Mayor of Sudbury and Greater Sudbury, 1991–2003 Jim Gordon (politician)

1 mayor of sudbury , greater sudbury, 1991–2003

1.1 northern ontario mayors coalition
1.2 northern ontario school of medicine
1.3 broadband infrastructure
1.4 netcentral
1.5 music , film industry support
1.6 northeastern ontario smart growth panel
1.7 fiscal responsibility
1.8 local community initiatives

mayor of sudbury , greater sudbury, 1991–2003

during 1990s sudbury experienced substantial loss of population along stagnant municipal assessment. recognizing importance of diversification , development city’s survival, gordon spearheaded specific major initiatives. gordon worked others @ levels of government , fostered strong relationship city council achieve fiscal strength city , projects benefit community , northeast.

northern ontario mayors coalition

in 1992, gordon tried unite municipalities in northern ontario, cooperation of thunder bay mayor david hamilton. initially, held meeting in thunder bay in effort form organization lobby government. outcome , hamilton spearheaded organization of coalition of mayors of 5 largest cities in northern ontario (sudbury, thunder bay, timmins, sault ste. marie , north bay).

this coalition gave largest northern municipalities unified voice in dealings provincial , federal governments. group, representing approximately 70 per cent of northern ontario’s population, worked projects benefitting whole of northern ontario.

over time, strategy proved effective in pursuing establishment of northern ontario school of medicine, train doctors serve rural, northern , aboriginal communities, other initiatives such broadband infrastructure in northern ontario.

northern ontario school of medicine

gordon driving force in obtaining medical school in response ongoing challenges of health-care delivery in north, in particular shortage of doctors , difficulties in providing effective health care rural , aboriginal communities.

in 1999, ontario ministry of health , long-term care appointed dr. robert mckendry report on physician supply , demand in province. report gave weight view established medical schools had paid insufficient attention preparing students rural , northern practice . mckendry came conclusion meeting underserviced areas needs might best met building new medical school.

in addition efforts being made university community , medical professionals in north, gordon realized political initiative required put pressure on government of premier mike harris. end arranged, on behalf of northern ontario mayors coalition, coalition of mayors of 5 major cities in north, meet health minister elizabeth witmer plead case. witmer agreed have government s expert panel receive proposal north, proposal laid out model entirely new school.

however, expert panel had other ideas, , on february 16, 2001, toronto star published leaked report intention sudbury, thunder bay , windsor become clinical education campuses, extensions of programmes @ existing medical schools. gordon had been quoted, saying, s time us, councils in north, move politically on this, , when april 2001 speech throne brought no announcement, gordon arranged northern ontario mayors coalition meet minister of northern development , mines, dan newman.

newman agreed fund international symposium in sudbury. experts around world, including australia, new mexico, , finland attended, , on may 17, 2001, tony clement, new minister of health, announced in sudbury new stand-alone medical school specialize in preparing students northern, rural , remote practice. first medical school opened in canada in on thirty years.

in october 2001, harris came sudbury name implementation management committee gordon chair. purpose develop business , implementation plan school , communicate northern communities establish vision statement.

gordon viewed establishment of medical school , north’s major political achievement. first time entire north united , achieved project of magnitude.

broadband infrastructure

gordon architect of city’s telecommunications strategy, included building of broadband infrastructure link health services, academic institutions, , municipal services, , nascent film industry, attracting telecom industries such call centres. approximately 3,000 jobs created in technology sector between 1995 , 2000.

in 1998, secured $1 million in funding provincial government launch surenet (sudbury regional network), sudbury s fibre-optic communications network. gordon founding chair of surenet consortium, included partners such health, education, municipal , private groups.

netcentral

in 1999, gordon became founding chairman of netcentral, not-for-profit corporation supported mayors of sudbury, chapleau, parry sound, elliot lake , northeastern manitoulin , islands. purpose of netcentral develop high speed, high capacity telecommunications network infrastructure foster economic development , create jobs, , create better access educational , health services in , among northern ontario communities.

netcentral incorporated in 1999 develop high-speed telecommunications network infrastructure following purposes: connect communities, public agencies , organizations; enhance access educational , health services in northern communities; , promote technology oriented economic development , job creation in northern ontario.

as result of sudbury s high-speed telecommunications network sudbury attracted companies such teletech , canadian blood services, creating thousands of jobs region.

music , film industry support

gordon worked closely proponents of 2 major developments in arts community on past 2 decades: music , film in motion, , cinéfest.

gordon provided encouragement , support through greater sudbury development corporation city’s first nationwide cbc television program, chilly beach. march entertainment, show’s creators, relied on broadband network back-office work program in sudbury , front-office work in toronto.

northeastern ontario smart growth panel

gordon member of northeastern ontario smart growth panel appointed minister of municipal affairs , housing. panel composed of leaders industry, educational institutions, first nations, community organizations , municipal sector develop recommendations bringing increased prosperity , growth northeastern ontario . provision of tax incentive zone 1 of many recommendations made panel.

fiscal responsibility

as mayor, gordon worked city council establish climate in collaboration , cooperation encouraged find way hold line on property taxes. mayor worked in partnership city’s management , unionized employees use zero-based budgeting process , find millions of dollars in efficiencies in city’s budget without layoffs. result, city able hold line on taxes while continuing provide level of service citizens expected. in 1994, sudbury topped list of local municipal efforts control property taxes in ontario, according canadian federation of independent business (members’ opinions survey #34, july 1994), survey based on 8,058 face-to-face interviews members 18 communities.

local community initiatives

gordon supported multicultural initiatives , associations in sudbury throughout career, including sudbury multicultural , folk arts association, umbrella organization of 50 delegate groups client population of on 30,000 citizens of sudbury. attended numerous functions , provided guidance , assistance.

on occasion of official visit of lieutenant governor hilary weston on july 1, 2001, received recognition multicultural community @ canada day celebrations. has been made honorary lifetime member of societa caruso , been awarded gold combatants cross in recognition of assistance polish combatants association, organization established 5,000 polish veterans had fought allies in world war ii , allowed canadian government immigrate canada.

he lobbied, along original proponents hélène fontaine (now deceased) , jacques michaud, establishment of french college in sudbury, collège boréal.