Come up here and tell us that to our faces, Tony Clement!

NEWS RELEASE

CLAUDE GRAVELLE NICKEL BELT MP

**************************** Clement's comments amount to meddling in strike

Minister more concerned about Brazilian company than Canadian workers

SUDBURY - (July 22) - Outrage is continuing to build as Industry Minister Tony Clement yesterday stood by his claim that Sudbury would have become a “valley of death” if it hadn’t been purchased by a Brazilian mining giant. 

In an interview yesterday in Calgary, Mr. Clement said: “I think it's an accurate comment and I'm not sure what all the hubbub is about quite frankly.”

For Nickel Belt MP and Mining Critic Claude Gravelle, Mr. Clement’s remarks are both an attempt to rewrite history and a show of support for Brazil-based Vale SA rather than its Canadian workers in the current strike.

“Everywhere I go, people are telling me that Mr. Clement’s comments are not only insulting to the people of the Sudbury region, but they are clearly an attempt to intimidate the employees on behalf of Vale. The fact is, Inco was, and is, a viable company. Its future was never at risk. Three other serious bidders wanted to buy or partner with it before the Conservative government allowed the Brazilians to take it over,” says Mr. Gravelle.

“There is outrage across the entire community over Clement’s ridiculous remarks,” said Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault. “It’s obvious this minister has no respect for Sudbury and wants to provoke a fight. Why doesn’t he just admit that he was wrong and move on?”

Clement’s comment also highlight, once again, the Conservative Government’s refusal to release the terms of the agreement that Vale struck to acquire Inco three years ago.

“My office has tried every avenue possible to have this agreement made public. Minister Clement has publicly discussed the agreement, saying that the company has not broken its commitments. Well, the people of Sudbury need to see some proof of that; we have a right to see that agreement,” added Gravelle.

“Sudbury is a proud community and we are not about to sit idle and be pushed around by the government or foreign companies,” added Thibeault. “And if Minister Clement truly believes what he said in the media, I invite him to pay us a visit and explain his latest position.”

Both MPs will be joining NDP Leader Jack Layton this Friday in Sudbury for a rally in support of the Mine Mill 598/CAW and Steelworker 6500 workers.

**************************** Earlier SooToday.com coverage of this story

The other Tony ticks off Sudbury