Sudbury city council to set priorities

Some big decisions are on the table for Sudbury city council this week, as it maps out what big projects it hopes to get done before the next election in 2018.

Tuesday, city council will discuss the federal government's new Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, and what Sudbury projects should be put forward for consideration, and later in the week, councillors are slated to sit down for a strategic planning session.

This comes as half a dozen big projects are competing for attention and tax dollars, including a new arena, art gallery, convention centre and library.

Councillor Gerry Montpellier thinks it is important for mayor and council to pick one or two priorities as a group.

"There's only so much money to go around," he said.

"But of course, I'm going to be pushing for the Ward 3 projects."

Those projects include four-laning Municipal Road 35 and extending city transit out to Onaping.

He said it won't be easy to decide which projects to focus on, but added it's important that all councillors agree.

"Yeah, we need a new arena … [and] we need a convention centre," he said.

"Exactly where does one go? I would go with the majority, because they're all good."

City councillor Deb McIntosh said she will be lobbying for the proposed Elgin Greenway, but also agrees that consensus is a must.

"We will be able to discuss and come to some agreement," she said.

"There's no point in just one person having an idea that nobody else at the table agrees on."

The last city council repeatedly voted the Maley Drive Extension as its top priority, and it is still on the drawing board.