Ward 11 candidate John Lindsay says he's disappointed in the election platforms of fellow candidates running in the Oct. 22 municipal election.
Voters need to hear specific ideas, Lindsay says, on how candidates will keep taxes down.
“Advance polling is less than a month away – voters need more information in order to make informed choices,” he writes. “What we have heard is the same old-same old talk such as fixing the roads, and encouraging new business and of proposals from our present council candidates seeking reelection and other hopefuls of 'transformative projects' with high price tags and reducing taxes but few specifics.”
Lindsay challenged his fellow candidates to offer specifics on such topics as shrinking the size of local government, completing Maley Drive and whether to keep funding the Kingsway Entertainment District.
“I encourage all candidates to respond to these questions so citizens will be better able to make responsible voting decisions,” he said.
Full text of John Lindsay's letter:
Time for Candidates to “put their cards on the table”
Disappointing: The only way to describe the election platforms released to date by Sudbury Mayoralty and Councillor candidates. Few have offered specifics on how to address the main voter concern of municipal tax increases above the rate of inflation. Advance polling is less than a month away – voters need more information in order to make informed choices.
What we have heard is the same old-same old talk such as fixing the roads, and encouraging new business and of proposals from our present council candidates seeking reelection and other hopefuls of “transformative projects” with high price tags and reducing taxes but few specifics
Citizens deserve to hear from all candidates how they will address the following:
What is your plan to reduce the cost of local government that has added hundreds of new jobs since amalgamation?
What is your position with respect to the continuing construction of Maley Drive which will cost hundreds of millions of tax dollars to complete to Falconbridge Road and beyond?
What is your position with regards to the Kingsway Entertainment District (KED) which according to recent polls shows support dropping and opposition growing?
With is your stand on the Arts Junction (new library/art gallery/convention centre development for downtown with a projected price tag of $125 million and how will this like the KED to be paid for without debt financing and tax increases?
What is your position on more gaming options (Casino) which the Health Unit has warned against?
How do you plan to make Sudbury a sustainable, environmentally responsible and quality of life community in which to live?
I encourage all candidates to respond to these questions so citizens will be better able to make responsible voting decisions. I have answered these questions on my election campaign website website www.johnlindsay.ca and I encourage all candidates to do the same publicly using their own resources, the media and in community debates and meetings.
