By RONALD ZAJAC, THE RECORDER AND TIMES
Updated 1 day ago
A Liberal cabinet minister on Tuesday accused Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark of ducking a key vote in the legislature the day before, but was unaware the Tory MPP had to leave for medical reasons.
Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Innovation Brad Duguid called The Recorder and Times Tuesday to express his disappointment with the Opposition Progressive Conservatives for voting against the Attracting Investment and Creating Jobs Act in second reading Monday at Queen's Park.
The legislation aims to make the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) permanent and create a Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.
While the Tories voted against the bill, Clark was not present at the vote, said Duguid.
"He bailed just before the vote," said the minister. "I'm disappointed that he did that."
Clark, however, told The Recorder and Times he was away from the legislature to deal with the aftermath of a cancerous growth on his skin.
"Anyone who's seen me over the last month or so has noticed that I have a bandage on my cheek," said Clark.
That bandage was the result of the discovery, in mid-January, of a cancerous growth on his right cheek, which was subsequently removed at Brockville General Hospital, said Clark.
The MPP said he has missed two entire question periods and most of a third for medical appointments in Toronto dealing with that procedure, and on Monday he had to leave in order to have that area of his face examined.
"I'm happy to say that I'm now cancer-free," said Clark.
Clark said he was reluctant to make his health issue public, but the minister's comments left him no choice.
"When your health and politics intersect, I feel I have to make a comment," said Clark.
The MPP, who plans to play an active role in the committee phase of the legislation, said he hoped the minister was not aware of his health issues when he made the comment, but even so, Duguid should have inquired about Clark's absence before taking such a shot.
Duguid's assistant, Brianna Ames, said later Tuesday the minister did not know about Clark's health issue.
"I can assure you that he was not aware of that," said Ames.
During the course of the interview, the minister did speculate that Clark may have had a legitimate reason to be absent from the vote.
And the minister again took aim at Clark's party for opposing the bill.
"We're very surprised that they wouldn't see the importance of creating jobs in Eastern Ontario," said Duguid.
Clark and his fellow Opposition Progressive Conservatives have criticized the bill, among other things for bundling the EODF with the southwestern fund, about which they have little information.
Clark was also surprised to learn, earlier this year, that the $25 million that remained in the initial $80-million fund at the end of 2011 will not be carried over into 2012.
Duguid says the fund provides up to $20 million a year, but any unspent amount does not carry over into the next fiscal year.
Duguid said the government believes the legislation will bring more jobs to Eastern Ontario by making the EODF permanent -and Clark is not standing up for jobs here unless he supports it.
"I think the time now is for people in communities across Eastern Ontario who care about jobs, and businesses who care about growing a strong community, to let their voices be heard," said Duguid.
"MPP Clark, with respect, needs to hear that voice," added Duguid.
"Maybe he'll see the light and vote for it in third reading."
Clark, who is not on the committee that will now oversee the bill, said he hopes to be substituted in so he can propose amendments.
ron.zajac@sunmedia.ca
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