Give Sudbury council more time to decide on Maley Drive, critics say

Critics are taking their last shot at Sudbury's proposed Maley Drive extension before city council decides if they want to see the existing road extended to Municipal Road 80.

Opponents say the information on which councillors are basing their decision isn't accurate, said Laurentian University economics professor David Robinson. He told CBC News he's outraged by some of the statements he's heard from politicians about the Maley Drive extension.

"You cannot say that Maley Drive will add millions to the Gross Domestic Product of Sudbury," he said.

"That is both a lie and it shows that you don't understand macroeconomics or cost accounting."

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Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger has said extending Maley Drive is the right thing to do, and expects councillors to support the project.

"I want to see investment in our community, and this project is vital to our economy and future growth," he said during a press conference last week.

"The facts speak for themselves. This is the right thing to do and the right time to do it."

Federal funding at stake

Robinson takes issue with the assertion that, if the project doesn't go ahead, the federal funding will be lost. He said it's wrong to say the federal government wouldn't allow Sudbury to shift the funding to another project.

Politicians are more interested in cutting a cheque than investing wisely, Robinson added.

"That's where the stake really is. They are so determined to get credit for $54 million — even put in the wrong place — because it's standing there handing out the cheque. That's the payoff at the political level."

Robinson also dismisses a claim that the road would reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

"Building more roads always increases emissions," he said.

Prove us 'wrong'

Sudbury resident Tom Price is putting out a challenge to supporters of the project.

"They're trying to make a case that if you don't do this project, we lose those 780 jobs. Well that's not true. That's just falsehood," he said.

"If we're wrong, bring in an independent firm, audit what we've said and we will shut up."

Price is part of a group that is calling on councillors to defer their decision.

If the project is passed by council, Price said the group may seek a court injunction, he said.

"I hate to suggest that because I would like to think that our council is better than that, but I don't know what else you do."