Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Marijuana legalization day has come and gone, get caught up:
Marijuana is now officially legal to purchase, possess and grow across the country. Wednesday, Oct. 17 marked a historic day as Canada has ended the criminal prohibition of cannabis and passed legislation to allow people to smoke marijuana in public places where tobacco smoking is permitted. Canada is just the second country in the world to legalize marijuana. There are still plenty of questions to be answered surrounding legal pot, and Sudbury.com published a number of articles on Oct. 17 on the subject. Read up on the hazy history of marijuana, A 30-year marijuana veteran's take on legalization and what the future may hold, marijuana psychosis, and Laurentian University ranking in the top third among Canadian universities for pot consumption.
Where Do They Stand? Is there a leadership problem at city hall?
Wednesday marks the final instalment of Sudbury.com's Where Do They Stand series with your mayoral candidates. Our final article takes a look at what exactly makes a good leader. Several of those people looking to unseat Brian Bigger and becomes Greater Sudbury’s mayor have said the incumbent lacks leadership qualities. He’s been criticized for not being a good steward, particularly when it comes to the large legacy projects the sitting council got behind. In the 2014 municipal election, a main plank of Bigger’s campaign was openness and transparency in city government. Now, the tables have been turned and his opponents are accusing him of not living up to those principles over the past four years. What makes a good leader? What does openness and transparency look like? Find out what your mayoral candidates had to say in our latest edition of Where Do They Stand, here.
Where Do They Stand? Ward 9 candidates make their stand on the issues:
Sudbury.com's Where Do They Stand series continues with questions for candidates in Ward 9. From Ward 8, we have answers from three of four candidates: three of four candidates: incumbent Deb McIntosh, and challengers Simon Nickson and Paul Stopciati. Candidate Trinity Hollis did not supply answers. Find each candidate's answers to questions about the Kingsway Entertainment District, Downtown and the urban-rural divide, and issues specific to Ward 9 here, and be sure to check back daily for more of our Where Do They Stand series.
Election roundup for October 17:
Ward 9 Greater Sudbury city council candidate Paul Stopciati said in a media release that “it is very loud and clear that changes must be made to make city gall accountable.” He said that residents have told him that key priorities include roads, community safety, environment and services for the elderly. “If elected as Ward 9 councillor, I will demand teamwork from our council, and proper respect for all requests put to it,” he said. Greater Sudbury mayoral candidate Patricia Mills is taking aim at Mayor Brian Bigger's financial performance over the past four years. In 2014, the city of Greater Sudbury ran $7 million over budget; in 2015, $5 million over budget; in 2016, $3 million over budget; and in 2017, the budget deficit was over $17 million, said a press release from Mills. “The mayor told the people of Greater Sudbury that he is an accountant who knows how to manage the finances of a large operation like the city,” she said. “And yet, he has not been able to deliver a balanced budget in four years. Every year, under his watch, the city has run a deficit.” She said she's run many profitable businesses over the years, and if she ran them the way Bigger ran the city, she'd have been out of business. Mills added that she promises to hold the line on taxes and would do a “line-by-line review of spending.” Greater Sudbury mayoral candidate Cody Cacciotti is speaking out against Mayor Brian Bigger having volunteers going to people's homes with iPads to help them vote electronically in the Oct. 22 municipal election. “This practice is too easily misconstrued as an attempt to influence voters,” Cacciotti said in a news release, adding that his campaign will not be doing this. “If other candidates honestly wanted to assist voters without influencing the outcome they would guide citizens to the numerous resources that have been made available for this election.” He said he's contacted the Clerk's Office about the issue, and they did explain the serious concern of voter influencing and the policy to “strongly caution candidates against the practice.” Ward 12 Greater Sudbury city council candidate Shawn Ouimet says he's canvassed the whole ward, and says he's noticed a lot of crime. He says he “believes in more neighbourhood watch programs and additional volunteers for all corners of the ward are needed, which can report back to police officers.” Ouimet also thinks because police officers are overburdened with paper work that can keep them off of the streets, Greater Sudbury Police should hire lower-paid employees who can do some of that paperwork. Greater Sudbury Ward 11 council candidate John Lindsay wants Greater Sudbury to use "friendly" in its slogan, as it has in the past. Sudbury is known for many good things, but our image as being “friendly” has not been as prominent as in the past, he said, Now is the time to promote Sudbury as being a warm and welcoming place to visit, live, work and play – to make Sudbury "Friendly" again. Linday said. The “Friendly Sudbury” slogan can be used in all of our communities: for example, Friendly Lively – Greater Sudbury, Friendly Coniston – Greater Sudbury and Friendly Downtown – Greater Sudbury, etc. "Let’s take the opportunity to make Sudbury Friendly again – we can do it!" he said in a press release. Greater Sudbury mayoral candidate Jeff Huska said Greater Sudbury has a lot to offer, including reasonably-priced housing, less driving time and great public facilities. He said he'd like to attract businesspeople who want to get away from the big city to have a better quality of life, without having to give up their jobs. Huska said if elected, he would partner with any organization willing to set up a “shared hub” of small offices that encompasses a state-of-the-art communications centre so they can work from here. Get caught up on all your election news at Sudbury.com's election page.
Sudbury Santa Claus Parade less than a month away:
The Sudbury Santa Claus Parade goes Saturday, Nov. 17. The parade's organizers will be holding a media conference today to update Sudburians on what's new at this year's parade. Be sure to check back with Sudbury.com later to day to find out what to expect at the 2018 Sudbury Santa Claus Parade.
Hanmer native Damien Giroux named OHL Player of the Week:
The Ontario Hockey League announced Minnesota Wild prospect and Hanmer native Damien Giroux of the Saginaw Spirit as the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the regular season week ending Oct. 14. Giroux racked up seven points, including four goals and three assists in two games, with a plus-minus rating of plus-7. The 18-year-old produced a pair of multi-point performances that helped the West Division leading Spirit extend their winning streak to five games bringing their first place record to 6-2-1-0. Giroux had a hand in seven of the team’s eight goals last week, highlighted by a career-high five points on Saturday earning first star honours in a 6-2 home ice win over the North Bay Battalion. His first career hat-trick in that contest was scored entirely in the third period and included the game-winning goal, erasing an early 2-0 deficit. On Sunday Giroux scored another third period game-winner after assisting on Nick Porco’s eighth goal of the season and was named second star of a 2-1 victory over the visiting Kitchener Rangers.
ICYMI: The brief and complicated history of the Kingsway Entertainment District explained:
The topic the Kingsway Entertainment District (or KED) has dominated every political discussion over the past year. Voters want to know where the candidates stand on the issue and whether they support the KED or not. The 2018 Municipal Election in Sudbury has practically become a referendum on the massive project and has caused great controversy in our city. Because the aspects of the project unfolded over the course of about two years, various decisions and directions may have become lost in the shuffle. Sudbury.com created this video (https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/video-the-brief-and-complicated-history-of-the-kingsway-entertainment-district-explained-1087294) to help residents understand the process, the cost and how the project will be funded.
Thursday Weather:
The sunshine returns Thursday, and it's going to bring some milder temperatures with it. Mainly sunny today with a daytime high of 7. Clear skies will continue into the evening and it's actually going to get warmer overnight. Thursday night temperature will hold steady around 8, warming up to 12 by Friday morning. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
