An infuriated Sudbury resident is working with local politicians to force an apology from federal Industry Minister Tony Clement after he made “derogatory” comments about Sudbury.

Working with staff at Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault's office, Barbara Ackland has launched a petition to encourage residents to sign and express their disagreement with Clement.

“We're drawing it up today, as we speak. (Ackland) was in my office yesterday afternoon to go over the wording of it,” said Brian Band, communications director for Thibeault's office.

“Basically the petition is going to ask for an official apology from Tony Clement.”
Ackland couldn't be reached for comment by Northern Life's press deadline. For more information about the petition, phone Thibeault's office at 673-7107.

Community outrage started after Clement was quoted as stating that the Sudbury area would have become a "Valley of Death" if Vale had not stepped in.

“There was going to be no buyer, there were going to be no jobs, there weren't going to be any capital investments, there was going to be no employer,” Clement said in a recent local newspaper article.

“That was the Valley of Death that Sudbury faced.”

But according to recent comments by Mayor John Rodriguez, several companies were viewed as potential, suitable partners or buyers for Inco when Vale bought the company, including Teck Resources of Vancouver, Arizona's Phelps Dodge, Brazil's Vale and proposed merger partner Falconbridge of Toronto.

“The fact of the matter is that Inco and Falconbridge were not able to come to terms and that left the available options to Inco to be very, very constrained,” Clement said to reporters in Calgary on July 21.

Scott Hand, former Inco CEO, disagreed. In a July 22 article published in the business section of The Globe and Mail, Hand was quoted as saying Clement was “either sadly misinformed or he's ignoring the facts because, back in 2006, we were a very successful company. There were lots of companies trying to buy us, not just (Vale).

“I think Mr. Clement ought to be more careful with the facts, because he just doesn't understand what is going on.”

The article also stated that the federal government went to court to demand United States Steel Corp. meet job and production pledges that were part of its acquisition of Stelco Inc. in 2007.

Nickel Belt MP and federal NDP mines critic Claude Gravelle was also quoted in the article as saying Clement is treating Stelco job losses in Hamilton very differently than the layoffs which hit Sudbury.

“It's obviously a double standard … why U.S Steel and why not Vale Inco?.. Judging by his comments, he doesn't really seem to care about northern Ontario,” Gravelle said.

In a press release issued earlier from Thibeault he said, “This is a minister who lives just to the south of us in Parry Sound/Muskoka, but has a total disregard for our city. We are in the middle of a strike, yet Clement and the Harper government continue to side with their corporate buddies.

“Clement should be ashamed of himself for making comments like this during a labour dispute ... instead of providing assistance, he is willing to sell out Sudbury.”

Gravelle added the following comments:
“This minister has his head stuck in the sand and I’m asking for his resignation. Inco has always been a very viable operation and you would think Clement might do a little research before making such a ridiculous statement.”

Clement brushed off comments from MPs for his resignation during Tuesday's Calgary press conference.

“Well you know, an NDP MP calls for my resignation ... You know when man bites dog, come back and talk to me. But that’s not really an issue right now.”

Public reaction was divided on Durham Street Wednesday morning when people were asked about Clement's comments on Sudbury being a “Valley of Death.”

“I completely disagree,” small business owner Kyle Loney, born and raised in the city, said. “Sudbury has an economy based on commodities. It will always survive. Sudbury is a hub for these resources. The 'Valley of Death' comment by Minister Clement is too harsh. Inco could have survived without Vale taking it over.”

Sudbury resident David Ring also disagreed with Clement's comments.

“No void goes unfilled. If Vale had not bought Inco, then someone else would have,” Ring said. “It is not who owns it but how they own it that counts.”

But Brandon Michaud, 23, agreed with Clement.

“What he said was accurate. We don't have a diversified economy,”  the service sector worker said. “I see this downtown. There is less business in the downtown. It is a mix of the strike and the recession. It is not just the workers who are affected by layoffs or by being on strike. There is a trickle-down effect. People are not spending money.”

Bruce O'Connel, a newly retired Vale Inco transportation employee of 39 years, said Clement was wrong.

“It's the Conservative way,” O'Connel said. “(Clement) does not think before he speaks. He is on Vale's side. Inco should have never been bought by Vale.”

With files from Bill Bradley and Heidi Ulrichsen

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