SooToday has received the following statement from MPP Lou Rinaldi regarding 'false claims about northern Ontario'.
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I want to clarify the words I spoke in the Legislature on Thursday, Sept. 21.
I was addressing my remarks to MPP Vic Fedeli and made the comment that he was in "No Man's Land," referring specifically to him being completely alone in his opinion about legislative changes to the Election Finances Act.
This then led to MPP Sam Oosterhoff misconstruing my words, and certainly their intent. I was in no way making a geographic reference to any area, and I believe any thinking person would agree.
The opposition then put out a press release, repeating Sam’s attempt to frame my words in a manner that had nothing to do with their actual contextual reference.
I'm hoping that Sam was merely participating in youthful exuberance in a misguided attempt to protect his caucus colleague.
I certainly would not like to think this was a malicious and purposeful partisan attempt to score cheap political points.
As a long-time rural MPP we share many of the same challenges as our friends in northern Ontario. I am more than aware and sensitive of how important our voice needs to be when we are not part of large urban centres.
The citizens of Ontario are tired of game-playing and petty politics.
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