Rick Bartolucci

Rick Bartolucci
Rick Bartolucci in 2012
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Sudbury
In office June 8, 1995 – June 11, 2014
Preceded by	Sharon Murdock
Succeeded by	Joe Cimino
Personal details
Political party	Ontario Liberal Party
Spouse	Maureen Bartolucci
Residence	Sudbury
Education	Laurentian University
Profession	Teacher

Rick Bartolucci (born October 10, 1943) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2014, representing the riding of Sudbury. During his tenure, Bartolucci held various cabinet positions in the government of Dalton McGuinty.

Background

Bartolucci was born in Sudbury, obtained degrees from Laurentian University and North Bay Teacher's College, and spent thirty years working as a teacher and school principal before entering politics as an MPP.

Politics (1979-2014)

Municipal (1979-1991)

He also served as a Sudbury alderman and regional councillor from 1979 to 1982 and again from 1985 to 1991, during which he held the position of the city's deputy mayor for a period.

Provincial (1995-2014)

Bartolucci secured his seat in the Ontario legislature during the 1995 provincial election by defeating New Democratic Party incumbent Sharon Murdock. Despite the Progressive Conservative Party, led by Mike Harris, winning a majority government in that election, Bartolucci entered the legislature as a member of the Official Opposition. Initially appointed as his party's critic for Northern Development and Culture and Communications, Bartolucci swiftly engaged in advocating for various issues. In December 1995, he played a pivotal role in organizing a meeting at Queen's Park where artists and cultural workers expressed concerns over the Harris government's cuts to the arts sector. Additionally, Bartolucci vocally opposed the Harris government's decision to close two out of Sudbury's three hospitals, stressing the potential negative impact on patient care.

Bartolucci found himself among the three MPPs barred from attending the Harris government's inaugural Speech from the Throne in September 1995. Police officers, contracted by the government to maintain order amidst potential protests, denied them entry into the legislature. The other affected MPPs included veteran opposition member Sean Conway and cabinet minister Cam Jackson. The heavy police presence was later condemned by many opposition legislators and journalists as excessive. Another unsettling incident occurred in March 1996 when riot police, again contracted by the Harris government, abruptly entered Bartolucci's legislative office without prior warning or explanation. This intrusion coincided with a confrontation between protesting public service workers and the police. The actions of the police were widely criticized, further fueling public discontent.

Bartolucci played a significant role in Dwight Duncan's campaign to lead the Ontario Liberal Party in 1996, serving as a co-manager. However, when Duncan was eliminated on the third ballot during the party's leadership convention, Bartolucci shifted his support to Gerard Kennedy's camp. Kennedy ultimately faced defeat on the final ballot, losing to Dalton McGuinty.

In early 1997, Bartolucci took the initiative to introduce a Private Member's Bill aimed at limiting class sizes in Ontario's public and separate schools. However, the government removed this bill from the legislative agenda in January 1998. Later, Bartolucci proposed a bill granting police the authority to apprehend individuals under the age of eighteen engaged in prostitution and relocate them to safe houses. Although the government initially dropped Bartolucci's bill, they introduced similar legislation based on his proposal in 2000, which was subsequently enacted into law in June 2002. Fourteen months after its enactment, Bartolucci expressed dissatisfaction with the delayed enforcement of the law.

In the 1999 provincial election, Bartolucci secured re-election with an increased margin, despite the Progressive Conservatives winning a second majority government. Following the campaign, he was appointed to the Liberal Party's election committee and later assumed the role of Chief Opposition Whip. In 2000, Bartolucci criticized the provincial government's policy requiring cancer patients in Northern Ontario to bear the majority of their transportation costs for treatment in other regions, contrasting it with the provision of free transportation and lodging for patients referred from Toronto to Sudbury. Bartolucci hinted at the possibility of pursuing a class-action lawsuit on this matter.

Continuing his advocacy efforts, Bartolucci frequently called for the twinning of Highway 69 between Sudbury and Parry Sound, citing a concerning rise in fatal accidents in the region. Additionally, he chaired the JoeMac committee, which spearheaded a national campaign urging the transfer of Sudbury police officer Joe MacDonald's killers to a maximum-security prison. The committee also opposed what they deemed as lenient treatment for federal offenders.

Dalton McGuinty's Cabinet

Minister of Northern Development and Mines

Bartolucci continued his political journey with success, being re-elected in 2003 as the Liberals secured a majority government across Ontario. Notably, he received endorsement from the Sudbury Police Association during the 2003 provincial election. Following this victory, on October 23, 2003, Bartolucci assumed the role of Minister of Northern Development and Mines in Dalton McGuinty's newly formed government.

In early 2004, Bartolucci made the decision to re-designate the Muskoka District as part of southern rather than northern Ontario. This move came after the area had been included in the north by the Harris government in 2000, a decision Bartolucci had criticized previously. He argued that this change would prevent affluent cottage communities from accessing funds allocated for northern development. In May 2005, when Inco announced the closure of its Copper Cliff copper refinery, Bartolucci refrained from intervening, stating that he wouldn't compel a financially troubled entity to remain open. This stance faced opposition from the United Steelworkers of America.

Additionally, Bartolucci announced in March 2004 his intention to halt the previous government's efforts to privatize the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission. He advocated for a refocusing of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund on job creation, with support from the private sector. However, these actions led to calls for his resignation or retirement from the North Bay Chamber of Commerce and the union representing Ontario Northland Transportation Commission workers, citing concerns about their negative impact on the northern Ontario economy.

In June 2005, Bartolucci unveiled a twelve-year plan for the expansion of Highway 69. Additionally, he introduced a new provincial mining strategy in March 2006, aimed at promoting long-term sustainability and global competitiveness, which was praised by the journal Mineweb.

Bartolucci also presided over the opening of Ontario's first diamond mine in June 2006, expressing optimism about the potential for growth in the industry. Subsequently, the McGuinty government proposed a new tax on diamond mining, which faced criticism from entities such as DeBeers Canada. In response, Bartolucci modified the tax to include deductions for new mining construction and expenditures made through agreements with Aboriginal communities.

In April 2006, Bartolucci criticized the federal government of Stephen Harper, arguing that its proposed settlement of a softwood lumber dispute with the United States would be detrimental to Ontario's interests.

Furthermore, in August 2006, Justice Patrick Smith of the Ontario Superior Court ruled against the mining exploration company Platinex Inc. in its dispute with the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Aboriginal community. Bartolucci maintained that this ruling wouldn't affect the legitimacy of other mining claims in Ontario, although others disputed his interpretation.

In mid-2007, protests erupted against proposed uranium mining in the Sharbot Lake area by the Ardoch Algonquin and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations, supported by members of the local non-Aboriginal community. Bartolucci's office confirmed the province's legal obligation to consult with First Nations communities before allowing exploration and stated efforts to establish better processes for dealing with such matters.

Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Bartolucci continued his political journey with another successful re-election in the 2007 provincial election, where the McGuinty government secured a second majority. On October 30, 2007, he was appointed as Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

In response to a report by the provincial Auditor General revealing omissions of prisoners released from federal institutions in the province's sex offender registry, Bartolucci amended the registry in December 2007.

In April 2008, Bartolucci introduced new animal protection legislation, leading to the official proclamation of the province's new Animal Welfare Act in March 2009. The legislation required veterinarians to report suspected cases of animal abuse, provided legal protection for those who made good faith reports, and increased penalties for animal abuse.

Despite calls for a moratorium on taser use following the death of an Ontario resident in a confrontation with police in June 2008, Bartolucci rejected the proposal. Similarly, in 2009, he dismissed a request to ban taser use on minors.

Bartolucci, alongside Attorney General Chris Bentley, appealed to the federal government in March 2008 for stricter gun control legislation, including a ban on handguns. They criticized the federal government's decision to grant amnesty to gun owners who refused to register their firearms. Additionally, in April 2009, Bartolucci urged the federal government to reconsider plans to weaken provisions of the Canadian Firearms Registry.

Following a report by Justice Stephen Goudge in October 2008, Bartolucci announced the overhaul of Ontario's forensic pathology system and compensation for past miscarriages of justice. This decision stemmed from errors made by discredited pathologist Charles Randal Smith, which led to several wrongful convictions. Bartolucci apologized on behalf of the government and announced the adoption of all recommendations from the Goudge Report, including the creation of an oversight council and a public complaints committee, among others.

Despite calls for a provincial inquiry into a native land dispute at Caledonia, Bartolucci maintained that it was a federal issue and rejected the notion.

In October 2009, Bartolucci faced criticism from constituents for abstaining from a vote on Peter Kormos' private member's bill to ban the use of replacement workers during a strike. Bartolucci's neutrality aimed to encourage Vale Inco and striking workers in Sudbury to return to the bargaining table.

On February 7, 2013, Bartolucci announced that he would not seek re-election in the 41st Ontario general election.

Electoral record

2011 Ontario general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Rick Bartolucci	13,752	42.26%	-16.51
	New Democratic	Paul Loewenberg	13,251	40.72%	+13.59
	Progressive Conservative	Gerry Labelle	4,409	13.55%	+5.62
	Green	Pat Rogerson	925	2.84%	-2.05
Total valid votes			32,544	100.00

2007 Ontario general election: Sudbury
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rick Bartolucci	19,307	58.77	−10.21	$ 65,502.20
	New Democratic	Dave Battaino	8,914	27.13	+13.13	38,488.63
	Progressive Conservative	Louis Delongchamp	2,605	7.93	−6.26	12,594.00
	Green	David Sylvestre	1,608	4.89	+2.07	1,520.11
	Family Coalition	Carita Murphy-Marketos	293	0.89		3,118.15
	Independent	David Popescu	124	0.38		17.90
Total valid votes / expense limit			32,851	100.0	−8.00	$ 69,838.20
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			201	0.61	−0.15
Turnout			33,052	51.11	−4.84
Electors on the lists			64,665		+0.56
	Liberal hold		Swing		−11.67
Note: Percentage changes are factored for redistribution.
Source(s) "General Election Poll by Poll Results – Electoral District 088 Sudbury" (PDF). Elections Ontario. "2007 Annual Returns, Candidate and Constituency Associations". Retrieved 13 June 2014.

2003 Ontario general election: Sudbury
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rick Bartolucci	24,631	68.98	+10.27	$ 58,280.81
	Progressive Conservative	Mila Wong	5,068	14.19	−15.39	34,319.74
	New Democratic	Harvey Wyers	4,999	14.00	+3.49	16,359.88
	Green	Luke Norton	1,009	2.83		508.44
Total valid votes / expense limit			35,707	100.00	−3.54	$ 61,731.84
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			274	0.76	+0.10
Turnout			35,981	55.95	+0.26
Eligible voters			64,304		−3.89
	Liberal hold		Swing		+12.83
Source(s) "General Election of October 2, 2003 — Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. "General Election of October 2, 2003 — Statistical Summary". Retrieved 13 June 2014. "2003 Election Returns - Candidate and Constituency Association – Candidate Campaign Return (CR-1)".

1999 Ontario general election: Sudbury
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rick Bartolucci	21,732	58.71	+18.05	$ 52,531.80
	Progressive Conservative	Mila Wong	10,948	29.58	+2.93	61,776.00
	New Democratic	Paul Chislett	3,891	10.51	−18.12	Not Available
	Natural Law	Bernard Fram	184	0.50	−0.54	0.00
	Independent	Ed Pokonzie	159	0.43	+0.02	Not Available
	Independent	David Popescu	103	0.28		123.60
Total valid votes / expense limit			37,017	100.0	+21.87	$ 64,227.84
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			245	0.66	−0.66
Turnout			37,262	55.69	−6.41
Electors on the lists			66,904		+34.99
Note: Percentage change figures are not factored for redistribution.
Source(s) "General Election of June 3 1999 – Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. "General Election of June 3 1999 – Statistical Summary". Retrieved 13 June 2014. "1999 Candidate and Constituency Associations – Candidate Campaign Return (CR-1)".

1995 Ontario general election: Sudbury
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rick Bartolucci	12,349	40.66	$ 38,419.00
	New Democratic	Sharon Murdock	8,698	28.64	45,265.43
	Progressive Conservative	Richard Zanibbi	8,093	26.64	43,588.00
	Independent	Don Scott	506	1.67	459.00
	Natural Law	David Gordon	315	1.04	0.00
	Green	Lewis Poulin	290	0.95	69.68
	Independent	Ed Pokonzie	123	0.40	0.00
Total valid votes / expense limit			30,374	100.00	$ 46,140.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			405	1.32
Turnout			30,779	62.10
Eligible voters			49,562
Source(s) "General Election of June 8 1995 – Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. "General Election of June 8 1995 – Statistical Summary". Retrieved 13 June 2014. "1995 Details of Candidate Income and Expenses" ( Word'95 .doc files (3.16MB)). & "1995 Summary of Income and Campaign Expenses" ( 146KB).

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.

External links

• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history