Sudbury MPP shoots down support of local "legacy projects"

Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci has put to rest any doubts as to his opinion on the so-called "legacy projects" being proposed for the city.

"These projects are costly, and are, quite frankly, out of touch with priorities articulated by Sudburians," said Bartolucci in a release.

With a new arts centre and recreational complex worth $165 million due to be put forward to council this fall, Bartolucci commissioned a survey by OraclePoll Research to gauge community opinion.

Among the 301 people who were surveyed, 52 per cent said the projects to be "unimportant," while 64 per cent believe that provincial and federal money would be better used elsewhere in the community.
Roads were identified as the primary local concern for 57 per cent of respondents, while 52 per cent simply don't believe what they hear from the City on the legacy projects.

"It's time the mayor faced facts: building his legacy projects from the ground up is simply not feasible," Bartolucci continued, suggesting the projects need to be re-considered under a far less expensive approach.

Mayor John Rodriguez, a major proponent of the projects, has long argued that the provincial and federal governments should provide the lion's share of the funding, alongside various private-sector sources.