Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger said he and his fellow councillors have delivered the change residents were demanding in the 2014 municipal election.
In making his last State of the City address before the October vote, Bigger said he and council were elected to change the way city council operated.
“You wanted change and, together with council, we’ve delivered so much change in how the city runs,” he told the crowd at the Caruso Club on Thursday. “We’ve gotten many things done that had been priorities for years. We’ve built relationships and we’ve advocated strongly for our community, making sure that we are and will continue to be at the table with other levels of government.”
In addition to repealing the store hours bylaw and freezing taxes in the first year, council approved the Maley Drive Extension, which is on time and under budget, and work has begun to four-lane MR 35.
“We have developed a plan to improve public transit, and made major decisions on community infrastructure like the events centre and projects in the downtown,” he said. “That takes collaboration, hard work and vision.
“I am so honoured that over my term, we have received over $160 million in funding from other levels of government to help us grow ... I’m confident that we have delivered. And we will continue to deliver.”
Other highlights include:
- Roads capital budgets of over $300 million compared to $140 million over the previous four years, more than doubling the investment in roads.
- In 2015, $800,000 a year was set aside to improve walking and cycling infrastructure and they completed 16 kilometres worth of cycling infrastructure and 8.5 kilometres of new sidewalks.
Outside of government, Bigger said improving nickel prices and demand bodes well for the city.
“Investors interested in nickel, copper, cobalt, lithium and other materials required to build batteries and electric vehicle technology are turning their attention towards Greater Sudbury,” he said.
According to Zoocasa, a Toronto-based a real estate website and brokerage company, Greater Sudbury ranked as the second most affordable city in Ontario.
“Our affordability is a major selling point as we grow our community and it presents a big opportunity ahead of us to attract newcomers,” he said.
“Construction is also slated to get underway this summer on La Place des Arts on track to be open in 2020. I am proud that we invested $5 million in this $35 million project, it will be a transformational space.”
Should he win another term, Bigger said he'll work to see the big projects through to completion, and keep his focus on the city's infrastructure.
“First and foremost, I will continue to deliver a regional view of our city by advocating for investment and support to all areas of our great community through community improvement plans, investment and future capital planning,” he said. “Investments in our roads, bridges, water pipes will continue, and this infrastructure will be improved.”
