Horwath will continue to fight disinvestment of the ONTC

NDP leader Andrea Horwath was in North Bay Tuesday meeting with Northern municipal leaders on a number of issues facing the north including the privatization of the ONTC.

She said the Liberals have a lack of respect when dealing with any issue the northeast is facing so she is saying enough and will hold quarterly consultations with Northern municipal and First Nations leaders to ensure their concerns are heard at Queen’s Park.

“Basically we’ve seen a number of policies a number of pieces of legislation that simply don’t serve the north and in fact make life in the north more difficult instead of better,” she says.

“So part of our acknowledgement of that as New Democrats was to bring forward an idea of having a northern committee at Queen’s Park in the legislature to be lens for northern issues. And to be consisting of all MPPs regardless of which party you are from to have that conversation you know at the legislature to provide insight, to provide feedback so that there is more reflection of northern voices when legislation comes forward or bringing northern issues forward in the legislature.”

“Unfortunately although that motion that idea passed was passed by the legislature the Liberal government refuses to implement the committee and so we’re here saying it’s not good enough, we should have that committee in place – if they refuse to do that we’re still going to take that commitment serious and be in the north and talk to northern leaders about what the north needs.”

Horwath, joined by NDP MPPs France Gélinas, John Vanthof (Timskaming-Cochrane) and Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay) said the meeting was only the first of ongoing summits she and her party will have with northern municipal leaders and First Nations leaders across the north.

"It's no secret that our province is facing tough decisions, but we still have to look out for the healthcare needs of northerners. We still have to make smart investments that protect and create good paying jobs in the north. We still have to take transportation seriously in the north."

"Respect for the north means sitting down with northern and First Nations leaders. Respect means listening" said Horwath.

She said the meeting was a positive one that renewed the commitment of her party and northern leaders to fight to keep the ONTC in public hands.

“The conversation was very positive this morning so far as a recommitment and a reinvigoration of our desire and our will to fight against the disinvestment at the ONTC.”

“What we came up with today is a real sense of renewed vigour. We’re saying not only we as the NDP but also the individual mayors that are here recommit to the fight to save the ONTC, but also to reengage communities in the north but also communities in the south.”

She says southerners would be horrified to know the true loss of the ONTC not only from a transportation aspect but also the other value it brings to northern communities. She says not only is it important to continue to put the pressure on the Liberals at Queens Park, but also to educate southerners on the situation at hand.

“The loss of that is so devastating and I don’t think southerners know that … it would be like saying to southern Ontario well imagine of the TTC and GO Transit and all the kind of freight rail you see happening in the Toronto and southern Ontario area was wiped off the face of the map within the next couple of months that’s the impact that this decision the Liberals have made about the ONR is having in the north.”