A New Energy for Our
City.... It's About Time!
The Issues
What's happening
to our city?
We have come to
a critical point in our city's history. There is important work to
be done and big, bold goals to achieve.
The platform I offer you is positive and optimistic. It is a reflection
of hundreds of conversations I have had with citizens, not only in
Ward 6, but throughout our new greater city.
As your Councillor
in Ward 6, I will commit my energy and efforts to the following priorities
which I believe will get our city on the move:
1. restoration
of our roads- a better looking city and good value for your taxes
2. revitalization
of our downtown, the heart and centre of our city, for both citizens
and visitors - an important image and pride-building priority
3.
a vibrant quality of life for all, most importantly our youth - culture,
arts, recreation, sports, leisure, educational and employment opportunity
4.
a business-friendly environment that does not restrict opportunity
or inhibit innovation
5.
honesty and guts in managing the city's purse strings
6.
a city service that is citizen-centred and results-oriented, e-powered
and lacking red tape
7.
principled and energetic leadership that promotes regulatory common
sense
8.
highest standards and clear values in all we do, from education to
waste management
9.
recognition of Sudbury as the Mining Capital of Canada and the Front
Door to the North, an affirmation of our natural and human riches
10.
encouraging and facilitating the process of citizens becoming partners
with their city - grassroots synergy
Let's put an end
to the era of half-measures, procrastination and delays. Let's design
the city we want today. Together.
"The city's
future is everybody's business - not everybody else's."
In response to David Robinson's "Ten
Questions"
July 17, 2003
Dear David,
I have decided not to wait for the media to ask me your ten questions,
but to respond to your challenge now to the best of my ability. I
am not an economist, but as a native Sudburian, I well understand
the importance of Sudbury as an urban mining community. Like you,
I believe that we must use our strongest suit to drive growth in our
community.
I attended the City Council meeting at which the new Strategic Plan,
Coming of Age in the 21st Century was unveiled and adopted unanimously
by City Council. It is a good plan and I’d like to encourage the whole
community to get behind it and ensure that it is implemented and not
shelved.
Question 1. - Who are we competing with?
I knew the answer to this question. As Political Assistant for Northern
Ontario to a federal Cabinet Minister, one of the files I handled
was mining.
Question 2- How do you plan to make Sudbury the leading Mining
Supply and Services City in the world?
Let's begin by positioning ourselves as such in a very public way
and selling the concept to every single Sudburian. The economic potential
is staggering. Our citizens need to know this and buy into the concept.
That’s always a first important step. I believe that the city has
a strong and supportive role to play with the new association. As
a marketing specialist, I would like to see the city and the new association
form an aggressive marketing partnership to promote the City of Sudbury
as well as the Mining Supplies and Services sector to the world in
order to attract even more mining-related businesses to our area.
However, there is much work to be done to create a tongue-and-groove
economy that will improve both our physical and social infrastructure
while accelerating economic development.
Question 3 - How do you plan to make the federal government designate
Sudbury as Canada's Supply and Services Centre?
Through persistent and loud lobbying. For many years, the people of
Sudbury and indeed all of Northern Ontario, have supported the current
federal government. It's pay-back time.
The Ontario Mining Association is a powerful lobby group in Ottawa.
I have had occasion to attend their “Keep Mining in Canada” activities
in Ottawa, a week-long event that promotes the importance of mining
in Ontario. I quote from a letter which I received from the Ontario
Mining Association when I received their lobby on Parliament Hill:
“It is always encouraging to be able to speak with someone like yourself
who appreciates the uniqueness and importance of the mining industry
along with its special concerns.” Strong alliances with such groups
must be forged and they must be strongly encouraged to get on side
with Sudbury to use their considerable influence to drive this initiative.
Question 4 - How will you get the provincial government to designate
Sudbury and the MS&S Capital of Ontario?
Again, a community-driven effort, in partnership with the city and
business, must make enough noise to penetrate the walls of the Ministry
of Northern Development and Mines right here on our very own Cedar
Street. A vigorous lobbying effort must be undertaken by the mining
sector, the business community and our municipal government to redirect
the decision-makers back towards this worthwhile initiative.
Question 5 What will you do to ensure that a world-class mining
engineering program develops quickly at Laurentian?
David, I don’t have all the answers here. But I do have some good
questions. How do we time this program with the “igniting“ of our
engine? Which should come first, the program or the successful achievement
of our economic goal? As a businessperson, I believe that market forces
always find their own solution. When the need is there, the solution
comes. But I also believe that you must be prepared to react to that
need quickly. The business plan must be prepared and on the table,
ready to take advantage of the first appropriate opportunity for funding.
In this case, timing will be everything. The graduation of students
from this program will obviously have to coincide with job availability,
otherwise we continue to use the city’s resources to create benefits
for other communities when our talent emigrates. This question would
need far more research on my part to answer properly.
Question 6 - What will you do to get the other communities in the
north to support Sudbury's demand that it be designated the MS&S
cluster?
David, this is a tough one. Witness the battle for territory between
Thunder Bay and Sudbury over our new medical school. My experience
in sales and marketing tells me that we will not get the cooperation
of the smaller mining communities unless we can trade-off some real
benefits to them. I have not yet had the opportunity to read the two
policy papers produced by the Northern Ontario Mayor’s Coalition.
These were developed in consultation with the Federation of Northern
Municipalities and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association
and are entitled A new Vision for Northern Ontario: Embracing the
Future and Specific Proposals from a Coalition of Northern Mayors.
I can only assume that this subject has been addressed in these two
papers. Again, it is a question of addressing one major initiative
and pressing for it. I have seen this strategy work in the Northern
Ontario Caucus in Ottawa, where all northern members worked collegially,
set aside their private agendas and decided to focus hard and to lobby
relentlessly for more funds into the FedNor envelope which would benefit
all of the North. In just one year, this resulted in Northern Ontario
receiving twice its allocation for economic development in the North.
Question 7- How many council meetings will pass after the election
before you start honouring at least one business person in the MS&
S sector every week for creating jobs?
I, too, am a great fan of Frank McKenna’s leadership style. As a professional
manager, I believe strongly in creating a climate where achievers
are recognized for their good work and their achievements. I do this
consistently in both my professional and personal life. One of the
changes I hope to see with the new council is an increased visibility
of our elected representatives in the field, at places of business
and industry throughout our new city.
Question 8 - What fraction of the economic development staff will
be promoting the mining supply and services sector?
One hundred percent! As the number one “engine” in our new economic
development plan, offering the best mining and supply services in
the world must become the priority focus of all of our economic development
staff. I prefer to see one priority project with distinctive timelines
receiving the full attention of staff and creating measurable results,
rather than diluting their energies into all five economic “engines”
at once. One bite at a time.
Question 9 - What are you going to do to make the Sudbury education
system into the best system in the Province?
David, I honestly do not have an answer to that question. Education
is not my area of expertise. With time and research, I could provide
you with a satisfactory answer. It does not appear to be a major issue
with the electorate at this time. Do I lose ten points?
Question 10 -What ideas do you have for dramatically promoting
the mining Supply and Services Sector that you didn't get from the
website?
David, I hate to tell you this, but there are still many, many Sudburians
who believe that Sudbury is just still a rugged, down and dirty mining
town, unsophisticated, ruled by mining companies who are absentee
landlords. They haven’t even noticed yet that we have three million
new trees!
They don’t have the same attitude of hope and progress that we have.
Perhaps they haven’t had the advantages we have had to participate
in the great changes we have undergone or seen those that await us.
David, many of our own citizens have not even ever visited Laurentian
University!
Getting people on board is what it’s all about, not just “some” people,
but all our citizens. Let’s build pride in this issue, let’s educate
our own citizens about the great potential that awaits us, let’s give
hope not only to our youth, but to the great upcoming Age Wave of
seniors who want a good future for their grandchildren here (like
me). This kind of solidarity at the grassroots level can create a
community synergy strong enough to give extra impetus to this issue.
I’m sure that you’ve heard the expression that “as far as Toronto
and Ottawa are concerned, we’re not even on the map… or the radar
screen”. I worked very hard to bring the issues of Northern Ontario
to the attention of the federal government. Sometimes we met with
success, sometimes it was frustrating. But we must be relentless and
persistent in making direct connections to the proper people in Toronto
and Ottawa who are the real decision-makers. Members of City Council
must be ambassadors, delegates, emissaries for our City. They must
look, feel and talk like businesspersons, not like bureaucrats. They
must be decision-makers and creative problem-solvers. An enthusiastic,
professional city council with business savvy can effect a whole new
culture at City Hall and in the community.
David, I’m sure that you’ve guessed by now that I believe that we
need good “salespeople” and “marketers” and “businesspersons” at City
Hall. It’s how I see the world. It’s how I see things getting done,
win-win situations that benefit everyone in our city. The sight in
Sudbury that gladdens my heart the most are construction cranes on
the horizon. They are a true measure of progress, a symbol of an industrious
people building a better city and of good, solid, well-paying jobs.
I hope that I have answered your questions satisfactorily by simply
saying that I don’t have all the answers. But between all of us, we
do know the answers, provided we continue to communicate with each
other.
I did however want to demonstrate to you that I am responsive, that
I wasn’t fearful of taking the test, and that if I “fail”, I’ll be
failing forward faster. I appreciate the fact that there are groups
like yours in our community who can ask hard questions and stimulate
discussion.
I can assure you that as the daughter of a man who worked 37 years
at INCO, as the only woman in my circle of acquaintances who has descended
one mile underground in the Garson Mine as well as toured the Neutrino
Observatory, as a recent visitor to Dynamic Earth (I was surprised
to see a photo of myself at age 6 in the film Mining Stories of Sudbury!),
as a fully bilingual Sudburian with her roots in this mining community,
I have no problems in bringing the good news of Sudbury to any table,
be it local or international.
The mining industry is still the backbone of our community. I have
been briefed on projects where we have exported our knowledge in mine
construction and in mining safety to other countries and it has made
me proud. We are the best at what we do. Let’s tell the world.
The future of our city is everybody’s responsibility, not everybody
else’s.
“L’avenir de notre ville nous regarde tous, pas seulement les autres.”
Thank you for the opportunity.
Sincerely
Lynne Reynolds
Candidate for Councillor
Ward 6
