City OKs Leo Gerard park, ignores nameless critics
Councillors express frustration at time spent dealing with complaints by 'faceless people'
CBC News
Posted: Jan 26, 2012 2:14 PM ET
Last Updated: Jan 26, 2012 2:10 PM ET
Leo Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers. (Canadian Press/Gino Donato)The controversy over naming a Val Caron park after a Sudbury-born union leader is over.
Sudbury city council officially approved the Leo Gerard Workers Memorial Park last night.
The signs went up at the park in September, but when it was revealed the proper naming procedure wasn't followed, some Sudburians spoke out against honouring the United Steelworkers International president.
However none of those voices spoke out publicly.
The complaints were in emails to the city and, apparently, among the members of city council.
City councillor Ron Dupuis first floated the idea to rename the park.
"I didn't play any games and I know that some people around this table did,” Dupuis said.
Some residents were concerned about inflammatory comments Gerard made during the year-long strike against Vale by the United Steelworkers Local 6500.
That argument was dismissed by city councillor Jacques Barbeau.
"He said what he needs to say during a strike, that's his job,” Barbeau said.
City councillor Dave Kilgour lashed out at the phantom opposition on this issue.
"We spend too much time around this table answering to nameless and faceless people,” Kilgour remarked. “We listen to blogs and read blogs when we aren't sure where they're coming from or who they're coming from."
Whoever on city council was against the name, remained silent to the end.
Leo Gerard Park was approved by a unanimous vote.
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