March 11 2009

There has been quite a bit of coverage recently regarding a number of my constituents who are suffering from the debilitating occupational disease called silicosis. My role as an advocate for the people I represent has been called into question and I feel a need to respond and clarify my efforts on their behalf.

Certainly, I have learned that juggling the roles of being both an MPP and a Cabinet Minister can sometimes be difficult.

However, it is important for my constituents to know that my priorities have not changed. Advocacy on behalf of them continues to be my primary role as MPP for Thunder Bay Superior-North. It is vital that people know that I will continue to fight on their behalf.

As a Cabinet Minister, there are good reasons why I cannot speak about or interfere with current WSIB claims. There can be no hint of favouritism or impropriety. I will not take the chance of jeopardizing these claims and wasting all of the work that these families have invested.

Having said that, it is true that I have been a very aggressive advocate related to the silicosis issue for many years, on behalf of several of my constituents. In opposition I fought hard to get attention for the issue and I believe those efforts made a real difference. Since 2001, when Ministry of Labour officials were made aware of workers’ concerns regarding silicosis, they have been working closely with the workers and their families, the United Steelworkers Union as well as the communities of Marathon and Manitouwadge.

Three Town Hall meetings have been held, as a result of my efforts, with the employer, workers and union officials regarding WSIB claims, air quality in the mines and any needed correctional measures. The Ministry of Labour has also conducted regular air sampling in the mines.

Since we formed government in 2003 I have remained deeply involved in this issue. As Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour in 2003 I continued to make this a priority and I met with Ministry staff early on to make my concerns clear. Since then, I have been assured by the Ministry on a number of occasions that this issue remains a priority.

The fact is that our government continues to take my concerns and the concerns of the affected families seriously and has worked hard, as has the management at the mine itself, to ensure that the Hemlo mines are a safe place to work.

I regret that the comments used on the CBC Television report left the impression that I was no longer engaged with this very important matter. Ultimately, it was a clumsy effort to respectfully allow my colleague, the Minister of Labour, who is responsible for mine safety, to respond to the matter. I should have been more sensitive and for that error in judgement, I apologize.

Nothing is more important to me than to represent my constituents as strongly and effectively as I can. That is why I chose to enter the political field in the first place and it continues to be the reason why I am still in politics today.

My constituents, like all Ontarians deserve a safe workplace. I will continue to work with Minister Fonseca to make our mines as safe as possible.

Sincerely,

Hon. Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North