Developmental Services
Cabinet ministers skip North Bay meeting, but get an earful in Sudbury on
developmental services
 July
11, 2007 Two Liberal cabinet ministers missed a planned media event and a chance
to hear OPSEU's message in North Bay this week, but other developmental service
workers caught up with them in Sudbury.
Cabinet Ministers David Caplan (Public Infrastructure Renewal)
and Rick Bartoloucci (Northern Development and Mines) were scheduled to do
campaign photo-ops in North Bay July 10. Developmental service workers were
there to greet them and talk to the media. But Caplan and Bartolucci didn't
show. This gave OPSEU members an unscheduled chance to brief reporters on the
Liberal government's lack of support for developmental services.
Staff from Community Living Sudbury and OPSEU executive board
members caught up with the Ministers when they did show up in Sudbury. Caplan
and Bartolucci could not avoid a meeting with OPSEU members.
Activists and staff involved in these events included Jo-Ann Wilson, local
president at North Bay Community Living; Carolyn Schram, local president at
Community Living Sudbury; Denis Boyer, Region 6 staff representative in Sudbury;
and Region 6 Executive Board Members Sue Brown and Mandy Dumais.
And meanwhile...in Chatham
Conservative Leader John Tory also had the chance to hear from
OPSEU members. In Chatham, Audrey Hazuda of Local 148, on strike since June 24,
questioned Tory about the four community living strikes in the southwest.
According to local media reports Tory said he has faith in the
collective bargaining process and praised employees for improving the lives of
their clients. "The work that is done is invaluable," he said. "I would hope
everyone will get back to the table." Tory also told reporters he had a Tuesday
evening meeting scheduled with Community Living employees in Strathroy.
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