Since amalgamation, local politicians have failed to united all parts of the city into a united group, says mayoral candidate Dan Melanson.
“They have failed to create a sense of inclusiveness for the smaller communities that is essential for the CGS to work effectively and efficiently,” Melanson writes.
“The disengagement and, according to some, the arrogance of some city personnel has prevented the creation of a CGS community that has been recognized since 2001 but never successfully addressed.”
If elected, Melanson says he will support all council initiatives to decentralize services, examining how services “such as transit, snow removal and road repair have performed since amalgamation occurred and how they can be improved.”
He would also support holding meetings in wards across the city, to be chaired by the local ward councillor.
“The intent is for all councillors to hear and better understand the concerns of all CGS citizens,” Melanson writes. “These meetings will be an opportunity for city council to know how decisions in council, affect all citizens of the CGS.”
Full text of Melanson's letter:
The Government of Ontario amalgamated the City of Sudbury and several surrounding communities by the “City of Greater Sudbury Act” in 1999, enacted in 2001.
That act created the legal entity and directed future councils to create inclusive governance of ALL its citizens.
It is clear to everyone that councils and mayors have not been successful in uniting all City of Greater Sudbury (CGS) citizens. They have failed to create a sense of inclusiveness for the smaller communities that is essential for the CGS to work effectively and efficiently.
The disengagement, and according to some the arrogance of some city personnel, has prevented the creation of a GCS community that has been recognized since 2001 but never successfully addressed.
It is my firm conviction that this can be accomplished within our current governance model. As mayor, I will actively support all council initiatives to decentralize the delivery of some services for addressing concerns of those living both inside and outside of the boundaries of the former City of Sudbury. We can look at how services such as transit, snow removal and road repair have performed since amalgamation occurred and how they can be improved.
To engage the public more effectively, in addition to council meetings, I will ask council and ardently support them in holding regular meetings within each ward, chaired by the ward councillor and attended by all councillors. The intent is for all councillors to hear and better understand the concerns of all CGS citizens.
These meetings will be an opportunity for city council to know how decisions in council, affect all citizens of the CGS.
These actions will serve to build greater understanding of every ward’s specific concerns, and foster collaboration and inclusiveness – leading to better-informed decisions around the council table.
A cohesive council responsive to its citizens as a whole will lead to the ultimate goal of a City of Greater Sudbury community spirit.
We can achieve a unified city, while celebrating and preserving the collective history and uniqueness of all our communities by forming a Council with this same goal.
We need to create a “greatness” for the City of Greater Sudbury that was the objective of amalgamation but has yet to be achieved. We can work together to make this happen but only if ALL Greater Sudburians see our actions as fair and equitable to ALL parts of the CGS Community.
I look forward to your support of this objective by sending to Council 12 representatives with the same objectives. As a mayor, I need that confirmed effort and direction from council in order to make it happen.
Dan Melanson
