Fedeli presents ONTC petition to Queen's Park

Photo by Jay Millington.

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli
News Release

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QUEEN’S PARK -- Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli presented the 5,000 signature petition signed by local residents this past summer to the Ontario Legislature Tuesday which demands Dalton McGuinty reverse the decision to award a 120-car rail refurbishment contract to a Quebec-based company instead of to Ontario Northland.

“I’m pleased to make good on my campaign promise to bring this issue to the fore at Queen’s Park,” said Fedeli.

“This contract should have been awarded to Ontario Northland and it should still be reviewed, but we will also continue to press the government to establish a formal, legally binding strategic alliance between Ontario Northland and Metrolinx going forward.”

This July, a government agency – Metrolinx – selected Québec-based Canadian Allied Diesel to refurbish GO Transit rail cars even though the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission based in North Bay has been doing high quality work for years.

Yet the Premier allowed this decision to stand, potentially costing over 100 good jobs.

“If Metrolinx or Dalton McGuinty had even considered the “net overall benefit to Ontario” of the Ontario Northland bid, this contract would have remained in the ONTC’s hands,” said Fedeli.

Fedeli also plans to continue to urge the government to move the ONTC from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines to the Ministry of Transportation to allow greater access to $35 billion in provincial infrastructure funds.

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