The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce hosted a mayoral forum on Tuesday and welcomed all nine mayoral candidates to attend at the Da Vinci Centre to share their ideas and platforms with Chamber members.
Of the nine candidates, Maureen Comuzzi, Peter Diedrich, Trevor Giertuga, Volker Kromm, Aldo Ruberto, Wolfgang Schoor, and Doug Vincent took part in the forum, while Donald Baxter and Peter Panetta didn’t show up.
A series of questions, asked by mediator Charla Robinson, chamber president, beginning with why they are running for mayor, were presented to the candidates. The questions were compiled from chamber members, the chamber’s City of Opportunity platform and questions from attendees.
Candidates shared their visions for improving the effectiveness and accountability of city hall.
Comuzzi, Giertuga and Kromm emphasized different aspects of leadership and governance, and Comuzzi proposed a model centred on team building, mentoring, and leaning on experts to drive a forward-moving city hall.
Giertuga highlighted the use of a new governance model at council to increase meeting efficiency and mentioned the existence of a quality of life growth committee.
Kromm advocated for consensus-based operations within the council and improved collaborative efforts between elected officials and administration.
“I would make sure that we have a very streamlined process, a one point of contact to start things rolling,” candidate Doug Vincent said.
Candidates also discussed various strategies to address the infrastructure gap and prioritize investments in Thunder Bay.
Diedrich noted that the current funding gap is approximately $30 million annually.
“I’ve asked for two of the most important assets of the City (Tbaytel and Synergy North) to increase their dividend,” he said.
Vincent suggested directing certain funds into investments and lobbying provincial and federal governments for support, and Kromm emphasized expanding the tax base by attracting new industries to the city.
The candidates focused on the necessity of data-driven management and improved operational standards to ensure projects are delivered effectively.
Diedrich called for a comprehensive inventory of all assets, including water pipes, roads, golf courses, libraries and transit to determine ward-specific priorities.
Ruberto pointed out that current road standards are inferior to highways and suggested higher quality control through on-site inspectors.
Schoor advocated for a disciplined construction process focusing on cost, maintenance, safety, and timely completion.
Candidates discussed strategies for improving fiscal efficiency, managing taxation, and fostering economic growth in Thunder Bay.
“You have to think outside the box and start bringing new ideas here,” Ruberto said.
Comuzzi cautioned against unrealistic zero-per-cent tax increase promises, arguing that neglecting infrastructure like roads and water systems creates higher future costs.
Schoor suggested that the City must find ways to keep local talent and families in Thunder Bay to ensure the continuation of local businesses.
Various strategies to improve community safety and address homelessness, addiction, and mental health in Thunder Bay drew a recurring theme of the need for higher levels of government to provide adequate financial support.
Comuzzi, Diedrich, Giertuga, Ruberto, Schoor and Vincent proposed different approaches to law enforcement and public safety and discussed the need for community policing and neighbourhood watch programs to return.
Candidates discussed various municipal strategies and diverse housing models to address the growing need for affordability in the community.
“We should also think about developing neighbourhoods for young families and for seniors that need to downsize,” Kromm said. “Not everybody wants to go into a large complex.”
The group explored how the City can mitigate costs and incentivize development.
They discussed their stances on implementing a five-per cent Indigenous procurement target in Thunder Bay by 2027 and shared broader ideas regarding economic development and partnerships beyond simple procurement quotas.
A discussion around the use of strong mayor powers highlighted a tension between centralized authority and collaborative governance. While Comuzzi, Giertuga and Kromm focused on team-building and consensus, Ruberto and Vincent framed the powers as emergency tools to ensure municipal progress and growth.
The candidates also shared their diverse approaches to leadership, consensus-building, and decision-making for the role of mayor.
