
Emergency services have been the leading contributor to municipal tax increases in recent years, with Greater Sudbury Police Service far exceeding both fire and paramedics. As a percentage of total cost changes between 2019 and 2023 (forecast), GSPS made up 26 per cent ($12.9 million) of the increase, whereas fire contributed 11 per cent ($5.5 million) and paramedics contributed four per cent ($2 million). Across all lines of service funded by the municipality, costs increased by $49.2 million during these five years. The $12.9 million increase by GSPS was the single greatest jump, followed by transit at just shy of $6 million. Although GSPS pulls approximately 11 per cent of the city’s gross budget, their increases have accounted for 21.9 per cent of the total municipal tax levy jump between 2019-23. These and various other statistics were provided in a report to city council during this week’s meeting, which highlighted where recent years’ cost increases have come from. Sudbury.com reached out to GSPS representative Kaitlyn Dunn for additional insight regarding the service’s disproportionate share of recent years’ tax increases, but an interview request was not granted.
Coun. Leduc now faces potential 30-day suspension
Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc is facing a potential 30-day suspension in pay, not the 10 days the city’s integrity commissioner inadvertently indicated. Leduc forwarded correspondence from city integrity commissioner David Boghosian to Sudbury.com on Oct. 27, in which it’s noted the 10-day suspension he’d initially indicated was a mistake. The city councillor had until 5 p.m. Oct. 27 to respond, but Leduc told Sudbury.com he would not do so .“I kind of fear from this integrity commissioner that any type of response is going to further my suspension,” he said, adding that before the upgrade to 30 days, he’d intended on responding. He will, however, fight the ruling in council chambers whenever it comes up for discussion. It’s unclear when the integrity commissioner’s final report will be tabled with city council, but their next meeting is scheduled to take place on Nov. 7 beginning at 6 p.m.
Another lawyer quits David Murray fraud case
Another lawyer has quit the David Murray fraud case after the relationship with his client soured. Murray’s now former lawyer, Sault Ste. Marie’s Anthony Orazietti, filed a motion in court Oct. 27 to have himself removed from the case. Orazietti told the court at first he believed he had been fired by Murray, and that is why he filed the motion. Murray, the owner of EcoLife Home Improvements, is facing 35 counts of fraud over $5,000 dating back to May 7, 2016, and running through to March 28, 2019. The total of the alleged frauds is estimated at $800,000. In a separate case, Murray pleaded guilty Sept. 15 to one count of driving a vehicle while using a handheld communication device, while several other charges were withdrawn. Orazetti, who had been Murray’s counsel since 2022, appeared for the counsel motion in Sudbury court Oct. 26 by Zoom, as did Murray. Murray described a heated phone conversation between him and Orazietti about his defence strategy. “That's where we had the falling out,” said Murray. “He did propose to me that I should be taking his deal, and if I was trying to object, it seemed like I was offending him.”
Prayers for Middle East peace at Sudbury non-partisan vigil
At a non-partisan vigil for peace in the Middle East, held at Tom Davies Square on Oct. 26, Sudbury Interfaith Dialogue’s Dave Nicol brought together religious leaders from across the city, to pray, and to speak of an end to the conflict. The 20-day-old war is the deadliest of the five Gaza wars. The Hamas-run Health Ministry reported Monday that at least 5,087 Palestinians have been killed and 15,270 wounded. In the occupied West Bank, 96 Palestinians have been killed and 1,650 wounded in violence and Israeli raids since Oct. 7. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians who died in the initial Hamas rampage into southern Israel. In addition, 222 people, including foreigners, were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into Gaza, Israel's military has said. Four captives have been released, a mother and daughter last week and two more individuals on Monday, Oct. 23 But in Sudbury, people of many faiths came together at a ceremony opened with remarks from Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefevbre.
OPP searching for missing Killarney hiker
The OPP say they are searching for a missing hiker in Killarney Provincial Park. Shortly after 3 p.m. Oct. 26, members of the Nipissing West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a missing person report in Killarney Provincial Park. An experienced hiker, a Hamilton resident who's 50 years old, had gone on a four-day hiking trip into the park and was to return on Wednesday, Oct. 25. The Emergency Response Team (ERT), Canine Unit of the OPP, along with park wardens, conducted a search that evening without locating the missing hiker. The search will continue for the missing hiker today and further updates will be provided when they become available.
Road closures will happen on MR 55 in Copper Cliff next week
Vale advises that the work to remove decommissioned power lines over Municipal Road 55 near Copper Cliff will result in a series of brief (20-minute) road closures between October 31 and November 2, next week. The work is a follow up to previous closures that happened at the end of September to allow for the installation of new high voltage power lines across MR 55. A Vale news release said it is expected that six road closures will occur at different times.The work is happening in an area about 800 metres west of the intersection of Power Street and MR 55 in Copper Cliff. Vale said road signs have been posted in both directions to warn automobile traffic of the upcoming road closures. Traffic will be controlled by the Greater Sudbury Police Services. Lane restrictions will be in place to minimize the disruptions, said a news release from Vale.
Sudbury-filmed Shoresy greenlit for a third season
Prior to its season two finale, television streaming service Crave announced this week that a third season of the Sudbury-filmed series Shoresy is in the works. “The hockey comedy continues to follow the foul-mouthed, chirp-serving, mother-loving, fan favourite character, Shoresy (Jared Keeso), and the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs of the Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization (The NOSHO),” according to a media release. Production for season three is slated to begin in Greater Sudbury in November. The second six-episode series debuted on Sept. 29, and featured numerous Greater Sudbury sites, including the Sudbury Community Arena and Capreol Arena. References to the Greater Sudbury area are peppered throughout the first season, with the team meeting for food at Peppi Panini, hanging out at The Coulson, the Dog House Sports Bar, Caruso Club and The Grand, and playing games at the Sudbury Community Arena.
