Aldo Ruberto sees a much different Thunder Bay now than when he was first elected to city council eight years ago.
Between a relatively high unemployment rate, slow manufacturing economy and the collapse of the forestry sector, the future of the city was looking bleak.
He believes, due in part to the work done at city hall, things have turned around for the better.
“We’ve invested in infrastructure, initiatives at the hospital for the research centre and developed the waterfront. The unemployment rate was at 4.7 per cent in August and there are a lot of projects going forward,” Ruberto said of the city’s condition today.
Ruberto is seeking his third term as an at-large councillor, one of 19 candidates vying for the five seats around the city council table.
The 58-year-old has an unmistakable passion and enthusiasm for Thunder Bay.
“I’m running because I believe in this city and I love this city. I know that the future is awesome and I hope to get one term because I think I have one more term in me to do the best possible job,” he said.
One of the primary concerns he is hearing on the campaign trail has been increased taxes.
He said nobody on council wants to raise taxes, as it affects them as well, but all expenditures must be done responsibly and transparently.
“We do everything we can to maximize the value of our taxes. Most people, if you explain to them where their taxes or going and try to show them you’re not spending it foolishly, are happy,” he said.
Ruberto has been one of the strongest proponents of the event centre project, believing the potential benefits outweigh the costs if senior levels of government contribute.
“If someone was to say, ‘here’s $100 million, all you have to pay is $35 million,’ why wouldn’t you do that,” he said.
“It’s great value for our dollar. It’s just like the waterfront. We had the controversy at the beginning but once it was done it was a turning point for the city.”
Website: www.aldoruberto.ca
Find Aldo Ruberto on Twitter @aldoruberto
