Hold them to account: Tallying up the new city council’s pledges

Much was said on the campaign trail leading up to the Oct. 24 civic election in Greater Sudbury.

With the newly elected city council expected to be sworn in on Nov. 17, it’s soon time to make sure they follow through on what they pledged.

Many of these pledges, however, will be impossible to evaluate.

Campaign season was heavy in platitudes, with many candidates sharing the same highly subjective, broad points around using taxpayer money efficiently, employing “common sense” and “listening to taxpayers.”

Various campaigns advocated for the same general things, such as economic development, but failed to clarify what they intended to do and lacked measurable targets.

This article is intended to highlight candidates’ more concrete pledges.

Click here for a story on how candidates intend to move forward on the Junction East Cultural Hub, and here for a story on how they intend to vote on a new arena.

The following are some of candidates’ other pledges, as drawn from Sudbury.com coverage, campaign material and their submissions to other organizations.

Mayor-elect Paul Lefebvre

Former Liberal MP for Sudbury Paul Lefebvre earned the mayor’s seat with 52.44 per cent of the vote, beating out eight opponents.

Lefebvre was active on the campaign trail and receptive to sharing his insights on various topics throughout the election season. Underpinning many of his pledges was his campaign slogan, “Together, making good things happen,” and an associated promise to consult with residents not only during election season but also throughout his mandate.

Some of the most notable pledges were as follows:

Roll the mayor’s salary back to $143,000 (what salary/benefits were in 2016, which increased to $228,873 in 2020)
Support the city’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan objectives, which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. He has said there should be stronger goals leading up to this final goal, which are “attainable in the short term.”
Encourage the city to roll out a fleet of electric buses more quickly than currently planned.
Work to bring in funding from senior levels of government and bring together not-for-profit organizations to work on the homelessness crisis collaboratively.
Create policies that make it easier for developers to build homes, “while ensuring that neighbourhoods meet a variety of residents’ needs.”
Work to secure funding for the Assertive Community Treatment Team and complete construction of the transitional housing complex (40 units aimed at easing the chronically homeless into permanent community housing) the team will work at.
Lead the way for a proposed review and update of the Downtown Master Plan.
Visit every ward each year to hold town hall meetings with ward councillors.
Take better care of industrial lands, including the renewal of Fielding Road.
Make strategic investments, and “support projects that enhance livability for our citizens and make Sudbury a recreation and entertainment destination.”

Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti

Signoretti has served as councillor for Ward 1 since 2014, and secured 48.58 per cent of the vote in this year’s three-way race in the ward.

He kept this year’s campaign points broad in scope, and summarized his key platform points as: “Above all else, the efficient and responsible spending of taxpayer resources. I also strongly support sensible urban development, road maintenance and upgrades, healthy community investments, and transparent and open government.”

Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini

Michael Vagnini has served as councillor for Ward 2 since 2014, and secured 60.94 per cent of the vote in this year’s two-way race in the ward.

Vagnini has declined all of Sudbury.com’s requests for comment for the past several months.

Although his silence has been without explanation, it accompanied a wave of negative press related to an accusation he spread various points of misinformation regarding the city’s homeless community, his removal from the police board, abstaining from votes, an allegation he threatened Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc, his mileage claims, an accusation he threatened a deputy chief, and city council voting to dock him 40 days’ pay.

One of few insights Sudbury.com has on his campaign pledges were posted on social media, though most of them are broad in scope. His pledges have been as follows:

“Financial and performance audits are required as normal operating practice and should be embraced by the city as essential tools toward continuous improvement.”
Vagnini indicated during a media event with the local volunteer firefighters’ union that he would support their cause, which includes more flexibly easing into new training requirements and working to better attract volunteers.

Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier

Gerry Montpellier has served as councillor for Ward 3 since 2014, and secured 63.42 per cent of the vote in this year’s two way race in the ward. Some of his most notable pledges were as follows:

Continue to be present, having been the only council member during this past term to attend all of his council meetings in person.
“To make sure that the people, businesses and volunteers of Chelmsford, Dowling, Levack, Onaping have access to all programs and services available from city hall.”
Montpellier indicated during a media event with the local volunteer firefighters’ union that he would support their cause, which includes more flexibly easing into new training requirements and working to better attract volunteers.

Ward 4 Coun.-elect Pauline Fortin

Pauline Fortin is a newcomer to Tom Davies Square, having narrowly beat incumbent Geoff McCausland in the Oct. 24 election. She secured the three-way race with 49.32 per cent of the vote to McCausland’s 46.67 per cent. Some of her most notable pledges were as follows:

Prioritize existing infrastructure, including that in the city’s outlying communities.
Hold a referendum on both a new arena project and Junction East.
Prioritize spending on “homelessness, lack of addiction services, inadequate police services and volunteer firefighters, affordable housing and assisted living for seniors, an old arena, horrible roads and decaying infrastructure.”
“I will meet with and listen to the existing Community Action Networks and other local groups and I will hold regular town hall meetings to listen and learn from you, the citizens.”
“Fight … to bring Notre Dame Street in Azilda up to the standard of urban safety and mobility – Paved shoulders will never be ‘good enough.’”
Create a Whitewater Park restoration group to bring “Azilda's crown jewel” back to its former glory.
Support the Donovan neighbourhood to promote the expansion of businesses.
“We will … get Donovan Days back next year in full force.”
Work to clean up derelict and abandoned properties throughout the city, starting with the old hospital.
Seek to increase Healthy Community Initiative funds and make sure they are spent on important and necessary local projects and fairly distributed throughout the ward.
Advocate for a re-opening of the RV dump stations that were closed.
Support a motion to examine what can be done to decentralize services and return some autonomy to the outside communities.
“Seek to grow our city by fixing our long-broken permit, zoning change and building development approval process.”
Look at returning to weekly garbage collection.
“Fight to make sure not just Whitewater but all three of our city trailer parks remain open.
Support zero-based budgeting and a review of why Greater Sudbury spends 43 cents of every dollar on wages and benefits.

Ward 5 Coun.-elect Mike Parent

Michel (Mike) Parent is a newcomer to city council, after beating incumbent Robert Kirwan in the Oct. 24 civic election with 81.08 per cent of the vote in the two-way race. Some of his most notable pledges were as follows:

Oppose a transitional housing complex on Lorraine Street, and will only vote to support the city funding its operational costs (which is provincial jurisdiction) if it’s proven it will end up costing taxpayers more if they didn’t fund it.
Address “red tape,” which Parent said is “causing Sudbury to lose out on economic development because of our reputation of not being friendly to business.”
Continue the work started on addressing homelessness and addictions.
Advocate for new ideas and initiatives to address the at-risk behaviours on our roads and highways.
Move to review and update the city’s master plans, which he said the city will only deviate from in “extenuating circumstances.

Ward 6 Coun. René Lapierre

René Lapierre was first elected to city council in 2014, and earned 32.9 per cent of the vote in the Oct. 24 election’s five-way race in the ward. Some of his most notable pledges were as follows:

Request budget enhancement to increase the police presence in Valley East.
Introduce a live website for residents to track snow removal progress.
Finalize construction of the Valley East Twin Pad arena. “I will continue to lobby each and every MP and MPP possible in hopes of receiving our share of the funds.”
Once the Valley Twin Pad is completed, develop a Terry Fox-style baseball complex at Centennial Arena property in Hanmer.
Ensure the full implementation of an electronic building permit system to reduce wait times and red tape.

Ward 7 Coun.-elect Natalie Labbée

Natalie Labbée was elected to city council in Ward 7 on Oct. 24, where she replaced outgoing Coun. Mike Jakubo, who did not seek re-election. She earned 54.5 per cent of the vote in a five-way race. Some of her most notable pledges were as follows:

Decentralization of services for the outlying communities with more autonomy.
Promote eco-tourism and all of the municipality’s downtowns.
Help seniors stay in their homes for longer.
Place the most vulnerable members of the community as a priority.
“Reel in our spending and ensure that all communities throughout the city benefit from investments.”

Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer

Al Sizer joined city council in 2014,* and earned 39.41 per cent of the vote in the Oct. 24 election’s seven-way race in the ward. Some of his most notable pledges were as follows:

Advocate for tax dollars to be redirected to enhance winter sidewalk maintenance, to improve trails, advocate for continuing the city’s active transportation network as recommended through the city’s Transportation Demand Policy.
“Demonstrate leadership in the development of policies and actions that positively influence climate change as the City of Greater Sudbury works to reduce carbon emissions through our Climate Energy and Emissions Plan.”
“Money should be redirected to improving local roads.”

Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh

Deb McIntosh was first elected to city council in 2014, and earned 61.55 per cent of the vote in the Oct. 24 election’s four-way race in the ward. Some of her most notable pledges were as follows:

Make significant strides on a wide range of housing options.
Invest in and renew roads, buildings and pipes.
Respond to what our completed watershed studies have said.
Make streets safer.
Leverage and promote the region’s northern lifestyle and natural assets to attract tourists, businesses and families.
Make our city more attractive to youth and immigrants through inclusion and diversity.
Adopt new and emerging technologies.

Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier

Fern Cormier was first elected to city council in 2014, and earned 59.77 per cent of the vote in the Oct. 24 election’s three-way race in the ward. Some of his most notable pledges were as follows:

Implement the Complete Streets policy and achieve active transportation elements into all major capital road projects.
Do what he can to protect the Laurentian trails and green space, and keep it in the public’s hands.
Implement the recommendations from the Ramsey Lake Subwatershed Study.
Serve as a proponent for incentives and supports that encourage economic development and growth.
Expand and enhance the Community Improvement Programs with a focus on conversion of existing buildings for residential use and continued support of the Land Bank policy to allow for partnerships with the private sector to increase the development of currently under-utilized land for housing.

Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc

Bill Leduc was first elected to city council in 2018, and earned 66.96 per cent of the vote in the Oct. 24 election’s two-way race in the ward. Some of his most notable pledges were as follows:

Housing will be a top priority, including leveraging money from senior levels of government.
Pursuing new technologies and methods to take care of roads and other infrastructure, such as the hot-in-place asphalt recycling and water main lining.
Have the city’s economic development office promote Greater Sudbury in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann

Joscelyne Landry-Altmann was first elected to city council in 2006, and earned 49.37 per cent of the vote in the Oct. 24 election’s four-way race in the ward. Some of her most notable pledges were as follows:

Community consultations will guide decisions made on behalf of residents.
Ensure that meandering Montrose is redefined and removing Notre Dame widening from the Official Plan phase 2 final review 2023-2024.
Ensure and equitable road remediation budget for Ward 12.
Support initiatives that advance electric battery and bio mining opportunities.
Geared-to-income spay and neuter clinic.
Supporting safer streets through Complete Streets policies, speeding and traffic calming measures, bylaws that enforce property standards and safe secondary accommodations, inevitably protecting and enhancing neighborhood property values.
Promoting a higher accessibility criteria in our capital investment projects – sidewalks and building accesses, etc, to exceed AODA for 2025 standards (Accessibility for Ontarians and Disabilities Act).

Other pledges

Click here for the new city council’s responses to a Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce call-out for information on their campaigns.

During this election, the Coalition for a Livable Sudbury put forward a series of seven social and environmental pledges, the full context to which can be found by clicking here. Vagnini, Montpellier, Fortin, Lapierre and Leduc did not respond, but the following are the results for the balance of the newly elected city council:

Actively champion clear, resourced action plans to meet the short-term targets of 25 per cent greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2025, and 55 per cent reductions by 2030.
- Yes: Lefebvre, Signoretti, Parent, Labbée, Sizer, McIntosh, Cormier, Landry-Altmann
- No:
- Unsure:
Actively champion achieving functional zero homelessness within five years, while supporting the dignity and human rights of unsheltered community members.
- Yes: Lefebvre, Signoretti, Parent, Labbée, Sizer, McIntosh, Cormier, Landry-Altmann
- No:
- Unsure:
Actively champion shifting 10 per cent of the Greater Sudbury Police Service budget to social services and supports such as affordable housing, community-based crisis response, and harm reduction.
- Yes:
- No: Sizer, Landry-Altmann
- Unsure: Lefebvre, Signoretti, Parent, Labbée, McIntosh, Cormier
Actively champion protected bike lanes on all major roads within five years, and improving winter sidewalk maintenance within two years.
- Yes: Lefebvre, Signoretti, Labbée, Sizer, Landry-Altmann
- No:
- Unsure: Parent, McIntosh, Cormier
Actively champion a one-stop-shop for community initiatives, with a ‘can-do’ attitude of providing the support to make great community-led initiatives happen, smoothly and easily.
- Yes: Lefebvre, Signoretti, Parent, Labbée, Sizer, McIntosh, Cormier, Landry-Altmann
- No:
- Unsure:
Actively champion Implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at a local level.
- Yes: Lefebvre, Signoretti, Parent, Labbée, Sizer, McIntosh, Cormier, Landry-Altmann
- No:
- Unsure:
Actively champion protecting land and water, inclusive of a sustainable, equitable and reliable fully-funded model for the Stormwater Asset Management Plan and a robust Residential Inflow and Infiltration Program to be implemented within this term of Council.
- Yes: Lefebvre, Signoretti, Parent, Labbée, Sizer, Landry-Altmann
- No:
- Unsure: McIntosh, Cormier