The Vice-president of the union representing ONTC workers, UNIFOR Local 103, had some strong words about the announcement that the crown corporation is filling vacant positions on its board.
Andy Mitchell told BayToday that "Unless we get a new government model they are still going to be handcuffed by the bureaucrats at the MNDM." (Ministry of Northern development and Mines)
"They're (the board) are just going to be puppets."
See original story: http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=74626
Mitchell likes the selection of former Timmins mayor Tom Laughren and former ONTC president Steve Carmichael.
"They're good northern people that understand the issues in the north. Ted Hargreaves, I don't believe he should be on the board. He's the one that was on during the divestment and he's already proved to me that he'll just be a conduit from this commission right to the bureaucrats, which is going to undermine it.
"They (board members) will only be the face and names of some poor decisions that are being driven by bureaucrats, and ruin these people's good names."
Mitchell says the new board needs to be able to make decisions without going through a "bureaucratic mess"
"It can take up to a year for a simple decision to be made, and we can't operate that way. We need a board that can make decisions right away."
The proposed board members have been nominated by Cabinet and their appointment is subject to review by the Standing Committee on Government Agencies.
The new chair and all board members will be eligible for a per diem which is in line with rates approved for board members at other government agencies, boards and commissions. The rate is $200 for members and $300 for the chair each day.
The board is:
Thomas Laughren (Chair)
Steven Carmichael
Ewen Cornick
Gaéten Malette
Ila Watson
Ted Hargreaves (returning member).
