Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Bill Bradley 
Federal Minister of Industry Tony Clement has struck back at Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci.
"Mr. Bartolucci's news release  (Thursday) was factually incorrect, and was an example of petty politics," said federal cabinet minister Tony Clement Friday.
He was responding to Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci's claim this week that Clement was "missing in action" when it comes to northern and local issues of concern such federal funding for mining research.
Bartolucci tried to skewer Clement over the fact that FedNor no longer has a separate cabinet minister directly responsible for the economic development agency.
Clement said Bartolucci's insinuation that this meant a weakened FedNor was wrong.
"First, when I was appointed Minister of Industry, I retained the title of Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario. This is exactly like when I was Minister of Health, I was also responsible for FedNor, as a Northerner, I can assure you that I will keep working hard to deliver results to Northern Ontario."
Then Clement responded to Bartolucci's allegation that FedNor was ignoring the CEMI (Centre For Mining Innovation) project, which seeks to generate new technologies and techniques for mining ore bodies.
Though the province put up $10 million and Vale Inco and Xstrata each put up $5 million in funding, there is still a lack of significant federal funding.
Local politicians, like Bartolucci and federal NDP members of parliament Claude Gravelle and Glenn Thibeault, have criticized Clement for not coming up with a federal share.
"Second, FedNor only has so much money. The CEMI proposal required a huge investment that would have killed many other worthy projects - including projects in Sudbury. After careful consideration and appropriate due diligence, I concluded Northern Ontario would be better served by making a number of strategic investments, rather than putting all our eggs in one basket," said Clement.
"Finally, since 2006, FedNor has directed over $3.1 million in funding towards mining and minerals-related projects in Northern Ontario. Last year, Sudbury received $6,017,167 for projects like the Innovation Park/Commercialization centre at the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology, for three labs for the expanded mechanical engineering program at the Laurentian University of Sudbury, and for the local food co-op to pilot a shared farmer's market outlet through Eat Local Sudbury."
In a final comment, Clement questioned Bartolucci's style of politics.
"It's time for Bartolucci to stop playing partisan politics and to start working more co-operatively for the betterment of northern Ontario," said Clement.
