Ontario government stymied from licking ‘stickergate’ problem

TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford’s defective decals have left his Progressive Conservative government in a sticky situation.

Ford said he was outraged that the government’s gas pump stickers were peeling off, but Energy Minister Greg Rickford office was noncommittal on finding replacement stickers. Green Leader Mike Schreiner has called the affair ‘stickergate.’

“The premier and Minister Rickford had a productive conversation on the matter. There has been no commitment to tender a new request for proposals,” said Sydney Stonier, the minister’s press secretary on Wednesday. “We as the client are in the process of monitoring the situation and we will undertake followup action if necessary.”

As first revealed by the Star last Friday, the controversial gas-pump stickers warning “the federal carbon tax will cost you” can be easily peeled off, which has led to rampant vandalism.

While the Tories ordered 25,000 “outdoor glossy laminate” stickers with “aggressive adhesive,” the faulty decals have Ford demanding answers from Rickford.

On Tuesday, the premier, whose family runs a sticker business that did not have the printing contract, conceded the fiasco was embarrassing.

“Can you believe that? It’s like the shoemaker’s daughter not getting shoes? They have to pull me off the ceiling when they hear the stickers are coming off,” Ford told reporters at the International Plowing Match in Verner, Ont.

“Things like that happen and we’re going to make sure we get the proper stickers made. But hey, I agree 100 per cent. I got to talk to Minister Rickford, but again that company messed up and we’re going to get it fixed,” he said, referring to vendor Astley Gilbert, which has not commented on the debacle.

With no replacements coming anytime soon it would seem the same stickers will continue to be distributed to Ontario stations. Operators have complained that it’s like “whack-a-mole” trying to keep up with replacing them.