Letter: Bigger asking Sudburians to buy 'pig in a poke'

Editor's note: The following is an open letter to mayoral candidate and Greater Sudbury auditor general Brian Bigger.

You were hired as auditor general to find efficiencies and savings in the way the city is operated. What is the value of the savings your audits have brought to the city?

When you first announced that you were running for the mayor’s position, you said you were doing it because you did not have a voice at Tom Davies Square.

In a recent interview with Northern Life, you stated that more than 96 per cent of your audit recommendations had been implemented. That sounds like it’s a pretty loud voice to me.

Oh, and how much did you say that 96 per cent of your recommendations saved the city?
So now you’re running for the top job. You say you can find $13 million in savings in 60 days to come up with a 0 per cent tax increase in the first year, and you can do this because you know where the savings are in the way the city is operated.

But wasn’t it your job for the last five years to bring those savings before council by way of your audits? If you knew where these savings were, why did you wait until you were running for office to reveal your knowledge of where they to be found?

Oops, sorry, that’s right — you aren’t saying where they are to be found ... that is until you are elected.

Mr. Bigger, you are asking the voters to buy a pig in a poke. If you have the knowledge of where these savings are, and you did not make them the centrepiece of your audits, then you did not do your job as auditor general.

We the taxpayers have been paying you for the last five years to find savings, and you have delivered nothing. Now that you want to be the mayor, you are going to reveal all to us, but only after we elect you.

Well Mr. Bigger, I think your true colours are beginning to show. An old saying comes to mind: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I’m not buying what you’re selling this time, Mr. Bigger, so shame on you.

Peter Samborski
Sudbury