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Letter: It's not too late to challenge event centre decision

Letter writer applauds column penned by Laurentian Media Group president
Letter to the Editor
sudbury-arena
Letter writer Jim Curry applauds Laurentian Media Group president Michael Atkins for his July 6 column.

Numerous prominent experienced and influential local leaders including Gordon Slade, former president of Falconbridge, Blaine Nichols, architect and former chair, School of Architecture steering committee, Frank Chartrand, former member Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, Oryst Sawchuck, urban planner,

David Robinson, economics professor, Laurentian, Jeff MacIntyre, chair, Downtown Sudbury, Laurentian University’s School of Architecture and many others have expressed support for a downtown location for Sudbury’s event centre.

But no one has articulated the case for a downtown location as well Michael Atkins, president of Laurentian Media Group.

Atkins is to be congratulated for having the courage to publicly challenge council’s logic and motives. His recent editorial makes it abundantly clear that this decision will weaken Sudbury’s downtown and the city will suffer economically for decades, if not permanently. Mr. Atkins' comments are worth repeating for those that may have missed them.

Atkins observed that council, in deciding to locate the event centre on The Kingsway, has chosen to ignore their own previous studies and recommendations and other professional advice supporting a downtown location including the following:

  1. The recent publicly funded ($300,000) professional report by Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC)
  2. Council’s own Downtown Master Plan
  3. The recent study and recommendations of the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce
  4. The experience of many other communities including but not limited to the City of Ottawa
  5. The recommendations of the Sudbury Business Improvement Association (BIA)
  6. The advice of prominent and knowledgeable citizens as listed previously

As Mr. Atkins observed, “they (council) asked for the facts and ignored them.” Atkins accurately referenced this decision as “impenetrable” and likely a “travesty.” Most of us call it irresponsible. Many of us, like Atkins, believe council’s motives are highly questionable. 

Mr. Atkins compared the deal that the city has with True North to trading Sidney Crosby for a 10th-round pick and suggested that the city is out of their league for these sophisticated negotiations. After witnessing the way council has handled this decision, all intelligent citizens of Sudbury will have little difficulty understanding this to be the case.

Personally, I disagree with Mr. Atkins when he says it may be too late to challenge this decision. As a concerned and proud citizen of Sudbury, I suggest that it is not too late to revisit and challenge this council and this decision.

This event centre will not get off the ground prior to the next election. It is clear that many community leaders are opposed to The Kingsway decision. I will support any community leader who will run for election on a platform of overturning this decision.

I urge all concerned citizens to speak out against this decision and offer support to a new slate of elected officials.

I urge everyone to go to Sudbury.com and read Mr. Atkins editorial from July 6, 2017.

Jim Curry
Sudbury