It is quite interesting to see another majestic pronouncement by Ward 11 Coun. Terry Kett – this time on the earth-shaking issue of excessive idling.

This feel-good, apple-pie-in-the-sky declaration comes hard on the heels of Kett’s announcement last week that the city had “sent to collection” the sum of $13,000 apparently outstanding from the francophone games in the summer of 2011.

By all accounts, participants in these games, coming from every Canadian province and territory, contributed $6 million or more to the economy of the City of Greater Sudbury, in addition to garnering priceless publicity for our region.

Meanwhile, the city is still waiting for reimbursement of close to $300,000 from the bus ticket fiasco with no attendant benefit to the city. Talk about being penny wise and pound foolish.

Can the beleaguered taxpayers of Sudbury expect Kett to send this matter to collection without any more delay? Or does he simply expect us to forget it and write off one more loss to the city’s coffers?

Here’s a suggestion for Kett and the rest of municipal council. If the $13,000 is of such importance to the city’s well-being, let each councillor contribute $1,000 from his or her reelection slush fund.
I am sure that mayor Matichuk could also find $1,000 floating around in the mayor’s office. Voilà — problem solved. Don’t hold your breath.

Richard Pulsifer
Greater Sudbury

Posted by Vivian Scinto