Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260916-bill-leduc-goes-deep-are Sudbury Ward 11 Councillor Bill Leduc digs into one of the biggest financial questions facing the city: how realistic is it to build the new downtown event centre for approximately $200 million? The discussion goes beyond the headline number. Leduc talks about the importance of looking at all the costs surrounding a major capital project — not just the construction price itself. That includes infrastructure, financing, supporting work, future operating costs, and whether other city priorities are being delayed or shifted to make room for the project. For taxpayers, the concern is simple: when a project of this size is announced at a certain price, how confident can residents be that the final number will stay there? Large projects can face inflation, design changes, unexpected site conditions, labour costs, material increases, and additional work that may not have been obvious at the beginning. That is why Leduc’s broader message keeps coming back to accountability and value for money. The city needs to be able to clearly show residents what is included in the $200 million figure, what sits outside of it, what contingencies are built in, and what financial exposure remains if costs rise. The real question is not just “Can we build it for $200 million?” — it is “What will the total cost to the taxpayer be when everything is included?” The episode also examines property taxes, city reserves, staffing, infrastructure, the Auditor General, and whether residents are getting the value they should from municipal spending. #Sudbury #BillLeduc #EventCentre #TaxpayerDollars #CityHall #MunicipalSpending #Accountability #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth