Candidate Jerry Desormeaux said it’s time for a change of scenery in Ward 5 and he’s the one to provide it.
In a release this week, Desormeaux is which he runs down a litany of challenges facing the city, including an aging population, a stagnant economy, government spending and poverty.
“We can no longer afford not to listen to and address the concerns of our community. We are tapped out by all three levels of government. Our current operating budget is roughly $550 million a year and somehow we exceeded the 2018 budget by $2 million,” he said. “My question is why? Well, in my opinion, it’s bad budgeting on our municipal government’s part by misspending taxpayers’ dollars.”
He said the city government needs new blood that doesn’t “sugarcoat” things.
“As candidate for Ward 5 and for the community of Greater Sudbury, it’s time for me to step up and change things for the better and I most certainly will. It’s time to start living within our means, and a one-per-cent population rate growth over the next five years is not acceptable.”
The full text of Desormeaux’s news release is below.
Over the last few weeks of campaigning, I have heard numerous concerns within our community.
I have been asked multiple times if the city is broken. My response was yes, and it is serious!
Our past and present council have managed to dig a huge hole for our city by putting all their wants first, and not the needs of the city. Our operating cost budget is twice the cost of living.
Large projects are way out of control. Our infrastructure is rapidly deteriorating and our municipal services are shrinking.
Reality:
The age group of 20-40 is stagnant and most can only secure part-time or full-time minimum wage jobs. Most leave town due to lack of job opportunities after they complete their education or they remain here and settle for stagnant minimum-wage jobs.
One per cent should be our population growth. The age group of 40-65 is shrinking and these people are living paycheque to paycheque. The age group of 65-85 is booming and are living on a fixed income or pension.
We can no longer afford not to listen to and address the concerns of our community. We are tapped out by all three levels of government. Our current operating budget is roughly $550 million a year and somehow we exceeded the 2018 budget by $2 million.
My question is why? Well, in my opinion, it’s bad budgeting on our municipal government’s part by misspending taxpayers’ dollars. One example would be a bathroom costing $360,000.
In order to sustain their bad habits, they raise property taxes and user fees, resulting in double-billing.
Our soup kitchen numbers are up. Our local food bank numbers are increasing monthly as families are landing on hard times. Affordable housing for our seniors and low-income families are few and far between. Our homeless population has increased in our city core as well as the opioid crisis we have here.
Something needs to change so that we can make our city great again. It’s disturbing to hear from our young generation, and I quote, "Sudbury is a s--t hole."
I am not here to sugarcoat anything — these are the facts! I'm going to tell you the truth, not just what I think you would like to hear. It’s time for a reality check and time to wake up!
As candidate for Ward 5 and for the community of Greater Sudbury, it’s time for me to step up and change things for the better and I most certainly will. It’s time to start living within our means, and a one-per-cent population rate growth over the next five years is not acceptable.
We need to open Greater Sudbury up for business and cut the red tape BS at city hall. We need to work with our developers to help our city grow, attract new businesses and bring in those high-paying jobs, such as industry, tech. jobs (mining research, medical, teaching). This will bring in new money to our city and allow us to build our reserves.
Let’s make Greater Sudbury the hub for the North.
It’s time for change and it’s time for new blood in city hall. You need business men or business ladies who can run a corporation from the bottom up not from the top down. It’s time to put money back into the wallets of all of our hardworkers.
Let’s make Sudbury great again!
Learn more about Desormeaux’s candidacy on his election page on Sudbury.com.
