J-Rod to Bigger: You're in conflict on the casino question

“Our plan is not to be the operators,” Diotte said at the time. “We’re suggesting our site. The (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.), through its process, will decide who the operators are. They haven’t done that yet.”

However, since that interview, the casino building plan the province was initially hoping to be complete by now has been delayed. While the OLG says the plan is still moving ahead, timelines have been repeatedly pushed back and an RFP for potential owners has yet to be issued.

But Rodriguez said whether the conflict of interest is “real or perceived,” he challenged Bigger to say where he stood on the casino. If he wins, he said Bigger “would feel beholden” to Suski for helping him get elected mayor.

“You can't get a free ride on this issue,” he said. “I have told everyone my position.”
In an emailed response, Bigger said he wouldn't be taking a position on a project that is still far from reality.

“Until a viable proposal is put forward to council by the OLG, I’m not going to speculate on this project,” the statement said. “At this time, there is no proposal.

“Should one come forward, council should make a decision on what’s in the best interests of the city.”

He also said Suski “does not have business dealings with the Citadel Holdings. I also understand that no proposal to build the casino was ever submitted by the company.”

In response to Rodriguez's challenge to detail where he will find the $13 million required to keep his promise to freeze taxes without cutting services or laying off staff, Bigger had this to say:

“Our first year in office we will institute a tax freeze because a new council needs time to align its budgets with our vision for a Greater Sudbury, while ensuring services are intact and employees continue to do what they do best.

“We can find everything we need to continue to operate the city. We are aware of the inefficiencies that have been seen to date, including the transit garage, missing asphalt and the money that has gone missing with the transit ticket scandal.

“I'm confident that once I am mayor, we will be able to look at the books and find the best way to spend Sudburians' hard earned tax dollars. After all, would you want your $13 million spent, without a concrete plan to do so? I know I wouldn't.”

Bigger also accused Rodriguez of behaving inappropriately.

“I am disappointed that Mr. Rodriguez is playing politics and attempting to mislead the people of Sudbury,” his release said. “I am for transparency, openness and accountability. You can count on that when I am mayor."