Paying for provincial entities works 'against' city, says Sudbury councillor

The City of Greater Sudbury's long-term liabilities have increased by 60 per cent since 2014 to total $88 million last year, according to a report presented on Tuesday to city councillors. 

The financial statements show the rise is partly due to the city's new biosolids plant and transit fleet garage.

But $11.5 million from the bill comes from obligations to five provincial entities, including: Health Sciences North, Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre, Laurentian University's School of Architecture, the Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada and physician service agreements. 

City 'not obligated' to pay provincial organizations, says councillor 

The agreement concerns ward 11 councillor Lynne Reynolds, who said the provincial liability payments come at the expense of much-needed infrastructure investment.  

"We are not obligated to fund provincial organizations," Reynolds said.  

"It tells a story of why councillor Dutrisac and councillor Montpellier have been fighting for years for the widening of Municipal Road 35. Why councillor Signoretti and many of us are so disappointed that the work on Lorne Street will not be completely done."

Reynolds said she will be working to make sure council can avoid the practice in future city budget deliberations.

"Every issue, every project that we want, we're always told it's unfunded," she said.

"These past practices have been working against us as we strive to provide core municipal services to our citizens."