ONTC campaign continues

ONTC representative Brian Kelly made a concerned and somewhat frustrated plea to City Council on Monday evening.

North and South dominated Kelly's presentation in the obvious preferential treatment the citizens and voters gain.

Kelly, using literature from the recent political brochures, highlighted the discrepancies that the ONTC feels are being heaped on Northern Ontario at a time when the weight of population and democracy leaves Northerners unheard.

Kelly says “it blew me away when I got the email referring to an article in the Toronto Star where McGuinty promised refunds if your GO-Train was fifteen minutes late,” in contrast to the level of no service provided here in the North under the Provincial Public Transit System.

Now unable to reach people in political spheres on the issue of the government liquidating the one hundred and ten year old rail network through the province's resource rich Northland, Kelly hoped that councillors, in speaking with their correspondence, could carry his and other citizen's grave concerns to the offices of the province that won't meet with his organization.

Without reply, it seems little opportunity has arisen for any political intervention from Northern politicians to protect the ONTC.

With the province using idioms of job creation in countless industries, from health care to manufacturing, in its subsidization and tax law, it's clear the design of their favor is no longer with the ONTC.

North Bay Mayor Al McDonald spoke of his concerns that the provincial fire sale of assets would bring great harm to residents in the city and throughout Northern Ontario, even more so at such a financially unstable time.

He's particularly concerned about potential job losses and the lack of a defined criteria in the divestiture at the provincial level, leaving so much in the unknown.

“They don't have a plan and that's our biggest concern,” says McDonald, “that they'll just sell off the assets off to get rid of them, get as much money as they can and all the jobs will be gone,”

Back from the FONOM, (Northern Cities Mayor's Conference), McDonald relayed that the Sudbury Mayor was very concerned as well with the ongoing regarding the ONTC but little detail is clear to the general public as to what and when the end will be.

“We came together as Northern communities, standing united for Northern issues and the ONTC is really just the straw the broke the camel’s back on so many other issues,” McDonald says.

“It's important that we stand together and put the best argument forward.”


Editor's Note

BayToday's Kate Adams contacted Premier Dalton McGuinty's office this week asking why he refused to meet with the Northern Mayors working group on the subject of ONTC Divestment.

This is the response we received from Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci's:

"As the Minister of Northern Development and Mines, the divestment of the ONTC falls under the purview of my ministry. Ultimately, the decision was mine and was supported by Cabinet. I met with the mayors in April and we are looking at dates to meet with them in the very near future. Our government wants to work in cooperation with affected northern communities so we can achieve the best possible outcome regarding divestment. My door is always open and the mayors know this.

During my April meeting with the mayors I encouraged them to share their ideas as to how best to move forward. I continue to look forward to receiving those ideas. I will also continue to ask that the mayors to provide accurate information to their home communities regarding divestment.

In the meantime, our government has a long-standing record of responding to the unique needs of Northern Ontario.

Our work is never done and our efforts will continue."