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'Minister Bartolucci, the facts speak for themselves,' GCA

ONTC General Chairperson’s Association News Release ****************** Representatives from the General Chairperson’s Association (GCA) which represents all unionized employees at Ontario Northland (ONTC) take issue with Northern Development and Mine
Kate Adams
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) take issue with Northern Development and Mines Minister June 14th letter to editors.

“The Minister is obviously frustrated by the fact that we are ever so slowly exposing the truth about his government’s real intent with the divestiture of Ontario Northland as we come into possession of the information which they are attempting to keep a lid on”, stated GCA spokesperson Brian Kelly.

“The record speaks for itself, no Metrolinx refurbishment contract last June, then commitments from the highest levels of government that McGuinty government supported ONTC and would put work into our facilities. No contact with unions after election to follow up on those commitments. No consultation with affected communities on divestment plan. Now new documents reveal government planning sell off months before announcement”, added Kelly.

In April 2012, the GCA also discovered that the Ministry of Northern Development hindered a $109M opportunity to perform a long term VIA Rail contract that would have gone some distance in replacing the lost Metrolinx work to CAD Rail in Montreal.

“Now we have uncovered from the freedom of information censored documents that Northern Development’s senior staff’s ONTC divestment strategy is to sell whatever assets possible then liquidate the rest. If that is not a fire sale what is?” continued Kelly.

“Minister, the GCA has made a Freedom of Information request for a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement for the ONTC transition team which we expect would lay out the details and process of the ONTC divestiture. So far we have not received even an acknowledgement that our letter was received. This does not by any measure meet the sniff test on a fair, open and transparent process as the Minister claims it to be”, concluded Kelly.

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