DIGITAL TOWN HALL ELECTION 2018: JEFF HUSKA

Check out the rest of the Digital Town Hall responses here: Our Crater Digital Town Hall Municipal Election 2018

At the present moment we find ourselves at quite a crossroads in Greater Sudbury with many plans hanging in the balance that could change the future of our city. What is your vision for the future of Sudbury?

I was asked this same question a few days ago by a reporter on the radio and I truly believe my vision is attainable sooner than people might think. I’ll answer the question as if I was on the water tower downtown, walking around the catwalk looking in every direction across the city. Remember this is a vision:

As I look south across the city the first thing I see is the old St. Joseph’s Hospital converted into the condominiums that were originally envisioned by the developer. The city finally decided to work with them to complete the project.

Just in behind I see National Aboriginal Day being celebrated at the Grace Hartman Theatre and there are record crowds experiencing the music and dance that’s going on. Experiencing different cultures through festivals and art is what makes us so unique. Dozens of kids are enjoying the water on this hot summer day. They’re able to appreciate the lake because the city has implemented the results of the Ramsey Lake subwatershed study and the lake, over time is returning to its original natural state.

Farther south at Kivi Park a transit bus has stopped to let off a mother and her three kids for the day. One of those kids is in a stroller, the other two with their bikes. By adding Kivi as the final stop this family will enjoy a great day that would otherwise be impossible since she doesn’t drive and the stroller and bikes don’t fit in a trans cab. Building a healthier community means that parks like Kivi are accessible to everyone. Strategically redesigning our transit system makes everywhere reachable anytime. We’ve worked with Laurentian, Boreal and Cambrian to offer free transit to all the students so they can experience everything Greater Sudbury has in an attempt to keep them here well after graduating.

Looking west to Lively, then north to Valley East and north east to Garson you will see that the City of Greater Sudbury has implemented well-lit and safe bike paths from those outlying areas to the city core. Also, to help lessen our carbon footprint, the city has strategically implemented free car pool parking areas and has partnered with local businesses to reward those people that are thinking green.

Looking east you will see growth and more growth along Falconbridge and the Kingsway because the city has finally taken a giant leap and they have started listening to the issues developers have been having and have cut out all that red tape. No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you Greater Sudbury is building the first cricket grounds in Northern Ontario.

Just down below us in Memorial Park the city is receiving an award from the Province of Ontario for the outstanding leadership role it has taken promoting inclusion, understanding and respect in the LGBTQ2S community. The city’s work with community leaders to secure housing and support for ongoing social programs including the endorsement of SAFE SPACE education for city councillors and staff is being recognized. Across the street in the new downtown Sudbury Community Arena, stage hands are putting the final touches on an elaborate stage production for one of pops biggest names who just happens to be staying in the attached hotel. A new arena will attract exciting bands and keeping the location in downtown Greater Sudbury has completely rejuvenated the area. Restaurants and shops are overflowing. Across the street is a thriving Greater Sudbury Market with amazing produce, crafts and energetic buskers.

What you can’t see is the ongoing work at Tom Davies that is being done to bring new projects, new ideas and new development to your city in the form of P3 projects to keep local taxes as low as possible. What you can’t see is synergies being created with local social programs to alleviate homelessness, poverty and hunger. Finally what you can’t see but will definitely be able to experience is the drastic change in our roads. You will feel how Super Pave has transformed all our major routes into roadways that you will enjoy driving on. The biggest issue on everyone’s mind is without a doubt our roads and I’m going to do everything in my power to show you I listened and acted upon what I heard.

That is my vision for Greater Sudbury.

It is often criticized that the millennial generation does not show up to vote or participate in the democratic process. As the older generation decreases we are slowing finding ourselves to be the new majority population. Many of the decisions being made at the municipal level today will have a direct effect on our future. How do you intend to engage with millennial voters to ensure their voice is being represented in council?

As a father of three who’s ages range from 18 to 23, so it’s imperative that I take notice of what’s important to those younger than me especially if I want them calling Greater Sudbury home for a long time. The city has many Advisory Panels that meet regularly to discuss specific issues regarding Sudbury. For example, some of these are panels deal with The Market, Bell Park and Seniors to name a few. I’d like to add a new Advisory Panel that deals strictly with Millennials and what is important to them. It doesn’t mean that they will get whatever they want in and around the city but, they will have a voice. That’s a voice that will have a direct link from Advisory Panel to Council because I will mandate the Mayor and a minimum of 2 councillors sit on this committee. It will meet monthly to discuss relevant issues.

It has been an ongoing trend for many years that young people feel that in order to be successful they must leave home. The employment opportunities they are looking for are in larger cities, job openings for recent grads are minimal or contract based, rent rates continue to rise making it more appealing to live in a bigger city for a similar price with access to more attractions. How would you take action to encourage young Sudburians to stay in the area strengthening and reinvigorating our workforce?

Unfortunately, what council can’t do is mandate companies and organizations to hire full time young people to insure Greater Sudbury has a succession plan that’s going to help the city grow and prosper for years to come. Everything starts with ongoing new development. Development has a huge positive effect on the local economy and nurtures the employment stream. More jobs will bring more people to the city. By breaking down barriers in development your work force becomes invigorated. The cost of renting increases when the demand is high and the availability is low. Eliminating the frustration developers experience at city hall is paramount.

Part of a thriving economy includes new businesses entering the market place. There is great risk in starting your own local business, the costs associated with starting up are enough to make many entrepreneurs think twice. Likewise when an outside shop is considering opening a location in Sudbury they must assess if our markets buying power will outweigh the upfront costs. What programs would you like to see put in place to make Sudbury a more enticing place to do business and ease the burden on new business owners?

“The Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC) is the economic development arm of the City of Greater Sudbury. Consisting of a 17-member board of directors, and supported by City staff, the GSDC serves as a catalyst for economic development initiatives, and supports the attraction, development and retention of business in the community. The goal is to support projects and initiatives that demonstrate potential job and wealth creation and export development while promoting investment and continued economic diversification.”

That is the definition of the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation and by all accounts they do a pretty good job helping to incubate new businesses and sustain others by helping support them as they grow. They are fantastic at helping businesses look for specific grants that can eliminate some of the cash flow burdens new start ups have. I’d allocate one person from the GSDC to liaison with any new business to support them and help bring their business plan to life. This would carry through to at least one year past the commencement of the business to insure growth and success.
I’d also look at diverting any development charges on new businesses if there was construction involved by removing these fees at the onset and redeploying them when occupancy permits are given. If possible, I’d let these fees be paid over a specific term, possibly 5 years.

Childcare for many families can be an enormous financial burden. As a result many families are forced to make the decision of whether or not they can actually afford to go back to work. Wait times for childcare can be quite long and finding a provider who has space within the desired age bracket can be a guessing game. How would you propose to make childcare more accessible?

Childcare is unique as municipal governments play a role in planning and managing these services. The city administers licences to home child care and child care centers. As Mayor, I’d look at and be open to listening to ways to increase the number of these facilities by possibly offering grants to child care facilities willing to relocate or help reduce the current demand. Studies show that child care has a drastic positive affect on women’s employment and their pay. it can move generations of children toward increased earnings, better jobs, improved health and more education.

Our historic mining industry has certainly taken its toll on the environment. Great lengths have been taken to re-green our city over the years and we continue to work towards initiatives to reduce green house gases and environmental impact of industrial business practices. On a smaller scale, what initiatives would you like to see put in place to urge the general public and local business owners to do their share in reducing waste and emissions?

This one is partially answered in question one about my vision. To reduce waste and emissions I’d like to see:

• Secure and well-lit bike paths from outlying areas such as Lively, Valley East and Garson to the main city core.
• Free car pool lots in strategically placed areas throughout the city that have special incentives offered by local businesses to those that participate.
• I’d like to see redefined transit routes that incorporate “hubs” throughout the city and express routes between those hubs.
• Free bus passes to all post secondary education students eliminating the need for extra cars on our roads.
• Develop, promote and maintain bike routes throughout the city.
• Promote, advertise the importance of recycling in all it’s forms and begin to penalize those that don’t recycle.
  

Sudbury is home to a large First Nations population with many reserves in surrounding areas of the city. There is much work to be done to bring Sudbury to a place of truth & reconciliation and integrate Indigenous culture into our society at large. What is your commitment to locally increase awareness, education, resources and understanding following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada?

I would invite and would work with the leaders/Elders from their communities to better understand what the City of Greater Sudbury can do in an effort to support the Indigenous people. The intent would be to meet monthly like many of the Advisory Panels the City has and through this process we can profit from the wisdom and advice these leaders/Elders have to offer.

I would make sure we continue to work with our community partners to improved access to mental health and addictions services at the hospital and in the municipality. I recognized through my work at the hospital, the public health unit and my time at United Way that making mental health and addictions services accessible, wherever you are, contributes to overall better health. What I would like to see at city hall is an Indigenous Liaison Office employed with Indigenous staff. This office would have an enormous impact on any affairs Greater Sudbury would have with the Indigenous community. They would help build constructive relationships and insure there is always someone that understands the impact certain decisions will have on the Indigenous culture and community. This office would also be involved in continuing education for all staff and it would be designed to be respectful of the traditions and spiritual requirements of the Indigenous population.

Sudbury is not exempt from the opioid epidemic sweeping Northern Ontario. It is reported that in 2017 three Ontarians a day fell victim to a fatal opioid overdose. In our community specifically we lost 30 to overdose by September of the same year. What steps would you like to put into action to restrict access and educate Sudburians about the risks of recreational opioid use?

Protecting vulnerable citizens is at the top of many peoples agenda. Those living in danger of homelessness, low-income, on the streets, living with chronic mental or physical illness need more resources integrated into the community to allow them to access the help they need with dignity. Safe injection sites, needle exchange programs, emergency shelter services, affordable housing, accessible health services/resources have been ongoing ideas to address these issues. What initiatives would you like to see put in place? How will you ensure action is taken to develop sustainable programs to provide these urgently needed services?

I think the next two questions belong together.

As your Mayor I would support safe injection sites and needle exchange programs for drugs users providing supplies and services to promote clean and safe use. Through partnerships with Public Health Sudbury and Districts, I would support training and education on the administration of Naloxone to the general public. I think its imperative to advertise and regularly communicate available social programs regarding substance abuse and mental health. As a city I think we need to fully support 211, a 24-hour number that connects callers with health services, housing centres, immigrant services, government social assistance and a host of other services in more than 150 languages.

When I was a member of the Board of Directors at United Way Centraide North East Ontario, I strongly supported the decision to allocate funds to programs supporting youth and youth mental health in 2017. United Way decided to make this change and prioritized the concern of youth and youth mental health within our community, therefore addressing the health and well being of children, youth and young adults within Greater Sudbury. I believe that it is vitally important to reach out and let our youth know as soon as possible that they aren’t alone and there are programs in place and people that are willing to listen. I realize that issues such as substance use and mental health aren’t limited to our youth but if we can reach these individuals early enough and let them know support is available, then they we’ve created an opportunity to improve lives moving forward.

I couldn’t begin to understand the personal and social barriers faced by the LGBTQ2SA community. But as your Mayor, I would promote inclusion, understanding and respect amongst all individuals. I would speak out against the injustice directed at the LGBTQ2SA community and work towards protecting everyone’s rights. Studies show that LGBTQ2SA youth represent 25-40% of the homeless youth and that there is a drastic need for specialized housing requirements that meet their needs and protect them from discrimination and bullying often found in shelters. I’d work with community leaders to secure housing and support ongoing social programs. I would promote SAFE SPACE education to councillors and city employees through our community partners.

Like any paying customer, tax payers want to see their hard dollars put to good use. Roads continue to require maintenance, many new builds are in development, transit, facilities upkeep, tourism and attractions spending – keeping a city going isn’t cheap. How will you ensure transparency and accountability for expenditures on new development projects and operation costs within council?

I’ve continually said that roads are our number one priority. How are roads are being built, repaired and yes replaced isn’t acceptable. Superpave (Superior Performing Asphalt Pavements) was developed in the 1990s to deal with all of the issues related to premature deterioration of roadways that surfaced with Marshall Mix. Originally developed in the US, Superpave is now the MTO standard for all projects and for numerous municipalities. I realize that Superpave does cost more, but it has improved overall performance by controlling rutting, low temperature and fatigue cracking. Three of the major issues we have with our roads in the city of Greater Sudbury.

I’m a huge fan of P3 projects when development reaches a certain size prior to commencement. If you want to keep projects within budget, let the developer finance at the agreed cost and we mortgage the facility back over a set period of time. I believe any projects with shared costs must be made transparent and available to the public.

For additional information on Jeff Huska and his platform visit: www.huskaformayor.com

Check out the rest of the Digital Town Hall responses here: Our Crater Digital Town Hall Municipal Election 2018