The city needs to be more business friendly.
Local business owner and Current River Ward candidate Claudio Monteleone says every day he hears of businesses failing, or not even starting, because of the red tape and road blocks at city hall.
"Simply because the city doesn't care to work with them," the married father of two said. "People need to realize local business is a huge impact to the economy."
The city should be thanking local business and enticing new entrepreneurs not only for job creation but tax revenue as well.
In his ward Monteleone sees a number of issues, including the future of the former LPH property. Against any commercialization, he wants to see the space used for recreation and maybe a dog park, which the neighbourhood needs.
"I want to see the building remain a public domain, such as a 55 Plus Centre or a youth centre," he said.
On the other side of Lyon Boulevard, Montelone sees Boulevard Lake Park in bad shape.
The city needs to make it a public space again where the community gathers. With constant swimming advisories no one is heading to the park's public beach and the city doesn't have many of those to begin with.
Community consultation is also key for Monteleone.
"Decisions are simply being made and instead of having input, residents are just being told what is happening without their input," he said.
The number of bike lanes is an example where Current River residents had concerns.
Monteleone said the city needs to upgrade its infrastructure before putting a bike lane on a crumbling road.
"We're spending money where it doesn't need to be spent when we need to take care of our infrastructure and planning," he said.
Monteleone is in favour of a new event centre but only if federal and provincial funding is in place and the city doesn't raise taxes to build it. He's also concerned about the facility's future if an anchor tenant pulls out.
"Without any such anchor we're not going to be able to have the event centre sustained," he said.
