Sudbury council delays medical centre funding decision

Sudbury city council has put off on deciding whether or not to give $2 million to a new medical research centre planned for the city.

The Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada (AMRIC) envisions a $15 million research centre in Sudbury's south end — largely supported by public dollars.

But Mayor Marianne Matichuk said perhaps the researchers should be knocking on the doors of pharmaceutical companies instead.

"I think it's a fantastic project, but I think it needs some private investment into it to make it flourish,” she said.

AMRIC was talked down from an original request of $10 million, an amount the new architecture school received a few years ago. 

Although, the group, which is affiliated with Health Sciences North, does plan to ask for the remaining $8 million in the future, as part of long-term plans to build a new research centre estimated to cost as much as $70 million.

City councillor Terry Kett said the municipal budget is getting so tight, the city needs to worry about running its own services rather than supporting other projects in Sudbury.

"I don't think we can afford to do this too many more times. I think that's just a fact of life,” he said.

But Councillor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann said she sees the $2 million as money well spent.

"And you're right, we don't have any money right now, but I'm thinking forward. This is a project for the future."

City Councillor Ron Dupuis said the Sudbury hospital already receives $1 million city tax dollars every year — and will for the next decade.

"This city has been extremely fair with the taxpayers money towards the hospital,” he said. “We have done our share. You know, that is $1 million that we have been doing without."

In the end, Sudbury city council decided to delay a decision on donating to the proposed medical research centre until next month.