Gates calls release of 2014 union video ‘dishonourable’
Niagara Falls Liberal candidate Dean Demizio says it’s “disturbing” incumbent NDP MPP Wayne Gates once called for a union to take over the party.
Demizio’s campaign issued a media release Friday pointing to a video showing Gates speaking during a union meeting where he thanked the union for “endorsing me as a candidate.”
Gates was once president of Canadian Auto Workers Local 199.
“It was extremely important to realize that Wayne Gates couldn’t win in Niagara Falls,” Gates said in the clip on YouTube authorized by Demizio’s campaign.
“But my union supported me. And for that I thank them.”
In the video clip, Gates went on to say: “What I’d like to see us do is take over the NDP.”
Text over top of the video indicates Gates was speaking out in 2014 at a CAW conference.
Gates maintains the video is actually from 2005 and says it is “incredibly dishonourable” for Demizio to release a “doctored video that is, in fact over 14 years old, to try and smear our campaign.”
He is asking for an apology from the Liberal candidate’s campaign team.
Demizio, meanwhile, says his team has nothing to apologize for.
He believes the individual who discovered the video and brought it to his team’s attention may have assumed it was from 2014 as it posted online that year.
Demizio said Gates’ words illustrate how beholden he and the NDP are to union bosses, whether his comments were made in 2005 or 2014.
“It’s disturbing that the NDP would put the interests of unions before the public interest, as my opponent’s comments show.
“It’s definitely him speaking in that video and its disturbing. In the event that they come to power, will the NDP be biased to one group and not another?’
Gates said he has a “proud history” of standing up for working people, and will continue fighting for everyone in the community.
“The Liberals are taking their cue from the PCs, who tried to smear me with a similar video in the 2014 byelection. It backfired then, and it will backfire again because voters are tired of dirty tricks and smears.”
Demizio said the NDP recently blocked back-to-work legislation to end the York University strike, “and their leader says their party will never support sending people back to work. Meanwhile, the PCs support Doug Ford and his rich friends.”
“That’s not fair to Ontario voters. Ontario deserves better. Liberals respect organized labour — at the same time, we put people ahead of union bosses.”
Gates said constituents know what he stands for and that “I give every ounce of energy I have to serving our community day and night.”