Rick Bartolucci

Infobox_Politician


name = Rick Bartolucci
small| caption =
birth_date = 1943
birth_place = Sudbury, Ontario
residence =
office = MPP for Sudbury
term_start = June 26, 1995
term_end =
predecessor = Sharon Murdock
successor = incumbent
office2 = Minister of Northern Development and Mines
term_start2 = October 23, 2003
term_end2 = October 29, 2007
predecessor2 = Jim Wilson
successor2 = Michael Gravelle
office3 = Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
term_start3 = October 30, 2007
term_end3 =
predecessor3 = Monte Kwinter
successor3 = incumbent
party = Liberal
religion = Roman Catholic
occupation = teacher

Rick Bartolucci (born October 10, 1943) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He has represented Sudbury in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1995, and is a cabinet minister in the government of Dalton McGuinty. Bartolucci is a member of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Early life and career

Bartolucci was born in Sudbury, received degrees from Laurentian University and North Bay Teacher's College, and worked as a teacher and school principal for thirty years before becoming an MPP. Bartolucci was a Sudbury alderman and regional councillor from 1979 to 1982 and again from 1985 to 1991, and served as the city's deputy mayor for a time. [Glen Colbourn, "Swing ridings can be crucial in today's vote", "Hamilton Spectator", 8 June 1995, A15.]

Member of Provincial Parliament

Opposition member

Bartolucci was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1995 provincial election, defeating New Democratic Party incumbent Sharon Murdock. The Progressive Conservative Party of Mike Harris won a majority government in this election, and Bartolucci entered the legislature as a member of the Official Opposition. He was appointed as his party's critic for Northern Development and Culture and Communications, and helped organize a December 1995 meeting at Queen's Park where artists and cultural workers criticized the Harris government's spending cuts in the arts sector. [Peter Goddard, "Who's Who in arts rally against cuts", "Toronto Star", 5 December 1995, E4.] He later criticized the Harris government's decision to close two of Sudbury's three hospitals, arguing that it would compromise patient care in the region. ["News of hospital merger raises health-care concerns", "Globe and Mail", 1 October 1996, A9.]

Bartolucci was one of the three MPPs prevented from attending the Harris government's first Speech from the Throne in 1995, when police officers called by the government to guard against protesters refused them entry into the legislature. The other MPPs were veteran opposition member Sean Conway and cabinet minister Cam Jackson. Many opposition members described the police presence as excessive. [Greg Crone, "Members chafe under beefed-up security", "Kitchener-Waterloo Record", 29 September 1995, A3.] A similar incident took place in March 1996, when riot police who were called to the legislature by the Harris government burst into Bartolucci's office without any warning or explanation, just prior to a melee with protesting public service workers. The police actions were widely criticized on this occasion as well. [Greg Crone, "Actions of police embarrassed Ontario, opposition MPPs say", "Kitchener-Waterloo Record", 20 March 1996, D8.]

Bartolucci was a co-manager of Dwight Duncan's bid to lead the Ontario Liberal Party in 1996, [Chris Vander Doelen and Richard Brennan, "City success Duncan's model", "Windsor Star", 26 June 1996, A3.] and moved to the camp of Gerard Kennedy when Duncan was eliminated on the third ballot of the party's leadership convention. [Mike Whitehouse, "Northern light: Rick Bartolucci has battled for Northern Ontario", "Sudbury Star", 13 December 2003, B10.] Kennedy was defeated on the final ballot by Dalton McGuinty.

In early 1997, Bartolucci introduced a Private Member's Bill to limit class sizes in Ontario's public and separate schools. [Ian Urquhart, "No reins -- or whips in House today", "Toronto Star", 6 February 1997, A23.] The government dropped this bill from the legislative agenda in January 1998. [Jim Poling, "Agostino's bill a housekeeping casualty", "Hamilton Spectator", 12 January 1998, A5.] Bartolucci later introduced a bill giving police the power to apprehend any person under eighteen who was involved in prostitution, and take that person to a safe house. [Michelle Shephard, "Prostitute, 14, `overdoses' on cocaine while in custody", "Toronto Star", 12 February 1999, A1.] The government introduced legislation modeled on Bartolucci's proposal in 2000, [Richard Mackie, "New Ontario law aims to rescue child prostitutes", "Globe and Mail", 19 December 2000, A8.] and passed it into law in June 2002. Fourteen months later, Bartolucci complained that the law had not yet been enacted. ["Ernie, tell the truth - why won't you protect our children?" [press release] , "Canada NewsWire", 12 August 2003.]

Bartolucci was re-elected by an increased margin in the 1999 provincial election, as the Progressive Conservatives won a second majority government. He was appointed to the Liberal Party's election committee after the campaign, [Doug Draper, "MCGUINTY SLAMS 'SPINELESS' ATTACK", "Hamilton Spectator", 19 July 1999, A2.] and later served as Chief Opposition Whip. ["McGuinty announces caucus critic changes", "Canada NewsWire", 23 August 2002, 08:21.] In 2000, he criticized the provincial government for requiring cancer patients in Northern Ontario to pay for most of their transportation costs to and from treatment in other areas, while patients referred from Toronto to Sudbury were given free transportation and lodging. [Ian Urquhart, "Tories no longer government fixers", "Toronto Star", 7 June 2000, A1. Bartolucci indicated that he was exploring the possibility of a class-action lawsuit on the matter. See Lisa Priest, "Northern Ontario cancer patients face 'discrimination'", "Globe and Mail", 17 June 2000, A3.]

Bartolucci often called for Highway 69 to be widened between Sudbury and Parry Sound, citing a growing number of fatal accidents in the area. ["Cottage highway accidents kill six", "Globe and Mail", 4 June 2001, A7; Pat Conroy, "Triple fatality renews protests --- Demands for Highway 69 widening ignored", "Toronto Star", 9 August 2002, A4.] He also chaired the JoeMac committee late in his second term as an opposition member. This group undertook a national campaign to have the killers of Sudbury police officer Joe MacDonald moved to a maximum security prison, and generally opposed what it described as lenient treatment for federal offenders. ["Local campaign goes national", "Canadian Press", 18 March 2002, 22:39; Adrian Humphreys, "Prison knew alarms faulty years before escape: report", "National Post", 8 March 2003, A7.] Bartolucci was endorsed by the Sudbury Police Association in the 2003 provincial election. [Rob O'Flanagan, "Cops' union backs Bartolucci", "Sudbury Star", 1 October 2003, A3.]

Cabinet minister

Minister of Northern Development and Mines

Bartolucci was re-elected by a landslide in the 2003 election, as the Liberals won a majority government across the province. On October 23, 2003, he was appointed as Minister of Northern Development and Mines in the newly-formed government of Dalton McGuinty.

;Initiatives

In March 2004, Bartolucci announced that he would end the previous government's efforts to privatize the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, and would restructure it instead. ["Ontario government charts `bold new course' for Ontario Northland: Bartolucci", "Canadian Press", 4 March 2004, 13:53.] He also called for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to re-focus its attention on job creation, with support from the private sector. ["Minister defends Heritage Fund", "Globe and Mail", 23 December 2003, A9.]

Bartolucci introduced the McGuinty government's Northern Prosperity Plan in December 2004, the highlights of which included a revamped Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, a GO North program to attract investors to the region, and a pilot Northern Ontario Grow Bonds Program. ["Premier McGuinty is moving ahead with a three-pronged plan that he says will bring prosperity to northern Ontario", "Broadcast News", 3 December 2004, 18:00; "Northern Ontario Grow Bonds Campaign Extended" [press release] , "Canada NewsWire", 7 April 2005, 13:28.] In July 2005, he announced the Northern Ontario Youth Internship and Co-op program designed to give young workers an incentive to stay in northern Ontario. ["New northern Ontario co-op program hopes to retain local students", "Canadian Press", 22 July 2005, 21:20. In the same month, Bartolucci also committed $10 million to clean abandoned mine sites. See "Abandoned mine sites to be cleaned up with $10 million in provincial aid", "Canadian Press", 27 July 2005, 19:59.] Bartolucci announced a twelve-year project for the expansion of Highway 69 in June 2005, [Adelle Larmour, "Minister, MPPs square off over 69", "Northern Ontario Business", 1 June 2005, 24.] and brought forward a new provincial mining strategy in March 2006. ["Mining red tape to be eased Conservatives vow to help industry", "Winnipeg Free Press", 7 March 2006, B6. The journal "Mineweb" summarizes the plan in this manner: "The strategy details four key objectives: promote long-term sustainability and global competitiveness; to support modern, safe and environmentally sound exploration and mining; to clarify and modernize stewardship of mineral resources; and to promote community development and opportunities for all." See "Ontario unveils new mineral strategy", "Mineweb", 8 March 2006.]

In January 2006, Bartolucci announced that the McGuinty government would investigate the possibility of an all-season road to the coast of James Bay. This decision was welcomed by some First Nations leaders, who had long experienced difficult access to and from the area. ["Province announces funding to study proposed all-season road to James Bay", "Canadian Press", 25 January 2006, 19:30.]

Bartolucci presided over the opening of Ontario's first diamond mine in June 2006, and spoke of "limitless" potential for growth in the field. [Angela Pacienza, "Ontario opens first diamond mine", "Globe and Mail", 20 June 2006, B7.] The McGuinty government later proposed a new tax on diamond mining, which was opposed by such industry groups as DeBeers Canada. Bartolucci subsequently introduced modifications to the tax, including deductions for new mining construction and spending made under agreements with aboriginal communities. ["Ontario changes controversial diamond-mining tax", "Reuters News", 5 July 2007, 13:32.]

;Mining and First Nations communities

In August 2006, Justice Patrick Smith of the Ontario Superior Court issued a ruling against the mining exploration company Platinex Inc. in its ongoing battle with the remote Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug aboriginal community. Platinex was ordered not to work at the site for five months, and was ordered to participate in a consultation process involving the province. Bartolucci welcomed this decision as an "important step forward", but argued that it would not "impact the legitimacy of other mining claims in Ontario". Others questioned this interpretation. [Kate Harries, "Judge rules for native band", "Globe and Mail", 1 August 2006, A9.] In January 2007, the McGuinty government applied for intervenor status to participate in injunction proceedings. ["Ontario Committed to Resolution in Far North Mineral Exploration Dispute", "Canada NewsWire", 10 January 2007, 11:40.]

In mid-2007, the Ardoch Algonquin and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations began a protest against proposed uranium mining in the Sharbot Lake area, supported by several members of the local non-aboriginal community. The protesters noted that they had not been consulted by the province before the company Frontenac Ventures began prospecting in the area. A spokesperson for Bartolucci's office confirmed that the province had a legal obligation to consult with First Nations communities before allowing exploration, and said that the province was attempting to "establish better processes" in dealing with such matters. [Suzanne Ma, "Uranium drilling fight gets hot", "Ottawa Citizen", 30 July 2007, D1.]

;Other

In early 2004, Bartolucci re-designated the Muskoka District as a part of southern rather than northern Ontario. The area had previously been a part of southern Ontario until 2000, when the Harris government chose to include it as part of the north. Bartolucci had criticized this decision at the time, arguing that it would allow wealthy cottage communities to access funds earmarked for northern development. [Susan Bourette, "Why Northern Ontario is creeping southward: Eves's Muskoka riding gets Heritage Fund access", "Globe and Mail", 15 May 2000, A1; Richard Mackie, "Muskoka moves to Southern Ontario", "Globe and Mail", 27 May 2004, A11.] Bartolucci declined to intervene when Inco announced the closure of its Copper Cliff copper refinery in May 2005, saying that he would not compel a company to keep open a financially troubled entity. The United Steelworkers of America protested this decision. ["Inco vows to close Sudbury, Ont., copper refinery despite plea from mayor", "Canadian Press", 27 May 2005, 05:36; Sean Barry, "Union takes fight over Copper Cliff to mines minister", "Metal Bulletin News Alert Service", 7 June 2005, 16:12.]

Bartolucci rang the ceremonial opening bell at the American Stock Exchange in New York City on April 19, 2005, when he was in New York City to promote Northern Ontario mining. A press release indicated that he was the first Canadian cabinet minister to be given this honour. ["Minister of Northern Development and Mines takes part in opening bell ceremony at the American Stock Exchange", "Canada NewsWire", 18 April 2005, 13:43.] He later criticized the federal government of Stephen Harper in April 2006, arguing that its proposed settlement of a softwood lumber dispute with the United States would amount to "selling out Ontario". [Karen Howlett, "Reduction in quotas comes as surprise to Ontario", "Globe and Mail", 27 April 2006, A14.]

Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Bartolucci was re-elected without difficulty in the 2007 provincial election. On October 30, 2007, he was appointed as Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

;Federal relations

In November 2007, Bartolucci called on the federal government of Stephen Harper to honour an election commitment to hire 2,500 new front-line police officers across Canada. He further argued that se should be divided among the provinces by population, an arrangement that would give Ontario 1,000 new officers. ["McGuinty Government Calls on Ottawa to Give Ontario Fair Share of 2,500 New Police Officers", "Canada NewsWire", 15 November 2007, 13:15.] Bartolucci later accused the Harper government of short-changing the province, saying that its formula would likely result in Ontario getting only 500 officers. [Chinta Puxley, "Ontario Liberals wage fresh attack on Ottawa for holding up crucial funding", "Canadian Press", 5 March 2008, 16:45.]

Bartolucci and Attorney General Chris Bentley appealed to the federal government to introduce stricter gun control legislation in March 2008, including a ban on handguns. They also criticized the government for extending an amnesty to gun owners who refuse to register their firearms, saying that this approach undermines the Canadian gun registry. [Tonda MacCharles, "Ontario protests federal gun amnesty plan", "Toronto Star", 4 March 2008, A14.]

;Other

Bartolucci defended the use of police tasers in late 2007, in response to mounting criticism that followed the death of Robert Dziekański at the hands of Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in British Columbia. Bartolucci argued there was no conclusive evidence that tasers cause death. [Steve Lambert, "Provincial justice ministers defend use of Tasers despite fatalities", "Canadian Press", 15 November 2007, 15:06.] He rejected calls for a moratorium on taser use in June 2008, when an Ontario resident died after being tasered in a confrontation with police. Bartolucci has described Ontario's approach to taser use as "very, very measured". [Amnesty International was among the groups calling for a moratorium on taser use. See "Canadian man subdued with Taser dies in police custody", "Associated Press Newswires", 24 June 2008, 13:54; "Rights group wants freeze on Tasers; 'We don't know enough,' Amnesty says after Ontario custody death", "Toronto Star", 25 June 2008, A22.]

Bartolucci amended the province's sex offender registry in December 2007, after the provincial Auditor General reported that prisoners released from federal institutions had not been included on the list. [Robert Benzie, "Hundreds not included on registry, auditor says", "Toronto Star", 12 December 2007, A19.]

In February 2008, Bartolucci met with leaders of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation to discuss grievances about the territory's police detachments. Conditions at many detachments were described as unsafe, and it was estimated that the buildings would cost $23 million to be brought up to code. Bartolucci expressed sympathy, although he did not propose an immediate resolution. [Chinta Puxley, "Aboriginal territory can't go on with medieval police detachments: chiefs", "Canadian Press", 25 February 2008, 17:16.]

Bartolucci supported the McGuinty government's decision to renew Julian Fantino's contract as head of the Ontario Provincial Police in February 2008. [Keith Leslie, "Fantino gets one-year contract extension as OPP commissioner", "Canadian Press", 11 March 2008, 15:59.] Two months later, Bartolucci introduced new animal protection legislation that he described as the toughest in Canada. [Jim Wilkes, "Act would put bite on animal abusers", "Hamilton Spectator", 4 April 2008, A10.]

Electoral record

Bartolucci was also elected as a Sudbury councillor from 1979 to 1982, and from 1985 to 1991.

All provincial electoral information is taken from Elections Ontario. The expenditure entries for all elections after 1995 are taken from official candidate reports as listed by Elections Ontario. The figures cited are the Total Candidate's Campaign Expenses Subject to Limitation, and include transfers from constituency associations.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/team/biography.asp?MPPID=64 Ministerial biography]
* [http://www.ontarioliberal.ca/MemberDetail.aspx?id=200805 Party biography]
* [http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_detail.do?locale=en&ID=5 Legislative record]