$200M arena decision ‘a big step’ for Sudbury’s future, mayor says
In a lengthy council meeting Tuesday night, city council in Sudbury unanimously voted to build a new arena and events centre downtown.
In the four-hour session, 12 councillors and Mayor Paul Lefebvre voted to move forward with the $200 million project.
"We took a big step, investing in ourselves, investing in our city," Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre said in an interview with CTV News following the council meeting.
"Quite proud of council, a lot of courage, big investment, historic investment. It bodes well to show how we believe in our city and, and we're able to invest in our city."
The 73-year-old arena has been up for debate for more than a decade. A project recommending a new casino, hotel and arena on the Kingsway was approved in 2017 but rejected in 2022 after costs soared.
Last year, the city purchased multiple properties in the Shaughnessy Street area for $12 million as a possible location for a new arena.
In the four-hour session Tuesday, 12 Greater Sudbury city councillors and Mayor Paul Lefebvre voted to move forward with the $200 million project. (Amanda Hicks/CTV news)
A staff report on the plan recommended building a new rink as the best option for investment and least risk during construction. It was also pointed out that the current arena has accessibility barriers and environmental limitations.
Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc put forth a motion requesting a deferral, arguing that the decision should be made after consulting the public.
"We should hear from the public, it's what they deserve," Leduc said.
"Putting this decision off by two months won't make much of a difference. Let's get it right, people. That's all I'm asking."
'We need to make a decision'
But everyone at the table rejected the deferral. Ward 7 Coun. Natalie Labbée said the decision has been postponed long enough.
"This city has had a lot of time to digest this. If we go to a community consultation, we're going to get the same thing, we're not going to get consensus," Labbée said.
"We need to make a decision -- people elected us to make the tough decisions."
Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier said he believed the public wanted a decision made.
"I think we're prepared to move forward and make a decision one way or another," said Cormier.
"I think that’s what the vast majority needs, wants and deserves from us on this particular issue."
Leduc said he was disappointed with the decision.
o Download our app to get local alerts on your device
o Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
"I put a motion on the table to go out for public consultation so that the public can get involved in the decision of the arena, to make sure we're moving in the right direction,” he said.
“I was hoping to get support on that, obviously I didn't … I'm not saying building a new arena is wrong, but not getting public input is definitely wrong."
He said he plans to put a motion forward calling for a referendum on the issue.
Lefebvre said the plan is to hopefully begin construction in 2026 and complete the project by 2028.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Custom baseball card released of Blue Jays fan struck in the face with foul ball
Liz McGuire, the Blue Jays fan who was struck in the face with a 110 m.p.h. foul ball last week, has been pictured on a custom baseball trading card applauding her fandom to the game.
As Canada warms, infectious disease risks spread north
Cases of Lyme disease have now increased more than 1,000 per cent in a decade as the warming climate pushes the boundaries of a range of pathogens and risk factors northward.
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Why did the French Open cancel a farewell ceremony for Rafael Nadal? And why is he unseeded?
The French tennis federation put off holding a ceremony to celebrate Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros this year, because he has said this might not necessarily be his final appearance at the tournament he has won a record 14 times.
Search underway for missing swimmer on Lake St. Clair
A search is currently underway for a Michigan man who police said jumped into the waters of Lake St. Clair on Saturday afternoon and did not resurface.