'Bartolucci hell bent on putting ONTC out of business,' GCA

ONTC General Chairperson’s Association
News Release

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Representatives from the General Chairperson’s Association (GCA) which represents all unionized employees at Ontario Northland (ONTC) are angered by Minister Bartolucci’s instructions to his staff that deliberately blocks Ontario Northland’s ability to continue to operate in the interest of Ontario taxpayers.

“Last week, Minister Bartolucci rose in the Ontario Legislature and said that its business as usual at the ONTC. What he didn’t say is that the business is about putting ONTC out of business, as some perverse justification to convince taxpayers that the only option for transportation and communication services in the North, is to hold a fire sale” says GCA spokesperson Brian Kelly Media reported recently that VIA Rail cancelled a contract with IRS Inc. located in Moncton NB.

As harsh as that is for those workers, the GCA and Northern Mayors agree that this situation creates an
opportunity for ONTC to secure that uncompleted $109M VIA Rail contract.

“We have since learned, there are actually three separate VIA Rail contracts totalling close to $120M that are available given the IRS Inc. situation.

Our rail shops would be well positioned to transition from the current Montreal Transit and Metrolinx work to these three VIA Rail contracts.

These contracts would provide long term work for our members and this revenue would contribute significantly to the ONTC finances and support all divisions and our mandate of social and economic development across the North” added Kelly.

In a meeting this morning, ONTC advised the unions that the Ministry will not authorize any resources to assist in securing this new long term work.

“Minister Bartolucci and his staff continue to tighten the handcuffs on the ONTC to the determinant of every community in the region.

The Ministry’s daily interference in the management decisions at ONTC is destructive. The MNDM business model is simply not working. Northern Ontario is worthy of a stand alone corporation on equal footing as Southern Ontario’s Metrolinx to support ONTC’s coordinated and integrated modes of transportation and communication which enhances prosperity, sustainability and quality of life in the North.

To us it is very evident this government is hell bent on
proceeding with a fire sale of the ONTC parts without any involvement or consultation” concluded Kelly.

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