Gardiner counterattacks! Calls for transparency on land ownership

Mayoral candidate Gary Gardiner has come back swinging, after a news release yesterday by rival Al McDonald attacked him on a number of fronts.

Today Gardiner challenged McDonald to disclose his property holdings in the city, including land near a new multi-million dollar standpipe on Cedar Heights Road.

"For the record, I own a single-family rental home on McIntyre Street and an adjacent vacant lot, and my own home on Henry Street. I do not have any interest in any numbered company nor land development company and my own construction business has ceased to operate. I think it important to disclose this information so that voters can have confidence that with me, the decisions that any future Council and its Mayor make are in the best interest of the community.

"I want to be clear on my position on the standpipe, which was raised in yesterday’s article by Al McDonald. I was opposed to the use of the Federal and Provincial grants from the Clean Water Wastewater Fund for this project. The Fund was designed to assist municipalities with the rehabilitation of existing water and sewer infrastructure in order to be better prepared for Climate Change. For reasons unclear to me, the Cedar Heights standpipe project, which has nothing to do with Climate Change and was, originally on the books for 2019, was fast-tracked to 2016 /17. Initially, I reported that the city’s contribution was $1.67M but I was incorrect. It is actually $2.5M. Upper tier governments contributed the balance at $3.5M for a total approved budget of $6M. These are the facts and there is nothing fake about that."

Gardiner went on to attack McDonald for his actions regarding the arena cost over-runs.

"The Mayor never did apologize for the $4M cost overrun at Memorial Gardens. In my release, I made a subsequent statement that I believed to be correct at the time, but issued an immediate correction when I realized I had it wrong. You see, honesty, integrity, and accountability require that you take responsibility for your words and actions and above all, true leaders do not place blame on others."

Gardiner was referring to a previous McDonald release that appeared to blame councillors for a number of mistakes.

"The truth in terms of water bills and a Water Rate Stabilization Fund underscore the problem with this administration. Contrary to the current Mayor’s rant weeks ago that a Rate Stabilization Fund had already been established, the fact is that there is no policy, procedures or bylaw that ever mentions the terms 'Rate Stabilization Fund.' I had this verified. I challenge the Mayor to provide evidence to the contrary. A rate stabilization fund can only be used for one purpose and one purpose only and that is to moderate the water rates."

Gardiner tackled the issue of policing and OPP costing.

"I am on record, as I stated publicly at the Chamber of Commerce debate that I am not in favour of OPP costing at this time. I am also on record as stating the true value of full-time firefighting services. I realize that if elected as Mayor I will be responsible for the safety of everyone in the community. We have multi-storied senior homes, the hospital, the university and college, industry, and the list goes on. In the case of an emergency, I want to ensure a response from full time trained professionals. Lives depend on it. I wouldn’t have it any other way and I have never advocated for anything to the contrary.

"From 2012 to 2016, property values in North Bay actually dropped by 2.2 per cent under McDonald’s term. This is an undeniable fact. Let’s go for positive results and reverse this trend," Gardiner concluded.