Issues that worry seniors were front and centre at a mayoral debate attended by about 200 people at the Older Adults Centre Monday night.
Candidates were asked by a media panel what they'd do to make sure out-of-work nurse practitioners are hired by the provincial government to care for people who can't find a family doctor.
Nurse practitioners can do approximately 80 percent of the work done by doctors, including diagnosing illnesses and prescribing drugs.
John Rodriguez, a retired teacher and a former Nickel Belt MP, told the crowd nurse practitioners “should be put on the payroll” by the province.
He asked why the current mayor, Dave Courtemanche, hasn't gone down to Queen's Park and lobbied for money to fund a community clinic managed by nurse practitioners.
Courtemanche said nurse practitioners are a practical solution to Greater Sudbury's doctor shortage, and council is working to ensure the health-care professionals get jobs in the city.
Earlier this month, the city's priorities committee passed a resolution to lobby the provincial government for more funding so nurse practitioners can care for people without a doctor.
The mayor said he has experience with going directly to the province. Last winter, he met with Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman and managed to get more long-term care beds for the city.
Reynolds, a member of the current city council, said she has 100 percent support for the nurse practitioners, and she'll do all she can to make sure they are able to work in the city.
David Chevrier and Ed Pokonzie, who have run unsuccessfully in several local elections, also attended the debate. The other two mayoral candidates, David Popescu and Marc Crockford, did not show up.
Candidates were also asked about a school the French Catholic school board wants to build in the Lily Creek area. The city needs to rezone the area before the project goes ahead.
Area residents, many of whom are seniors, are opposed to the development because they feel it will ruin an ecologically sensitive area and increase already heavy traffic in the area.
Reynolds declined to comment on the issue because she is a member of the city's planning committee, which was scheduled to make a decision about the school after a public hearing Tuesday night.
Courtemanche said he couldn't answer the question because his children attend Ecole St-Denis, which would be replaced by the school built on the Lily Creek property, and it would be a conflict of interest.
The crowd started laughing when Chevrier mocked the politicians because they couldn't comment.
“I'm from Venus, so I can't comment,” he said. “But seriously, I don't think the Lily Creek school is a good idea. What does that old song say? You pave paradise and put up a parking lot.”
Rodriguez said he's also opposed to the development.
“I believe the community should decide what green areas are kept in the public sector,” he said. “It's a green space, a wetland, and should be protected,” he said.
The planning committee hasn't been provided with enough information about the project to make a good decision, said Pokonzie. He doesn't think the development is a good idea.
Candidates were also asked about Greater Sudbury's proposed biodiesel plant, de-amalgamation, rejuvenating the downtown and what they'd change about the city.
One audience member asked the candidates to respond to a question in French, but only Reynolds and Rodriguez were able to speak the language. Courtemanche said he's married to a French-Canadian woman and he's working hard to learn to speak French.
Chevrier kept the audience amused with his diatribes about the poisonous effects of fluoride in the water and using the now-defunct Northern Breweries building as a studio for our own "CityTV" station.
The debate was moderated by Northern Life's managing editor Vicki Gilhula.
The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce will host a mayoral debate at Tom Davies Square next Tuesday evening. The city's labour unions will host a debate Nov. 2 at the Steelworkers' Hall.
