It was a rally to show support for both the CAW and United Steelworkers unions in Greater Sudbury on Friday, but the most popular face at the rally was that of federal Conservative industry minister Tony Clement.
In an interview Friday morning, Clement, making predictions on the rally, said, “I'm going to go out on a limb and say my name is going to come up.”
The federal minister was right.
“Clement said this morning that he had a feeling his name would come up at this rally,” NDP leader Jack Layton said, at the July 24 rally. “I see his mug everywhere here. Then he said there is no place for a federal cabinet minister to get involved in a strike situation and then he tried to give me some advice, saying that (I) shouldn't be getting involved either. Well, I'll tell you, I'm proud to be involved and I'm here to support the workers.”
Pictures of his face, crossed out with a red “x,” were plastered on signs across the rally.
One sign at the rally stated, “Screw your fellow Canadian, vote Conservative.”
Another had Clement's crossed-out face and underneath it stated, “Our country, our resources.”
A similar sign with his face stated, “He sold us out.”
The chants of “solidarity,” and “United we stand,” and “Here, here” echoed across the McClelland Arena parking lot as hundreds of union members, Sudbury residents, and representatives from other unions rallied to show their support for laid off CAW members and striking USW members.
Another word that echoed through the parking lot was, “Shame.”
When union officials or NDP politicians would mention Clement's actions or lack thereof, the crowd would erupt, yelling “Shame.”
“As a community we will survive, and we will win,” Richard Paquin, president of Mine Mill Local 598/CAW President, said through a megaphone.
Paquin gave the megaphone to Leo Gerard, president of United Steelworkers International.
“Are you ready to fight for the future,” Gerard asked the hundreds in attendance. “Are you ready to fight for your community... For your kids.”
Gerard said their fight is about the future of all Sudburians, not just union members.
“This fight in this region, is not about us old guys up here, although we've been betrayed by our government,” he said. “This fight is about the kind of future, the kind of standard of living that we have in the Sudbury basin. Whether you're a worker for Xstrata... for Vale Inco... whether you work in a restaurant (or) Canadian Tire, whether you sell cars or renovate homes (or) work for a contractor... The future of our community rests on us making sure that our government stands up for our resources, these resources and the wealth they create should not be flying away from here to Switzerland and to Brazil, it ought to be spent in this community.”
Gerard introduced NDP Leader Jack Layton, which caused the crowd to erupt with thunderous applause.
“It's good to be here,” Layton said. “Except, I wish we were here under better circumstances. When you have a representative of the government of Canada insulting the people of the north, it's not a good day. We say it's time for him to take it back and say he's sorry to the people of northern Ontario.”
Layton paused, no one could hear him over the cheers and whistles of the parking lot crowd either way.
“I'll tell you why I'm here,” Layton continued. “I'm here to say 'thank you' to the people of Northern Ontario for building the wealth that is this country of Canada.”
Layton had some more words for Clement.
“He's now saying (his “valley of death” comment) was a boneheaded remark, that's the first time I've agreed with him in months. I'll tell you what was boneheaded... These boneheaded conservatives signed an agreement that allowed companies to come in and do damage to this part of the country and do damage to this community.”
Gerard said earlier, “I think 'boneheaded' is a kind thing to say. I think he owes the community an apology, I think he owes the workers an apology.”
Layton called on all Canadians to use Sudbury as an example.
“I say to all Canadians, 'pay attention to what is happening in Sudbury,'” Layton said. “We've seen time and time again, a little too often, these foreign-multinationals some in with permission from the government, buy up Canadian companies and resources and then begin to throw people out of work. They did it with the softwood industry, you can go to any number of mills where people have been thrown out of work, having worked there their whole lives.”
After the speeches were made on the back of a blue pick-up truck in the arena parking lot, the crowd, led by union officials and NDP politicians, marched to a nearby picket line.
A United Steelworkers banner was carried at the front of the crowd, carried by Jack Layton and several others.
Some members of the crowd carried NDP banners and wore “Tony Clement = lost jobs” buttons, pinned to their shirts.
Local MPs Glenn Thibeault and Claude Gravelle, and local MPP France Gelinas were also on hand at the rally.
