Just 48 hours after launching his bid for a second term, Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre took to the stage at the Caruso Club on Thursday to deliver the annual State of the City address. “Today was about addressing affordability and capacity, and ensuring that everybody has an opportunity to thrive,” Lefebvre said in an interview with CTV News after his speech. A pillar of the mayor’s address was the city’s major infrastructure projects, including the new downtown events centre and the cultural hub. “It’s coming along very well. We’re on time. We’re on budget. Cement will be pouring very shortly,” he said. Lefebvre also discussed housing projects and said the city has exceeded housing targets for three years in a row. With the 2026 municipal election looming this fall, he said housing will remain one of his priorities before his current mandate ends. “Affordable housing, supportive housing, and market housing --that’s what I’m focused on,” Lefebvre said. “We have industrial projects coming forward on their own, and we are there to support them.” Marie Litalien, president and CEO of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, said Lefebvre’s speech was very positive. “There’s a lot of positivity from the business community,” Litalien said. “Of course, there are challenges. Some of them are within the municipality’s control, some of them outside of it … But there is definitely momentum and there is some excitement.” She said that some of the challenges include persistent problems in the city’s downtown. “Some of our downtown businesses are still experiencing some challenges with the effect of crime and safety on their businesses, which is ongoing,” Litalien said. “But I do see some positivity happening there, and the city and police are always open to having those conversations. Nadia Mykytczuk, president and CEO of MIRARCO, said there have been significant investments locally in the mining sector. “We are touching every single pillar along that supply chain that the province and in Canada are talking about, and Sudbury is right in the middle of that,” Mykytczuk said. “The infrastructure, the housing supports, health care are all so important to building out Sudbury’s potential to be the next big leader in critical minerals, even though we already have that strength and power.” She said the city is on track to grow from nine operating mines to 15 in the near future. “No other jurisdiction in Canada is going to be able to do that,” Mykytczuk said. “It takes massive investment and it’s a team effort. Today really showed how the community has come together to build Sudbury into a leadership position.” While he declined to offer specifics Thursday, Lefebvre promised a series of announcements in the coming weeks, claiming they will provide a significant “job boost” to the region.
