Greater Sudbury's mayor pushes growth agenda in state of the city speech
He touches on a range of subjects, including the new arena and cultural hubs, better roads, more housing and more doctors
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It was a packed house at the Caruso Club for Greater Sudbury’s annual state of the city address.
Following a delicious lunch, Mayor Paul Lefebvre delivered the annual address to the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce with optimism and an eye on the future.
Lefebvre said he was feeling excited and optimistic about the future of Greater Sudbury.
“My vision of Greater Sudbury is a place that is inclusive and affordable, with great cultural and recreational amenities, and a supportive economic environment for small business and large industry,” Lefebvre said. “Where we welcome and embrace newcomers, and we promote job opportunities for young professionals and skilled workers to grow their lives and careers; where we have a variety of housing options to meet the needs of our residents in all life stages and in all economic situations; where we protect and preserve our natural environment’s biodiversity; and where our health care services can provide high-quality primary care and specialized medicine for residents across Northern Ontario.”
It is a grand vision, but one he said is shared by council and municipal staff.
The pearl in that vision is a strong, vibrant and thriving downtown. Lefebvre said the events centre and cultural hub are important aspects of cementing that success.
City council got an update on the cultural hub at their most recent meeting. The $65-million, five-storey facility, to be located inside Tom Davies Square, will include the Art Gallery of Sudbury, the central library branch, as well as the Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association.
Consultants said Tuesday they hope to present preliminary designs to council by the end of June. A tender will be issued by March 2025, and construction will proceed throughout 2025 and 2026.
“This modern and accessible hub will be a welcoming and inclusive space for all and further the city’s commitment to art, multiculturalism and environmental sustainability,” Lefebvre commented. “On that note, I want to thank the family of Franklin Carmichael for their generous donation of more than 40 works of art and for their patience during this process.”
The 5,800-seat, $200-million events centre, to be located across Minto Street from the current arena, “will serve as a multi-generational asset for Greater Sudbury. We’re talking about the next 65-75 years,” Lefebvre said. “We are the major hub in the region and it’s time we have a venue that meets our needs for recreational and competitive sporting leagues, as well as provides additional opportunities to host larger concerts; special events; and attract provincial, national and international events.”
Committed to growth
The mayor created the future-ready development committee last year, with the goal of positioning Greater Sudbury to capitalize on its potential. He said the committee presented a report earlier this week that outlines 54 calls to action.
“Perhaps the most prominent commentary to emerge from the consultation process is that city staff and community stakeholders have reiterated their commitment to helping grow, promote and improve Greater Sudbury,” Lefebvre said. “Investors locally and from around the world know now more than ever we are serious about investing in ourselves and that we have the land, talent and resources to continue growing our economy and creating good-paying jobs.”
Lefebvre said Greater Sudbury needs to grow so the “next generation of Sudburians want to stay here; work here; are able to raise a family; and assist with their aging relatives.”
Economic development can only happen with people.
“It’s evident in the record number of approved applications we received since the launch of the Rural and Northern Immigration Program, representing 2,518 new residents, including their families, in our community, helping industry meet demand,” he commented. “This represents 1,294 jobs filled directly since the program launch, and preliminary results from the Northern Policy Institute show that in addition to the direct jobs that have been filled, hundreds of additional spin-off jobs are being created, leading to an estimated $40 million in earned wages in 2023 through this program alone.”
Lefebvre said the Nickel City is uniquely positioned to benefit from the burgeoning electric vehicle industry — “there is no Canadian BEV industry without us,” — and city hall is ready to make it happen. By expanding industrial parks and implementing the employment lands strategy, Lefebvre said the city is proving it wants to work with industry partners.
“Our local mining supply and service sector is going to need people to help us take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Canada and Ontario, right here in Greater Sudbury, with the transition to a battery-powered and low-carbon future,” he commented.
“We have the right people, and we are the right location, to be doing more than just extracting base metals and then sending those materials off somewhere else to be made into something else, while we are responsible for the clean-up and accepting the legacy.
“Greater Sudburians deserve to be full participants in the prosperity of the clean energy transition.”
First Nations critical
Lefebvre said involving First Nation communities is essential to success. He said he wants residents of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Wahnapitae First Nation and Sagamok Anishnawbek to be fully involved.
“I want to stress how important Indigenous participation and involvement is in this process,” he said. “Local business owners like Mario Grossi with Technica Mining are setting an example for inclusion with Indigenous peoples and I am eager to see this relationship-building continue.”
No state of the city address in Greater Sudbury would be complete without mention of roads. Lefebvre said council has heard the concerns and is taking steps to address the challenges. He said that over the next four years, the city will spend nearly $250 million on road work.
“During this past multi-year budget cycle, council decided to implement a new, special 1.5 per cent tax levy dedicated to improving our infrastructure,” he told the crowd. “This follows many years of taking from our reserves and funds earmarked for capital projects to subsidize operations, which has left us with the infrastructure deficit we have today.
“With longer budget cycles, we can assure residents, business owners and developers we have a schedule to fix our roads, and put in new sidewalks and bike lanes where they are best required.”
Lefebvre said the 2024 budget included money for a pavement rehabilitation program and it “provides an opportunity to reintroduce different asphalt treatments and technologies to extend the useful service life of our roads. These projects will have big impacts on motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, and will help our community achieve our emission reduction goals.”
Housing is always a hot topic in Greater Sudbury, but as Lefebvre said the city is exceeding its goal to create 3,800 new housing units by 2031. He said he is confident the city will surpass that goal.
As noted there is a crane hovering over a portion of the downtown skyline. It is part of the large Manitou project, which will include nearly 350 units, including more than 100 set aside as affordable units for seniors.
“My goal to increase the city’s population to 200,000 over 20 years relies heavily on our ability to provide residents with access to all forms of housing across Greater Sudbury,” he noted. “Since this term of council started in November 2022, 1,163 new residential units, 244 retirement home rooms and 320 nursing home beds have been granted approvals by city council.
“In 2023 alone, 1,290 residential building permits were issued, and 675 residential and long-term care units were created, which is an increase of 47.7 per cent from 2022. That represents a total permit value of $213.5 million, the highest annual number in the last five years.”
Major developments
In addition to the Manitou project, there has been progress on two other large-scale housing developments. Panoramic Properties went before the planning committee earlier this week for the first of two public hearings on the redevelopment of Sudbury General Hospital at 700 Paris St. The plan is to build a three-tower complex containing more than 500 units, an array of apartments, condos and retirement home spaces.
The SalDan Construction Group also went before planning recently to seek rezoning for land it owns at the back of the Sunrise Ridge Estates subdivision. The company wants to build more than 300 units in three nine-storey towers. More than 100 units would fall under the affordable living umbrella.
“All these projects and the countless others going up across our community are fantastic housing developments in our community that cannot be built quick enough. The landscape of our community is changing. We are growing and growing the right way,” Lefebvre said. “Gentle density and conversions will be part of adding quickly to our housing supply. Staff will be returning with a report to council in the fall to outline more detailed options when it comes to encouraging the redevelopment of vacant buildings.”
Seniors are a growing part of the city’s landscape. Lefebvre said ensuring their housing needs are met is crucial to creating a strong and vibrant community.
“I think we can reflect on our own families and what we’ve all been through during the pandemic, and realize just how critical long-term care beds are to the health of our community,” he said. “I am pleased the brand new Extendicare home on Algonquin has recently opened, and that both Pioneer Manor and Finlandia Village are renovating and expanding their number of long-term care beds.”
Lefebvre said the city has been working hard to recruit doctors and will welcome 12 new family physicians by fall.
“Based on the current complement of family physicians in the community, our anticipated recruitment levels for 2024 and potential attrition levels, we expect to see an overall increase of family physicians in the community,” he noted. “We are actively working to bring in more and continue to work closely with the chamber and NOSM on the recruitment of more family physicians, as well as with HSN on the recruitment of specialists. I am very happy to say 15 specialists are anticipated to be starting in 2024.”
Finally, Lefebvre talked about homelessness. He said he is strongly focused on how to better serve this group of vulnerable citizens.
The issues are complicated. There is an opioid crisis underway and a rising epidemic of mental illness. Lefebvre said council has requested a report outlining a strategy to end homelessness in the community by 2030.
“I work downtown, and I hear from citizens and business owners — the number of individuals experiencing homelessness is increasingly visible. This is a complicated issue, impacted by rising costs of living, the pandemic, and complex health and addictions challenges,” he said. “What is different in Greater Sudbury is our community’s demonstrated spirit of generosity and compassion as we continue to develop solutions to help our most vulnerable, together.”
Lefebvre ended on an upbeat note. He said he draws inspiration from the people he meets, and from the spirit of collaboration that runs like an electric current through many in the community.
“Everywhere I turn in our city, I witness individuals coming together, pooling their efforts and envisioning a brighter future with unwavering optimism, resilience and solidarity,” he said. “To truly construct an inclusive Greater Sudbury though, this spirit of collaboration must continue and grow. I am committed to ongoing dialogue and engagement, eager to hear your insights and innovative ideas as we collectively shape the future of our beloved city.”
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