Rick Bartolucci

Bartolucci was born in Sudbury, has degrees from Laurentian University and the North Bay Teacher's College, and worked as a teacher and school principal for thirty years before becoming an MPP.{{cite news |first=Glen |last=Colbourn |title=Swing ridings can be crucial in today's vote |newspaper=Hamilton Spectator |date=June 8, 1995 |page=A15}}

He 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.

Bartolucci was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1995 provincial election, defeating New Democratic Party incumbent Sharon Murdock.{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=sudbury&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 8, 1995 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305200445/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=sudbury&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} 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. In December 1995, he helped organize a meeting at Queen's Park where artists and cultural workers criticized the Harris government's cuts to the arts sector.{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Goddard |title=Who's Who in arts rally against cuts |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=December 5, 1995 |page=E4}} He later criticized the Harris government's decision to close two of Sudbury's three hospitals, arguing that it would compromise patient care.{{cite news |title=News of hospital merger raises health-care concerns |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=October 1, 1996 |page=A9}}

Bartolucci was one of the three MPPs prevented from attending the Harris government's first Speech from the Throne in September 1995, when police officers contracted 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 legislators and journalists later described the police presence as excessive.{{cite news |first=Greg |last=Crone |title=Members chafe under beefed-up security |newspaper=Kitchener-Waterloo Record |date=September 29, 1995 |page=A3}} A similar incident took place in March 1996, when riot police contracted by the Harris government burst into Bartolucci's legislative office without any warning or explanation, just before a melee with protesting public service workers. The police actions were widely criticized on this occasion as well.{{cite news |first=Greg |last=Crone |title=Actions of police embarrassed Ontario, opposition MPPs say |newspaper=Kitchener-Waterloo Record |date=March 20, 1997 |page=D8}}

Bartolucci was a co-manager of Dwight Duncan's bid to lead the Ontario Liberal Party in 1996,{{cite news |first1=Chris |last1=Vander Doelen |first2=Richard |last2=Brennan |title=City success Duncan's model |newspaper=Windsor Star |date=June 26, 1996 |page=A3}} and moved to the camp of Gerard Kennedy when Duncan was eliminated on the third ballot of the party's leadership convention.{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Whitehouse |title=Northern light: Rick Bartolucci has battled for Northern Ontario |newspaper=Sudbury Star |date=December 13, 2003 |page=B10}} Kennedy was defeated on the final ballot by Dalton McGuinty.

Bartolucci introduced a Private Member's Bill in early 1997 to limit class sizes in Ontario's public and separate schools.{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Urquhart |title=No reins -- or whips in House today |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=February 6, 1997 |page=A23}} The government dropped this bill from the legislative agenda in January 1998.{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Poling |title=Agostino's bill a housekeeping casualty |newspaper=Hamilton Spectator |date=January 12, 1998 |page=A5}} He 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.{{cite news |first=Michelle |last=Shephard |title=Prostitute, 14, 'overdoses' on cocaine while in custody |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=February 12, 1999 |page=A1}} The government introduced legislation modeled on Bartolucci's proposal in 2000,{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Mackie |title=New Ontario law aims to rescue child prostitutes |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=December 19, 2000 |page=A8}} and passed it into law in June 2002. Fourteen months later, Bartolucci complained that the law had not yet been enacted.{{cite news |title=Ernie, tell the truth - why won't you protect our children? |publisher=Canada NewsWire |date=August 12, 2003}}

Bartolucci was re-elected by an increased margin in the 1999 provincial election, as the Progressive Conservatives won a second majority government.{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=sudbury&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 3, 1999}} He was appointed to the Liberal Party's election committee after the campaign,{{cite news |first=Doug |last=Draper |title=McGuinty slam 'spineless' attack |newspaper=Hamilton Spectator |date=July 19, 1999 |page=A2}} and later served as Chief Opposition Whip.{{cite news |title=McGuinty announces caucus critic changes |publisher=Canada NewsWire |date=August 23, 2002}} In 2000, he criticized the provincial government for requiring that cancer patients in Northern Ontario pay most of their transportation costs to and from treatment in other areas, while patients referred from Toronto to Sudbury were provided with free transportation and lodging.{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Urquhart |title=Tories no longer government fixers |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=June 7, 2000 |page=A1}} Bartolucci indicated that he was exploring the possibility of a class-action lawsuit on the matter.{{cite news |first=Lisa |last=Priest |title=Northern Ontario cancer patients face 'discrimination' |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=June 17, 2000 |page=A3}}

Bartolucci made frequent calls for Highway 69 to be twinned between Sudbury and Parry Sound, citing a growing number of fatal accidents in the area.{{cite news |title=Cottage highway accidents kill six |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=June 4, 2001 |page=A7}}{{cite news |first=Pat |last=Conroy |title=Triple fatality renews protests ... Demands for Highway 69 widening ignored |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=August 9, 2002 |page=A4}} He also chaired the JoeMac committee, which undertook a national campaign to have the killers of Sudbury police officer Joe MacDonald moved to a maximum security prison. The group also opposed what it described as lenient treatment for federal offenders.{{cite news |title=Local campaign goes national |publisher=Canadian Press |date=March 18, 2002}}{{cite news |first=Adrian |last=Humphreys |title=Prison knew alarms faulty years before escape: report |newspaper=National Post |date=March 8, 2003 |page=A7}}

Bartolucci was re-elected in 2003 as the Liberals won a majority government across the province.{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=sudbury&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003}} Bartolucci was endorsed by the Sudbury Police Association in the 2003 provincial election.{{cite news |first=Rob |last=O'Flanagan |title=Cops' union backs Bartolucci |newspaper=Sudbury Star |date=October 1, 2003 |page=A3}} On October 23, 2003, he was appointed as Minister of Northern Development and Mines in the newly formed government of Dalton McGuinty.{{cite news |title=Premier Dalton McGuinty and his 22-member cabinet were sworn in Thursday |publisher=Canadian Press NewsWire |date=October 23, 2003 |page=1}}

In early 2004, Bartolucci re-designated the Muskoka District as a part of southern rather than northern Ontario. The area had been a part of southern Ontario before 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.{{cite news |first=Susan |last=Bourette |title=Why Northern Ontario is creeping southward: Eves's Muskoka riding gets Heritage Fund access |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=May 15, 2000 |page=A1}}{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Mackie |title=Muskoka moves to Southern Ontario |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=May 27, 2004 |page=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.{{cite news |title=Inco vows to close Sudbury, Ont., copper refinery despite plea from mayor |publisher=Canadian Press |date=May 27, 2005}}{{cite news |first=Sean |last=Barry |title=Union takes fight over Copper Cliff to mines minister |publisher=Metal Bulletin News Alert Service |date=June 7, 2005}}

Bartolucci announced in March 2004 that he would end the previous government's efforts to privatize the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.{{cite news |title=Ontario government charts 'bold new course' for Ontario Northland: Bartolucci |publisher=Canadian Press |date=March 4, 2004}} He also called for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to re-focus its attention on job creation, with support from the private sector.{{cite news |title=Minister defends Heritage Fund |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=December 23, 2003 |page=A9}} The North Bay Chamber of Commerce and the union representing Ontario Northland Transportation Commission workers demanded the resignation or retirement of Bartolucci, claiming a negative impact on the economy of northern Ontario.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/more-calls-for-northern-minister-to-step-down-1.1147834 |title=More calls for northern minister to step down |publisher=CBC.ca |date=August 8, 2012}}

In June 2005, Bartolucci announced a twelve-year project for the expansion of Highway 69.{{cite news |first=Adelle |last=Larmour |title=Minister, MPPs square off over 69 |publisher=Northern Ontario Business |date=June 1, 2005 |page=24}} In March 2006 he brought forward a new provincial mining strategy.{{cite news |title=Mining red tape to be eased Conservatives vow to help industry |newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press |date=March 7, 2006 |page=B6}} The journal Mineweb called the plan a way to promote long-term sustainability and global competitiveness.{{cite news |title=Ontario unveils new mineral strategy |publisher=Mineweb |date=March 8, 2006}}

Bartolucci presided over the opening of Ontario's first diamond mine in June 2006, and spoke of "limitless" potential for growth in the field.{{cite news |first=Angela |last=Pacienza |title=Ontario opens first diamond mine |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=June 20, 2006 |page=B7}} The McGuinty government later proposed a new tax on diamond mining. After criticism by groups such as DeBeers Canada, Bartolucci modified the tax to include deductions for new mining construction, and for expenditures made through agreements with aboriginal communities.{{cite news |title=Ontario changes controversial diamond-mining tax |publisher=Reuters News |date=July 5, 2007}}

Bartolucci 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".{{cite news |first=Karen |last=Howlett |title=Reduction in quotas comes as surprise to Ontario |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=April 27, 2006 |page=A14}}

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 argued that this decision would not "impact the legitimacy of other mining claims in Ontario". Others disputed his interpretation.{{cite news |first=Kate |last=Harries |title=Judge rules for native band |newspaper=Globe and Mail |date=August 1, 2006 |page=A9}}

In mid-2007, the Ardoch Algonquin and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations began a protest against proposed uranium mining in the Sharbot Lake area. The protesters, who were supported by several members of the local non-aboriginal community, 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.{{cite news |first=Suzanne |last=Ma |title=Uranium drilling fight gets hot |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=July 30, 2007 |page=D1}}

Bartolucci was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election, in which the McGuinty government was re-elected with a second majority.{{cite web |url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 10, 2007 |page=15 (xxiv) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007160233/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |df=mdy-all }} On October 30, 2007, he was appointed as Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.{{cite news |title=Premier goes for new blood; Expanded 28-member cabinet has eight ministers from Toronto, three from 905 area |last1=Ferguson |first1=Rob |last2=Benzie |first2=Robert |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=October 31, 2007 |page=A13}}

Bartolucci amended the province's sex offender registry in December 2007, after the provincial Auditor General reported that prisoners released from federal institutions had been omitted from the list.{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Benzie |title=Hundreds not included on registry, auditor says |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=December 12, 2007 |page=A19}}

Bartolucci introduced new animal protection legislation in April 2008 and the province's new Animal Welfare Act was officially proclaimed in March 2009.{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Wilkes |title=Act would put bite on animal abusers |newspaper=Hamilton Spectator |date=April 4, 2008 |page=A10}} The law requires that veterinarians report suspected cases of animal abuse, gives legal protection for veterinarians who make good faith reports, and increases penalties for animal abuse.{{cite news |title=Ontario Veterinarians Applaud Province for Enacting Canada's Toughest Animal Welfare Legislation |publisher=Canada NewsWire |date=March 2, 2009}}

Bartolucci rejected calls for a moratorium on taser use in June 2008, when an Ontario resident died after being tasered in a confrontation with police. Amnesty International was among the groups calling for a moratorium on taser use.{{cite news |title='We don't know enough,' Amnesty says after Ontario custody death |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=June 25, 2008 |page=A22}} In 2009, he rejected a request that Ontario ban taser use on minors.{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Oliveira |title=Ontario government rejects call for banning Taser use on minors |publisher=Canadian Press |date=February 4, 2009}}

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 federal government for extending an amnesty to gun owners who refuse to register their firearms.{{cite news |first=Tonda |last=MacCharles |title=Ontario protests federal gun amnesty plan |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=March 4, 2008 |page=A14}} In April 2009, Bartolucci requested that the federal government reconsider its plans to weaken the provisions of the Canadian Firearms Registry.{{cite news |title=Reconsider gun-registry changes, Ontario Grits urge federal Tories |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=April 22, 2009 |page=A6}}

Bartolucci announced in October 2008 that the McGuinty government would overhaul Ontario's forensic pathology system and provide compensation for past miscarriages of justice, after receiving a report from Justice Stephen Goudge.{{cite news |title=Ontario Responds To The Goudge Report |publisher=Canada NewsWire |date=October 1, 2008}} This report confirmed previous media revelations that several people had been wrongly convicted of serious crimes due to errors made by discredited pathologist Charles Randal Smith. Bartolucci personally apologized on behalf of the government to those who suffered as a result of these errors and later announced that the McGuinty government would adopt all of the Goudge Report's recommendations into law.{{cite news |first1=Theresa |last1=Boyle |first2=Tracey |last2=Tyler |title=Another 200 cases to be probed |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=October 2, 2008 |page=A6}} Among other things, the report called for the creation of an oversight council to monitor Ontario's chief coroner and chief forensic pathologist, the creation of a public complaints committee, and a provincial registry of pathologists.{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Ferguson |title=Bill maps out pathology overhaul |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=October 24, 2008 |page=A22}}

Bartolucci rejected calls for a provincial inquiry into a native land dispute at Caledonia. He argued that this dispute was a federal issue.{{cite news |first=Lee |last=Greenberg |title=McGuinty pans bill calling for Caledonia dispute inquiry |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=February 19, 2009 |page=A6}}

In October 2009, Bartolucci faced some criticism from his constituents for avoiding a vote on Peter Kormos' private member's bill to ban the use of replacement workers during a strike. With Vale Inco workers in Sudbury on strike, Bartolucci chose to remain neutral on the legislation in the hope that his position would encourage the company and the striking workers to return to the bargaining table.{{cite news |first=Carol |last=Mulligan |url=http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1788733&pg=2 |title=Bartolucci remains neutral |newspaper=Sudbury Star |date=October 3, 2009}}

He announced on February 7, 2013, that he would not run for re-election in the 41st Ontario general election.{{cite news |url=http://www.thesudburystar.com/2013/02/07/rick-bartolucci-to-announce-retirement |title=Bartolucci retires from cabinet; stays on as MPP |newspaper=Sudbury Star |date=February 7, 2013}}

{{s-start}}

{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Dalton_McGuinty}}

{{ministry box cabinet posts

| post4preceded = Michael Gravelle

| post4 = Minister of Northern Development and Mines

| post4years = 2011–2013

| post4note =

| post4followed = Michael Gravelle

| post3preceded = Jim Bradley

| post3 = Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

| post3years = 2010–2011

| post3note =

| post3followed = Kathleen Wynne

| post2preceded = Monte Kwinter

| post2 = Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

| post2years = 2007–2010

| post2note =

| post2followed = Jim Bradley

| post1preceded = Jim Wilson

| post1 = Minister of Northern Development and Mines

| post1years = 2003–2007

| post1note =

| post1followed = Michael Gravelle

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|2011|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Rick Bartolucci | 13,752 | 42.26% | -16.51 }}

{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Paul Loewenberg| 13,251 | 40.72% | +13.59 }}

{{CANelec|ON|PC|Gerry Labelle| 4,409 | 13.55% | +5.62 }}

{{CANelec|ON|Green|Pat Rogerson| 925 | 2.84% | -2.05 }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 32,544 |100.00 | |}}

{{end}}

{{2007 Ontario general election/Sudbury}}

{{2003 Ontario general election/Sudbury}}

{{1999 Ontario general election/Sudbury}}

{{1995 Ontario general election/Sudbury}}

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.

{{reflist}}

• {{OntarioMPPbio|id=rick-bartolucci}}

{{McGuinty Ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bartolucci, Rick}}

Category:1943 births

Category:Canadian people of Italian descent

Category:Laurentian University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Executive Council of Ontario

Category:Nipissing University alumni

Category:Ontario Liberal Party MPPs

Category:Sudbury, Ontario city councillors

Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Category:20th-century Canadian municipal councillors