'Really this is bigger than the CAD deal,' CAW Local 103 President

They were all smiles at Nipissing Liberal candidate Dr. Catherine Whiting’s office Friday afternoon as Nipissing MPP Monique Smith made an announcement that the ONTC had signed a $9-million contract with Metrolinx to refurbish ten new cars.

Smith says the announcement the 10 new cars together with the previously announced Polar Bear Express refurbishment contract means another 12 months of work for the workers at ONTC. At the same time she was happy to announce that further to the 10 cars the ONTC and Metrolinx have entered into a strategic alliance.

“The next important part of course is the strategic alliance that’s being discussed,” states Smith.

“We’re very excited that the progress has been made around the strategic alliance, I understand that the chairs of the ONTC and of Metrolinx have been meeting regularly. Again this week they were meeting they’re moving forward with a variety of proposals that they will be moving and putting forward through the ministries after the election.”

Proclaiming “it’s a hell of a day for the workers of the ONTC,” CAW Local 103 President Brian Kelly says the 10 car contract is great news and takes the pressure off of his members, but moreover the news of the alliance is something they have wanted all along. He says an alliance of this magnitude would mean jobs for ONTC employees for the long term.

“First of all it means there are 10 more coaches coming, 10 GO coaches from Metrolinx, but more importantly is that strategic alliance between Metrolinx and Ontario Northland and that’s going to bring work into the facility he explains.

“And why we are talking to the Liberal Campaign today is that Monique Smith and Catherine Whiting were instrumental in getting that strategic alliance to fruition.”

He says there is still work to be done around the alliance but this is what his members have been working towards for years.

“Really this is what we wanted,” he states.

“Really this is bigger than the CAD deal if we can get the strategic alliance with the two agencies working together I said that’s exactly what we wanted all along and we said if this could happen it’s a hell of a day for Ontario Northland.”

“So today is a hell of a day for Ontario Northland.”

He says looking at the plan the 10 coaches secures additional work for in the short term but the alliance would spell work for the long term.

“The strategic alliance is what we were looking for all along.”

“So many different things that can happen out of that there’s locomotive work, there’s more coach work and most of all there’s rail refurbishment that can be done. So it’s an incredible amount of work that hopefully will be coming to Ontario Northland.”



Whiting says there is nothing underhanded about the announcement days before the election it simply builds on the support the Liberals have already put into the ONTC and will continue to do so in the future.

"When I met with Kath Wynn in Toronto and spoke to her she assured me that they were working on a solution and the solution is the strategic alliance," Whiting explains.

"It's a long term solution to keep our Ontario ONTC strong and to bring even more work to our community and to support those skilled workers at the ONTC. So this is something that has been in the works and that I have mentioned on many occasions that they were working on a long term solution."