Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2003
Encyclopedia
The Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2003 was held in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario
, Canada
on November 10, 2003. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario
are held on the same date; see Ontario municipal elections, 2003
for elections in other cities.
The election chose the mayor
and city council
lors who would sit on Greater Sudbury City Council
from 2003 to 2006.
of 2001. Prior to January 1, 2001, the current city of Greater Sudbury consisted of seven separate municipalities, together comprising the Regional Municipality of Sudbury
. On that date, the provincial government of Ontario dissolved all seven former municipalities and the regional government, merging them all into the current city government.
Under longtime mayor Jim Gordon, the preceding city council — the first to govern the amalgamated city — had struggled to pull the new city together, with soaring costs and deterioration of public services that had not been foreseen by the provincial government when the amalgamation was legislated. Voter anger was directed primarily at the provincial government of Mike Harris
rather than the city council, although the council was criticized for some of the budgeting decisions it made, such as closing many municipally-owned recreational facilities.
In 2005, the city council adopted a new ward structure, in which the city would now be divided into twelve wards with a single councillor per ward. The new ward structure was implemented for the first time in the 2006 municipal election
.
was the only city in the province with more candidates for mayor.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on November 10, 2003. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
are held on the same date; see Ontario municipal elections, 2003
Ontario municipal elections, 2003
In the 2003 municipal elections in Ontario, voters in Ontario, Canada, elected mayors, councillors, school board trustees and all other elected officials in all of Ontario's municipalities.-Results of election:...
for elections in other cities.
The election chose the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
lors who would sit on Greater Sudbury City Council
Greater Sudbury City Council
Greater Sudbury City Council is the governing body of the City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.The council consists of the mayor plus a twelve-person council. The city is divided into twelve wards; each ward is represented by one councillor...
from 2003 to 2006.
Issues
The primary issue in the 2003 elections was the municipal amalgamationAmalgamation (politics)
A merger or amalgamation in a political or administrative sense is the combination of two or more political or administrative entities such as municipalities , counties, districts, etc. into a single entity. This term is used when the process occurs within a sovereign entity...
of 2001. Prior to January 1, 2001, the current city of Greater Sudbury consisted of seven separate municipalities, together comprising the Regional Municipality of Sudbury
Regional Municipality of Sudbury, Ontario
The Regional Municipality of Sudbury was a regional municipality in Ontario, Canada, which existed from 1973 to 2000.-Structure:The regional municipality expanded the boundaries of the city of Sudbury to annex the community of Copper Cliff, the unincorporated geographic township of Broder and half...
. On that date, the provincial government of Ontario dissolved all seven former municipalities and the regional government, merging them all into the current city government.
Under longtime mayor Jim Gordon, the preceding city council — the first to govern the amalgamated city — had struggled to pull the new city together, with soaring costs and deterioration of public services that had not been foreseen by the provincial government when the amalgamation was legislated. Voter anger was directed primarily at the provincial government of Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
rather than the city council, although the council was criticized for some of the budgeting decisions it made, such as closing many municipally-owned recreational facilities.
Ward boundaries
When the current city of Greater Sudbury was created in 2001, the city was divided into six wards, each of which was represented by two councillors. This structure was controversial, as some voters felt that the division of responsibility among councillors was vague and ill-defined — it could, for example, be unclear which of the two ward councillors to approach in regards to a political issue.In 2005, the city council adopted a new ward structure, in which the city would now be divided into twelve wards with a single councillor per ward. The new ward structure was implemented for the first time in the 2006 municipal election
Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2006
The Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2006 was held in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on November 13, 2006. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario are held on the same date; see Ontario municipal elections, 2006 for elections in other cities.The election chose the mayor...
.
Mayoral race
Incumbent mayor Jim Gordon did not run for reelection in 2003. As a result of his retirement, the mayoral race attracted an unexpectedly large field of 14 candidates. This was the second largest slate of mayoral candidates of any Ontario city in this election cycle — TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
was the only city in the province with more candidates for mayor.
Ward 1
Two to be elected.| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Terry Kett | 5,028 | 31.64 |
| (x) Eldon Gainer | 4,095 | 25.77 |
| Joe Cimino | 3,582 | 22.54 |
| (x)Gerry McIntaggart | 3,187 | 20.05 |
| Total valid votes | 15,982 |
Ward 2
Two to be elected.| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Berthiaume | 3,815 | 23.99 |
| Ron Bradley | 3,679 | 23.13 |
| Evelyn Dutrisac | 3,067 | 19.28 |
| Claude Gravelle Claude Gravelle Claude Gravelle is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the electoral district of Nickel Belt in the 2008 Canadian federal election. He is a member of the New Democratic Party.... |
2,178 | 13.69 |
| Carol-Ann Coupal | 1,456 | 9.15 |
| Bill Hedderson | 1,074 | 6.75 |
| Andrew Fahey | 635 | 3.99 |
| Total valid votes | 15,904 |
Ward 3
Two to be elected.| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Dupuis | 4,355 | 30.69 |
| André Rivest | 3,098 | 21.83 |
| Jean-Yves (John) Robert | 3,065 | 21.60 |
| Joe Niceforo | 1,865 | 13.14 |
| Robert Boileau | 1,224 | 8.63 |
| Maurice Sarrazin | 583 | 4.11 |
| Total valid votes | 14,190 |
Ward 4
Two to be elected.| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Russ Thompson | 3,315 | 23.57 |
| Ted Callaghan | 2,360 | 16.78 |
| Rick Grylls | 1,689 | 12.01 |
| Daniel Gingras | 1,629 | 11.58 |
| Fabio Belli | 1,517 | 10.79 |
| Maurice Lamoureux Maurice Lamoureux Maurice Lamoureux is a former politician in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He was an alderman for several years, and served as mayor of Sudbury from 1981 to 1982.Lamoureux was an office supervisor at Falconbridge Ltd. in private life... |
1,102 | 7.84 |
| Tony Sharma | 1,060 | 7.54 |
| Jim Lanzo | 1,022 | 7.27 |
| Sean Peters | 189 | 1.34 |
| Harry Will | 179 | 1.27 |
| Total valid votes | 14,062 |
Ward 5
Two to be elected.| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Craig | 5,226 | 30.05 |
| Frances Caldarelli | 3,926 | 22.57 |
| Austin Davey | 3,619 | 20.81 |
| Jason Bubba | 1,948 | 11.20 |
| Fern Cormier | 1,711 | 9.84 |
| Neil Faddis | 963 | 5.54 |
| Total valid votes | 17,393 |
Ward 6
Two to be elected.| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Janet Gasparini | 3,923 | 25.81 |
| Lynne Reynolds | 2,642 | 17.38 |
| Jim Ilnitski | 2,565 | 16.87 |
| Mike Petryna | 2,379 | 15.65 |
| Rick Villeneuve | 1,552 | 10.21 |
| Eric Thériault | 604 | 3.97 |
| Richard Madison | 568 | 3.74 |
| Jeff MacIntyre | 411 | 2.70 |
| Shawn Ouimet | 294 | 1.93 |
| Jerry O'Brien | 263 | 1.73 |
| Total valid votes | 15,201 |
Biographical details
- Paul Marleau became a chartered accountantChartered AccountantChartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
in 1966, joining the firm of Thorne Riddell and becoming the firm's youngest-ever partner in 1972. He was subsequently a vice-president of Mid-Canada CommunicationsMid-Canada CommunicationsMid-Canada Communications was a Canadian media company, which operated from 1980 to 1990. The company, a division of Northern Cable, had television and radio holdings in Northeastern Ontario.-MCTV:...
and Northern CableNorthern CableNorthern Cable was a Canadian cable television provider, which operated from 1972 to 1998.The company, based in Sudbury, Ontario, served most of the Northeastern Ontario region. Although CUC Broadcasting was the largest single shareholder, the company was structured to maintain corporate control...
. He sold his broadcasting industry shares in 1991, and subsequently became chair of Greater Sudbury UtilitiesGreater Sudbury UtilitiesGreater Sudbury Utilities Inc. delivers utility services in the area of Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Its sole shareholder is the City of Greater Sudbury....
. He also chaired a review of regional governmentRegional municipalityA regional municipality is a type of Canadian municipal government similar to and at the same municipal government level as a county, although the specific structure and servicing responsibilities may vary from place to place...
in the 1990s, which eventually led to the Regional Municipality of SudburyRegional Municipality of Sudbury, OntarioThe Regional Municipality of Sudbury was a regional municipality in Ontario, Canada, which existed from 1973 to 2000.-Structure:The regional municipality expanded the boundaries of the city of Sudbury to annex the community of Copper Cliff, the unincorporated geographic township of Broder and half...
's amalgamation into the current city of Greater Sudbury in 2001. He is married to Diane MarleauDiane MarleauDiane Marleau, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. She represented the riding of Sudbury in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 2008, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Jean Chrétien...
, who served as the Sudbury electoral districtSudbury (electoral district)Sudbury is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949.Its population in 2001 was 89,443. The district is one of two serving the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario....
's Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for 20 years. - Colin Firth was born in New BrunswickNew BrunswickNew Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, and moved to Sudbury as a child in 1961. He initially planned to be a welder, but later moved into sales and marketing. He started publishing a "good news" and entertainment paper called South Side Story in 1993, and later started another paper called Kicks. He has also designed a beer tray for servers that was picked up by some major brands. During his mayoral campaign, he promised a "corporation-wide management structure review" to allow residents to better understand the city's operations, offered a scholarship program for graduating high-school students who attend post-secondary institutions in Sudbury, and suggested town hall meetings in all city wards on a rotating basis. Firth himself organized a series of town hall candidates' meetings throughout the campaign. He also supported local preference in all city contracts, and a requirement that out-of-town contractors provide at least 50% of their jobs to Sudburians. He opposed going into debt to pay for infrastructural projects. Late in the campaign, he promised to review the city's mandatory retirement age and set up a liaison office for senior citizens. Firth was supported by Ted SzilvaTed SzilvaTheodore Arthur Szilva, O.Ont is a businessman in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He is best known for creating the city's "Big Nickel" landmark....
, a prominent local businessman. After the election, he said that he would not run for office again. Firth endorsed Lynne Reynolds for Mayor of Greater Sudbury in 2006Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2006The Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2006 was held in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on November 13, 2006. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario are held on the same date; see Ontario municipal elections, 2006 for elections in other cities.The election chose the mayor...
. He later served on the Paris Bridge Flag Project committee, which encouraged cultural groups throughout Greater Sudbury to have their flags displayed from the bridge. Seventy-one flags were raised at an event in July 2007. - Tom Boyuk was born in Sudbury, and later operated bars, restaurants and a towing firm in the city. He argued that Sudbury suffered serious infrastructural damage in the previous decade without tax increases, and promised to improve visitors' perceptions of the city. He did not favour a tax increase himself, and promised to cut the city's budget through "better money management". He also promised a tax and user-fee freeze for low-income senior citizens, proposed the construction of a high-tech garbage processing facility, and favoured the deregulation of Sudbury's shopping hours. Boyuk highlighted his business background, saying that he would be a promoter of small business interests.
- Brian R. Gatien is a lawyer who specializes in labour negotiations, representing employers. He criticized the state of labour relations with "public and quasi-public unions and employers" in a 1987 Northern Ontario Business article, saying that the existing structure was favoured by unions and reduced employer control. As director of the Sudbury and District Chamber of CommerceChamber of commerceA chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
in 1989, Gatien supported unemployment insurance reforms introduced by the federal government of Brian MulroneyBrian MulroneyMartin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
and proposed that people living in areas of high unemployment should pay greater premiums as they are more likely use the system. He was president of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO) in 1995, and encouraged the provincial government of Mike HarrisMike HarrisMichael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
to eliminate a law banning strikebreakers, abolish the Workplace Health and Safety Agency, and review overhaul pay and employment equity laws. He has also served as a director of the Member of Sudbury Arts Council and the Sudbury Symphony. During the 2003 election, he delivered an address to the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce on the implications of new federal privacy legislation for workers and employers. He focused his mayor campaign on road and infrastructural repairs, and also promised to decentralize police, fire and ambulance services. He also called for property tax reform, the deregulation of store shopping hours, and the creation of a "Centre for Innovative Thinking". He was re-appointed to the board of the HRPAO in February 2004. He was elected to the Board of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce in 2007, and appointed as first vice-chair shortly thereafter. In July 2008, he was appointed as its chairman. - Richard Doyon is a small business owner in the Sudbury area. He first ran for Mayor of Greater Sudbury in 2000Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2000The Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2000 was held in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on November 13, 2000. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario are held on the same date....
, highlighting his 17 years of business experience, and promising efficient management. He also suggested that volunteers be paid minimum wageMinimum wageA minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
for charity work, and said that he would introduce a product called "May Your Wealth Be Your Health", a scratch-and-win ticket that would allow winners to have their existing debts paid by the municipality. He finished a distant third against Jim Gordon, winning about 7% of the vote. He promised to run the city as a corporation during the 2003 campaign, and said that he could save $20 million in administrative costs. His wife, Nicky Doyon, sought a council seat in 2000. - Mary Fournier Pagnutti is a Sudbury businesswoman. She started a travel agency at age 22, and later became a bookstore owner. She first ran for Mayor of Greater Sudbury in 2000Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2000The Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2000 was held in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on November 13, 2000. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario are held on the same date....
, with a platform that called for citizens to be involved in all aspects of municipal governance. She argued, for instance, that the boundaries of the new city were chosen without adequate citizen's involvement. She received about 7% of the vote, finishing a distant second against Jim Gordon. In 2003, she accused rival candidates David Courtemanche and Louise Portelance of avoiding public concerns, and speaking in the elitist language of city hall. - Yvonne "Smokey" Neison is a Sudbury businesswoman, known locally for operating a hairdressing salon and spa. She had previously campaigned for a council seat in Sudbury's fourth ward in 1994 and 1997Sudbury municipal election, 1997The 1997 Sudbury municipal election was held on November 10, 1997, as voters in Sudbury and its outlying communities voted to elected mayors, councillors and school trustees...
. A MétisMétis people (Canada)The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
woman, she expressed concern about water safety and indicated that she would target the problem of elder abuse. Neison was a member of the board of directors of the Greater Sudbury Woodland Métis Tribe at the time of the election, and had previously served on the Nickel Centre Credit Union.
- Eldon Gainer is a retired elementary school principal. He was first elected to the WaldenWalden, OntarioWalden was a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, existing from 1973 to 2000. Created as part of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury when regional government was introduced, the town was dissolved when the city of Greater Sudbury was incorporated on January 1, 2001...
council in 1980, and became its deputy mayor in 1985. The latter position also gave him a seat on the Regional Council. He chaired the region's corporate services committee just prior to the amalgamation of Greater Sudbury in 2000. Gainer was elected to the Greater Sudbury council in the 2000 electionGreater Sudbury municipal election, 2000The Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2000 was held in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on November 13, 2000. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario are held on the same date....
, winning a seat in the city's first ward, and was re-elected in 2003. He was chosen as the city's deputy mayor for budgets in early 2001, and was reassigned as the budget co-chair during his second term. He supported a water plant upgrade, and indicated that the city's 2001 capital budget was targeted to the most pressing infrastructural needs. Gainer also served on the Police Services Board, and was chosen as its chair in 2005. He favoured allowing stores to stay open for longer hours, and questioned the need for photo radar to monitor traffic violations. In addition to his municipal duties, Gainer served on the province's public appointments secretariat for Science NorthScience NorthScience North is an interactive science museum in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.The complex, which is Northern Ontario's most popular tourist attraction, consists of two snowflake-shaped buildings on the southwestern shore of Lake Ramsey, just south of the city's downtown core, as well as a...
. He did not seek re-election in 2006Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2006The Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2006 was held in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on November 13, 2006. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario are held on the same date; see Ontario municipal elections, 2006 for elections in other cities.The election chose the mayor...
.