In a development that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago, Conservative Party of Canada candidate Sonny Spina has won the endorsement of United Steelworkers Local 2251, Algoma Steel's biggest collective bargaining unit.
The behemoth of the Sault's organized labour scene held a candidates' meeting Tuesday night at the Marconi Hall.
"All candidates made opening statements, participated in a question period and made closing statements," Mike Da Prat, Local 2251's president since 2003, said in a written release.
"The members voted in favour of supporting Sonny Spina, Conservative Party of Canada," he said.
Da Prat didn't disclose how many steelworkers attended last night's meeting.
Ever since Local 2251 began endorsing political candidates, up until last spring, it had backed only New Democrats.
Then, on May 24, 2018, during that year's provincial election, the local's membership stunned pundits by throwing its endorsement behind Conservative Ross Romano.
As SooToday reported exclusively, fewer than 20 of Local 2251's then-membership of 2,381 were in the room when the secret vote was taken.
That meant Romano was endorsed by less than one per cent of members.
On an audiotape of the 2018 meeting obtained by SooToday, Da Prat can be heard telling the three political candidates present that, based on the small number of Steelworkers present, any one of them could have secured the endorsement by bringing just nine local members to the meeting.
"People are still saying: 'We'll already know the result because it's a Steelworker hall.' The answer is simply this: nine votes will carry the message of who we support. Only nine. So ask your people that are working for you, how is it that they couldn't organize 10 people to come to our meeting?" Da Prat said.
"My advice and question is, when are people going to stop stereotyping the members of Local 2251? We want to know that you guys take us seriously. We don't want to simply be told that we support a party and there's no chance of changing our minds. We put out our support to the people who work the hardest to get our support. Next time, will you guys work a little harder to get some supporters here?"
In announcing last year's endorsement, Da Prat said: "We wish Ross Romano the best of luck in the upcoming election."
Last night's announcement contained no fond wishes for Spina, just the fact that Local 2251 had voted to support him.
The 43rd Canadian general election takes place Monday, Oct. 21.
In Sault Ste. Marie riding, Sonny Spina is running against:
- Terry Sheehan (incumbent) (Liberal)
- Sara McCleary (NDP)
- Geo McLean (Green)
- Amy Zuccato (People's Party)
