Speller Calls on Finley to make good on offer of help

NANTICOKE — Bob Speller, federal Liberal candidate for Haldimand-Norfolk, says local MP Diane Finley has failed locked-out US Steel workers with an empty offer of assistance.

“Ms Finley has failed US Steel workers by offering help and delivering nothing,” said Speller. “Broken promises do not put food on the table.”

Finley recently promised US Steel workers she would help them get unemployment benefits when, as federal Human Development Minister, she knew, or should have known, that because they are locked out they are more than likely not eligible.

“Ms Finley appears to not know her own department,” said Speller. “The situation would be laughable if our workers and their families were not suffering. My question to Ms Finley now is, what exactly are you prepared to deliver?”

Finley recently said she is “disappointed” by the lockout by US Steel and pointed to it as one of the reasons the federal government is taking the company to court.

“US Steel workers are also disappointed — by Ms Finley and the Harper government,” said Speller.

“Ms Finley and the Harper government created this mess when they allowed the sale of the company to US Steel in a deal so weak that we need to appeal to the courts to enforce its provisions.”

Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff met with local US Steel workers in June to learn about the situation first hand.

“Michael Ignatieff and I are committed to doing everything necessary to clean up the mess created by Diane Finley and the Harper government,” Speller said.