'Do the right thing and retire from public life,' GCA to Bartolucci

ONTC GCA
News Release

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Representatives from the General Chairperson’s Association (GCA) which represents all unionized employees at Ontario Northland (ONTC) is urging the current Minister of Northern
Development and Mines Rick Bartolucci to do the right thing and retire from public life.

Last week North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce President John Strang stated with disgust that “Minister Bartolucci has failed all northerners and I believe it’s time he tendered his resignation as Minister of Northern Development and Mines, as it is apparent that the north does not matter.”

The Liberal government recently announced it will be expanding southern Ontario’s GO train service to two-way, all day on all corridors and have allocated $6.8 billion into Metrolinx’s capital plan to lay down new tracks, expand stations and increase parking lots. At the same time, the Minister responsible for northern Ontario is shutting down passenger train service and conducting a fire sale of bus service.

“The evidence is now overwhelming that Minister Bartolucci is no longer an effective representative of the North. Not only is he championing the liquidation sale of the ONTC, the Minister of Finance Dwight Duncan revealed recently that the ONTC Pension Plan, over which Minister Bartolucci has final oversight, has been horribly mismanaged. A statement that has current and retired workers fearful
about their retirement incomes” said GCA spokesperson Brian Kelly.

The GCA wrote to Minister Duncan last week demanding that he immediately conduct an investigation into the ONTC Pension Plan status which, under Bartolucci’s supervision, is said to be mismanaged and underfunded, however the GCA has not yet received a response from Finance Minister Duncan.

“Minister Bartolucci more than anyone must see the writing that’s on the wall, that he has no chance of being re-elected in his riding in the next provincial election. We are committed to mobilizing our members and retirees whose families, communities and futures are threatened and we will flood the Sudbury riding with feet on the ground for the sole purpose of putting Minister Bartolucci out of work, not much different than what the McGuinty government is doing to northerners with the liquidation sale
of ONTC. Bartolucci should do the right thing now and retire from public service and enjoy the soft landing provided by his tax payer funded departing compensation package” concluded Kelly

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