Brown reacts to Amaroso: 'The more debates the merrier' (update)

Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown says he would be open to seeing Sault Ste. Marie PC byelection candidate Ross Romano step up to Liberal candidate Debbie Amaroso's challenge to participate in no less than 10 debates with herself and NDP candidate Joe Krmpotich during the current byelection campaign.

“The more debates the merrier,” Brown said while on a visit to Romano’s campaign office at 232 Queen Street East Monday morning,

“I want to see Kathleen Wynne’s candidate here in Sault Ste. Marie explain why they’ve abandoned the Ring of Fire, why they’ve cut $70 million from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines,” Brown said, adding there is a need for more nurses and PTSD treatment funding.

“I would have as many debates as we could, but we’re limited on time,” Romano said, stating he’s looking forward to at least two confirmed debates, one of them with the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.

The Sault riding byelection, called May 3, will be held June 1.

Brown and Romano said they would work to transform the Ring of Fire project from dream to reality if the Tories form the next provincial government.

The Ring of Fire is a term given to describe an area in far northern Ontario identified as a major source of chromite, which is used to manufacture stainless steel.

Brown slammed Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals for making no commitment to the Ring of Fire in their latest budget, introduced Apr. 27.

“The very first budget that I present as Premier (if the Tories win the next general election scheduled for 2018), the money would certainly be directed toward building the transportation corridor (necessary to access the Ring of Fire area),” Brown told reporters on another visit to support Romano in the current Sault provincial byelection campaign.

The Liberals stated in the 2014 general election campaign they would spend $1 billion on opening up the region if the federal government, then led by Stephen Harper’s Conservatives, provided matching funding of $1 billion.

The Harper government, however, said it would provide its share of funding only when Wynne’s government had a firm plan in place to develop the region.

Would Patrick Brown, as Premier, be able to squeeze $1 billion from Justin Trudeau’s federal Liberal government?

“For me, it doesn’t matter who’s in Ottawa, and frankly I’m not willing to wait any longer…I’m going to make sure we invest in the transportation corridor, with or without them (the federal government),” Brown told SooToday.

“I realize it’s a significant investment and it could be in excess of the billion dollars that was going to be allocated, but this is a $60 billion opportunity, I’m committed,” Brown said.     

“(Ontario Premier) Kathleen Wynne’s recent budget was a huge disappointment to northern Ontario.”

“The Ring of Fire is a resource worth $60 billion, yet we’ve been waiting and waiting on the Liberal government (to invest in developing the region),” Brown said.

“The mining facility would create thousands of jobs…it includes the possibility of a processing facility for the north.  This processing facility, the locations being considered for that would be Timmins, Thunder Bay, Sudbury or here in Sault Ste. Marie,” Brown said.

“The Ring of Fire was found in 2007.  It’s been 10 years.  This represents one of the greatest economic opportunities for northern Ontario and Sault Ste. Marie, and nothing has been done but empty promises,” Romano said.

“The Ring of Fire must be at the centre of any economic plan for Sault Ste. Marie and northern Ontario…I would fight to ensure there  is a processing facility right here in Sault Ste. Marie.  It is said that through the Ring of Fire project, within the first 10 years of development, we would be looking at approximately $9.8 billion in economic benefit to the region and upward of 5,500 jobs in the region,” Romano said.

“We have said for too long in this community we are a one horse town, we need more industry…people out there are afraid of what we are turning into,” Romano said. 

Brown’s comments drew a reply from Liberal candidate Debbie Amaroso Monday afternoon.

“Today, Conservative leader Patrick Brown made false claims about the 2017 balanced budget,” Amaroso wrote in an email to SooToday. 

"We...remain committed to the development of the Ring of Fire, including our commitment to invest up to $1 billion in strategic transportation infrastructure in the Ring of Fire.

“Contrary to Mr Brown’s claims, baseline funding at the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines is actually $30 million higher than last year.”

“This means even more investment than before in northern highways, the ONTC, mineral development and more.  As always, our government also remains committed to full funding of the $100 million Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to help create jobs and grow the northern economy.”

“The change seen in this year’s overall budget is due to the fact that the Ministry undertook $100 million worth of one-time, unanticipated mine site rehabilitation last year to help protect the environment.  Given that this additional mine rehabilitation work was completed in 2016, similar funding is not anticipated to be required during this fiscal year.  Mr Brown insists he values fiscal discipline, yet it would appear he is advocating continuing to fund a mine clean-up that has already been cleaned up.”

“Our balanced, progressive budget invests to support northern Ontario, including new investments in Sault Ste. Marie,” Amaroso wrote.