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NDP to Libs: Open the books on Cliffs documents

QUEEN’S PARK – In the wake of Cliffs Natural Resources’ decision to withdraw from the Ring of Fire, NDP Northern Development and Mines Critic Michael Mantha says the Liberal government should be upfront about agreements they had with Cliffs.

QUEEN’S PARK – In the wake of Cliffs Natural Resources’ decision to withdraw from the Ring of Fire, NDP Northern Development and Mines Critic Michael Mantha says the Liberal government should be upfront about agreements they had with Cliffs.

“For the last year, the government has been suggesting that a deal with Cliffs was a done deal. But a year ago, a VP at Cliffs, Bill Boor, told the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce that they were concerned about progress the Liberal government was making on the Ring of Fire,” explained the Algoma-Manitoulin MPP during question period this morning.

In March 2012, Boor said Cliffs needed to sign a definitive document with the government before it could proceed with development. In March of 2013, Cliffs was still pursuing that definitive agreement.

“The Liberal government pushed Cliffs away from Ontario. Cliffs was raising concerns over a year ago,” said Mantha. “We don’t know what commitments were made to Cliffs and we don’t know whether the Liberal government lived up to its end of the bargain.”

With billions of dollars in development and thousands of potential jobs threatened, Mantha says Ontarians deserve to know the Liberal government’s role in Cliffs’ decision to withdraw.

“Did the government sign a definitive document with Cliffs and, if not, why not?” asked Mantha. “What commitments were in that definitive document?”