Editor's note: The following is an open letter to city council.
In November 2016, you chose four large projects i.e. a new arena, a multipurpose performing arts/convention/trade centre, a new central library and new art gallery and a French cultural centre for further study and consideration.
You directed city staff to work with the proponents of each project with a goal of returning to council with a fulsome analysis and recommendations regarding moving them forward, or indeed not.
Each of these projects and their proponents have been working with city staff since this time. The due diligence process continues.
At the end of the day, it will be up to you to examine each project in terms of its financial and operational feasibility, its impact on the quality of life of the community, now and into the future, its economic development impact on existing and new business development and its impact on attracting new investment and people to our community.
It would be inconsistent and unfair to each project and, indeed to the people of Greater Sudbury, if council makes decisions on individual projects without assessing all of them at the same time. It is unlikely that council or the community has the fiscal, operational or political capacity to undertake all of these project at the same time, so choices will have to be made.
That choice cannot and should not be made on the basis of which project gets its final report before council first. Being in a race was never part of this process.
I encourage council to ensure, and indeed insist, that all of these projects be presented together on criteria that is consistent, transparent and open. That is the only way to fairly proceed to a result that is based on the spirit and intentions expressed by you in November 2016.
John Caruso
Sudbury