By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Source: SNnewswatch.com
Coming into physical contact with MPP Kevin Holland’s car came as a bit of a surprise, Dan Dubray said Tuesday.
Video recorded at the scene shows a vehicle driven by Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan, move forward slowly and hit Dubray’s right leg as the union member was protesting on Hewitson Street in the early afternoon.
“I was a little shook up at the time … and, not gonna lie, pissed off,” Dubray told Newswatch a few hours later.
Dubray and other Ontario Public Service Employees Union members were rallying outside a Hewitson Street restaurant where the Progressive Conservative Party was holding a $1,000-a-plate fundraising luncheon.
OPSEU members who work for Community Living Thunder Bay are in the fourth week of a provincewide labour action.
“It would be nice if (Holland) called Dan and apologized to him and apologized to all the picketers,” OPSEU Local 740 president Cindy Mazan, who saw the incident happen, said in a phone interview.
“He was actually quite aggressive on the line. He actually moved forward at least three other times, almost hitting picketers.”
Mazan said Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly said his government has “given the (social services) sector a lot of money, which is completely untrue.”
“Even his own watchdogs say that he’s underfunding social services,” she said.
Shortly after 6 p.m., Holland’s constituency office issued a statement.
“As I attempted to leave the parking lot of a community event, to travel to the Port Arthur Health Centre for an announcement regarding positive news for our community, I encountered a group of protesters,” it said.
“I listened to their concerns and suggested that they contact my office. However, they refused to let me leave the parking lot.
“After being prevented from leaving, the police assisted in facilitating a safe exit from the area.
“My office remains open to respectful dialogue, and I will continue to work with, and listen to, all members of our community.”
