Northern Mayors warn ONTC is just the beginning

Northern Ontario Mayors
News Release

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COCHRANE - Northerners are accustom to the boom and bust economic cycles that come as a result of living in a region where natural resources are a driving economic factor. Northern municipalities have worked hard to diversify and to attract new industries and increased investments for sustainable, long term, business development.

“We believe the Provincial government has an obligation to assist municipalities with job creation, job retention, business investment and economic growth, not to be an impediment to these goals,” said Cochrane Mayor Peter Politis following an emergency summit of Northern Mayors convened in Cochrane to deal with the continuing ONTC issue.

Recent news of the bankruptcy of IRS Inc. of Moncton, New Brunswick has created an opportunity for the ONTC refurbishment department to pursue $120 million dollars worth of business.

North Bay Mayor Al McDonald told the group, “The IRS news is a real opportunity to put work in the ONTC shops and provide stable employment for the crews there and yet the Ministry has told the company they are not allowed to pursue the work. It makes no sense that the government, as the ONTC shareholder, is standing in the way of company success and much needed Northern jobs.”

Politis added, “We continue to be left out of the discussions. There remains no consultation with stakeholders. This is more than an assault on the ONTC; it is an assault on our way of life. This government is acting in a reckless manner, the results of which will only leave the north worse off.”

The Mayors are calling on all northern municipalities to join them in their struggle with the government over this issue, and warn all northern communities have a stake in ensuring the government is not allowed to do as they please when they please without consultation.

The Cochrane summit, attended by mayors from across the region, was an opportunity to meet face-to-face and discuss plans for moving forward.

“I am outraged with this divestiture decision,” said Timmins Mayor, Tom Laughren.

“We have been patient and we have reached out to the government in an effort to work with them but they have rebuffed every invitation we have extended. We are sending a warning to every municipality, you could be next. If the government is allowed to strong arm the north on the ONTC, and we don’t stand up to them, then you could be next,” said Laughren.

“Allowing them to do this here, to our people, is giving them carte blanche to do it anywhere.”
Politis said, “The meeting produced a strategy for moving forward which will guide our efforts in the days and weeks ahead. We refuse to stand by while people working at Queen’s Park dismantle the north. They have no vested interest in this, they don’t appreciate the contributions Northerners and the ONTC make to the province and they have closed their eyes and ears to our concerns.”

Kapuskasing Mayor, Al Spacek said, “We want a new deal for the Ontario Northland. We want to be at the table. We want to ensure we are maintaining jobs and opportunities in the north. Divesting of the ONTC would be like ending the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the loss of these investment dollars is a big deal.”

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