Unifor Local 103 President Andy Mitchell says he is dumbfounded by comments made yesterday by the acting President of Ontario Northland to a gathering of Northern Ontario Mayors.
“To publicly state that Ontario Northland has not changed in 113 years demonstrates either a lack of familiarization with ONTC or a deliberate scheme to undermine its value and purpose, with the ultimate intent to rebrand the sell-off of the ONTC as transformational” said Mitchell.
“What Ontario Northland is bleeding from is industry knowledge, leadership and political will” said Mitchell.
“Clearly, Ontario Northland has a rich history of adapting too and serving the needs of northern Ontario businesses and communities, however recent political masters have labeled these as entitlements which are not deserving to northern Ontario. Regrettably that it what we heard again from the acting President yesterday.” added Mitchell in a news release.
“Since the mid 1990’s successive Ontario governments have sold off assets and eliminated services to northern Ontario businesses and communities while at the same time providing significant subsidies to southern Ontario. The Wynne government is clearly continuing down that path of two Ontario’s. One that is voter rich and will see billions of dollars in subsidies for GO Transit, including a new $800M Metrolinx East Rail maintenance center, and the other Ontario, north of Highway 17, that will see the eventual elimination all forms of publicly owned transportation infrastructure in the north” added the union president.
“Northern Ontario communities and businesses are entitled to the same considerations and services as provided for in Southern Ontario and to suggest otherwise is irresponsible” added Mitchell.
"On April 16, 2015, Ontario Premier Wynne announced that the province of Ontario was increasing its southern Ontario GO train trips to Barrie to include all-day two way service and just three weeks later the Wynne government announces that northern Ontario residents can stand outside a convenience store to catch one of two daily buses.
“That is not entitlement by any measure, Northerner’s want fair and equitable treatment“ concluded Mitchell.
Unifor Local 103 represents approximately 400 ONTC employees working in clerical, on-board service, stores, shops and Cochrane Station Inn at various locations across Northern Ontario.
