Local Conservative party president 'embarassed' Clement's comments have become 'a huge issue'

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Fred Slade. File photo.

Fred Slade. File photo.

Jul 22, 2009- 2:57 PM

By: Heidi Ulrichsen - Sudbury Northern Life

Fred Slade, a local chartered accountant who is the president of the Sudbury Electoral District Association for the Conservative Party of Canada, said he wouldn't give an opinion on Clement's comments.

He said he doesn't have access to the same kind of information about Vale's takeover of Inco that Clement may have.

Slade also said he doesn't know if Clement's comments have been taken out of context or not.

He said he's "embarrassed" that the media is "making such a huge issue out of this."
Slade said he doesn't have enough information to form an opinion on whether Vale saved Inco from going out of business.

"Anything's possible. Again, I'm not privy to the inner workings of that (the takeovers), but I've read some things on some of the blogs. The public at large seems to be kind of split on this thing. A lot of people are on the bandwagon calling for Tony's head. Most of that seems to be rhetoric."

When asked if he is concerned that the public reaction surrounding Clement's comments will impact negatively on the Conservatives' chances in local ridings in the next election, Slade said "I'm always concerned when hyperbole, rhetoric and misinformation are cast negatively against an organization."

"At the same time, I'm very confident that, when it comes time to support a party or to voting in an election, people will put the real serious issues on the table, and let those guide them."

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15 Comments

  • AngryAaron 7/26/2009 9:45:46 AM - Report Abuse

    What do you do if your (United States) government wastes billions if not trillions of dollars on a war and refuses to explain to the people what it was spent on?

    You hire an external (outside the country) auditor.

    - AngryAaron ... he's one mean bean counter.

  • whiteswan69_1 7/22/2009 9:35:52 PM - Report Abuse

    The Conservatives will not win the next election.I have never voted Conservative and never will.

  • AngryAaron 7/22/2009 9:31:01 PM - Report Abuse

    So you are disapointed that Fred Slade doesn't want to commit a crime and steal information he isn't privy too?

    Take a page out of the AngryAaron playbook... if someone has info you need, and they are hiding, sue them and convince a judge that the evidence is material to your case.

  • DarlL 7/22/2009 8:46:17 PM - Report Abuse

    And have you ever heard of a man named Darl LOL at least us conservatives will admit when we are wrong not like the liberals and ndp. But I am disappointed at what Fred Slade said. If he does not have access to the info then find out.

  • DarlL 7/22/2009 8:17:10 PM - Report Abuse

    AngryAaron Excuse me but I am conservative and seems Harper blinked because he did not want an election did he think he was going to loose or did not want us spending more money on an election. He should have challenged the liberals as far as I am concerned. I am saying that people of Sudbury always votes liberal or ndp which never gets us anything. What did Bartollucci get us??? And as far as ndp they will never be in power. Nothing Read between the lines.

  • AngryAaron 7/22/2009 7:49:50 PM - Report Abuse

    P.S. people like DarIL shouldn't be allowed to vote in my opinion. He wants to vote "to be part of the majority" and not "for what he believes in" or "what is right" (in case the two are different).

  • AngryAaron 7/22/2009 7:48:42 PM - Report Abuse

    Don't want to vote conservatrive or liberal? Vote Green.

    - Angry Aaron for Prime Minister

  • DarlL 7/22/2009 7:40:55 PM - Report Abuse

    He said, He said he's "embarrassed" that the media is "making such a huge issue out of this." What a joke. Thanks to the media we have a voice. You should be embarrassed with Clements comments. I was conservative until Harper blinked unless the conservatives change leadership they won't get my vote. And I most certainly won't vote liberal or ndp so guess I will not be voting. And further more some how Sudbury keeps voting these two parties in. Have you ever seen an ndp in power? That is why Sudbury never gets anything. Sudbury just don't get it.

  • viking04ca 7/22/2009 6:26:30 PM - Report Abuse

    Fred Slade: You would not give an opinion because it is a negative story. Had it been positive you would not be able to shut up or contain yourself! You are "embarrassed the media is making such a huge issue out of this". If it was a positive story you would be elated and unable to shut your mouth. You insist you are "not privy to information" but if it were positive you would know all and be privy. This is not rhetoric or misinfomation. These are the comments of an out of control cabinet minister. He was a disgraced provincial health minister under the Harris provincial government who drove Ontario into a 3rd world status. Clement most recently is blocking RIM access to Nortel, who currently is in bankruptcy, and their technology, paid by through Canadian tax dollars. Clement is attempting to assure the technology is sold to off shore companies. Stephen Harper is the best Prime Minister this country has had in decades but he has to rid himself of incompetent ministers like Clement. I have always voted Conservative federally but if Clement is not removed I will never support Conservatives federally again. I will also try and influence all my friends and contacts to follow suit.

  • Lilly 7/22/2009 5:49:19 PM - Report Abuse

    This is in response to Fred Slade's comment...You are wrong when you say we are making too big an issue in regards to Tony Clement's statement about Sudbury. That's like me making a statement about Toronto being a filthy city because of the garbage situation...that puts a negative mark on the city of Toronto. Yes, this community is appauled by Clement's comment, and we deserve an apology..and don't think for one minute that people will forget what he said. Come time for election, the people will know where to mark their X..personally, I'm not for that party, reason being, I've always found the party to be arrogant and showing disregard for this city anyway...

  • CatN 7/22/2009 4:56:22 PM - Report Abuse

    Umm... well said Aaron. I have to agree with you.

  • jigsaw 7/22/2009 4:48:46 PM - Report Abuse

    Hmm... I didn't think the PCs even had a chance to win the next election even prior to this?

  • AngryAaron 7/22/2009 4:46:49 PM - Report Abuse

    The TV commercial for Chartered Accountants on CTV suggesting that the planet needs a balance sheet was most excellent.

    I wonder where Mr. Slade's opinion lies in this respect.

    Politicians MUST take definate stands, not give empty answers like Slade's. Otherwise, how will people know if a candidate will truly represent their views and opinions?

    On the other hand, as Slade states, he didn't have the facts and as such wasn't able to make a well founded comment at the time.

    While I can appreciate reporting on non answers as a way of informing the public what politicians refuse to speak about, I must also point out that the modern journalism technique of ambushing and asking questions is counter productive.

    I suspect that this pop-quiz style of interviewing may be contributing to the problem of appearently distorted, and out of context answers.

  • sandman 7/22/2009 4:27:52 PM - Report Abuse

    dude...I think your deflection speaks volumes!
    it is hard to know what to say when someone who is suppose to be looking out for us makes a statement like clement DID.
    out of context? I can see to what & regardless it doesn't apply at all to the mine in anyway whatsoever...
    this shows an absolute lack in ability to represent us, Absolutely! corporations were fighting hand over fist to buy when the mine was BOOMING, it will still produce, the recession is hard on all industry and will recover as per usual...always!
    embarrasing indeed, not for the media though!

  • Its Time For A Change 7/22/2009 3:44:37 PM - Report Abuse

    I think Mr Slade should be more Embarrassed about being associated with clement. And for his statement "At the same time, I'm very confident that, when it comes time to support a party or to voting in an election, people will put the real serious issues on the table, and let those guide them." If you think that whats going on is not a serious issue talk to the 686 that lost their jobs at xstrata, talk to the ones at First Nickle and Fnx and the spinn off mining jobs at the supply / equipment companies, not to mention the what 300 we lost a the call centre last week. Is clements ignorance and stupidity contagious and spreading through the whole PC party. Mr Slade, your party will never have my support because you cant even see that your own party as a whole, has its head up its own a$$.
    You are misinformed and we did not let you on the band wagon because it would be sold out from under us if you were invited to ride. Clement sold sudbury out and if you believe in him then your as Unqualified for office as he is in my opinion.
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