'Full steam ahead on the fire sale of Ontario Northland,' Kelly

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) are puzzled by the Wynne’s Governments approach to consultation in regards to the Minister of Northern Development’s (MNDM) recently set up Advisory Committee on the ONTC.

“MNDM has mishandled the Ontario Northland issue from day one and it appears that will continue unchecked by Premier Wynne and facilitated by Minister Gravelle. The Premier has admitted that the Liberal Government mishandled the power plant cancellations, Ornge, horse racing industry and Teachers negotiations, but in the North there is no such acknowledgement and it is full steam ahead on the fire sale of Ontario Northland”, said GCA Spokesperson Brian Kelly.

“It is an insult to Northerners that during the leadership campaign a number of the candidates, now serving as Ministers, came to the North to declare their support to pausing the divestiture and their first, last and only move is to invite stakeholders of the ONTC into a room and tell them it is too late to have any input on ONTERA, but help the government implement the rest of their ill-advised fire sale”, added Kelly.

“All this is being done at the same time the Auditor General is conducting a review of the information the government used to base their decision to sell off Ontario Northland. Why does the Wynne government not wait until that review is done? In the meantime, work with stakeholders, including the Federal Government, First Nations partners, industry and Communities stakeholders to explore initiatives that will build on our valued northern infrastructure and lead the way into the Ring of Fire development potential,” added Kelly.

"Time has come for both opposition parties to stand up and be counted. They have to put action to their words and demand the Wynne government to pause the fire sale of Ontario Northland including ONTERA now and begin anew the process that enhances northern infrastructure not dismantles it,” concluded Kelly.

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