Chamber members updated on New Deal for Northern Ontario

ONTC General Chairperson’s Association (GCA) Representatives updated North Bay & Area Chamber of Commerce board members Thursday night on the New Deal for Northern Ontario effort.

On Friday, March 23, 2012 Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci announced that the Liberal government was divesting Ontario Northland noting that the private sector, in whole or separate sectors, could run the agency more effectively a notion the GCA and Chamber balk at.

Roy Hains, who is working alongside the GCA to establish a port authority and save the rail line, says the government has shown no evidence where the private sector is the better option.

Hains says with the mineral find in the James Bay area running a rail line from Nakina to the Ring of Fire makes the best financial sense for the province and with that keeping the ONR in public hands.

Hains also says he is encouraged that things could change with the support the group has received from MP Jay Aspin.