Bain says Northern Grits should help ONR win contract

Mac Bain says a couple of Liberals have had their backs scratched by North Bay and now it’s time for them to return the favour.

The rookie North Bay city councilor said two Northern Ontario Grits now part of the McGuinty government should do what they can to help the Ontario Northland Railway land an $81 million contract.

The job involves refurbishing GO Transit rail cars and would provide stable employment at the ONR for the next five years.

ONR is competing against firms in Moncton and Montreal, though Moncton’s bid is $95,000 less than North Bay’s.

Time to do something
Bain said it’s time to start calling in political favours to try to bring the contract North.

“All of us around this table, some of us more so than others, know Rick Bartolucci and David Ramsay,” Bain said during Monday night’s committee meeting of council, “and I’m going to be calling them up tomorrow and saying, ‘Guess what guys, we know you, this is what we’ve done for you in the past now it’s your time to do something for the citizens of North Bay’ and for the people who have worked for their political party.”

Bain, who has been president of both the federal and provincial Liberal riding associations in Nipissing, encouraged other councilors to call too.

“Pick up the phone too and talk to them about Northern Ontario jobs,” Bain said.

One shot
Mayor Vic Fedeli, who brought up the contract prior to the start of the meeting, said there’s only two weeks left before a decision is made. He encouraged council to come up with ideas to help secure the work for the ONR.

Fedeli said the $80 million contract would generate as much as $1.6 million in sales tax for the province, plus next provincial income tax from the 30 to 40 new jobs that would be created.

He then asked each councilor for suggestions on how to improve the ONR’s chances.

Coun. Dave Mendicino suggested involving the local SWOT team (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), which looked at the ONR bid before it was submitted.

“We have one shot at it, and we have to be very proactive here, and this is where city involvement is going to pay big dividends,” Mendocino said

Whatever it takes
Coun. George Maroosis suggested bringing the chamber of commerce on board and also encouraged Fedeli to meet with the provincial minister responsible for GO Transit.

Judy Koziol reminded Fedeli of council’s recent tour of the ONR shops when news of the contract bid was first announced.

“We agreed over there to do whatever it takes to help get that contract for the ONR, and that’s what we have to do,” Koziol said.

Coun. Tom Mason echoed Koziol’s words.

“Whatever it takes, whatever it takes, we got to go get it and that’s the bottom line,” Mason said.

“I think it’s crucial for North Bay that the ONR get the contract and the amount of money that would be coming here, so whatever it takes….”

Years of uncertainty
Mike Anthony suggested involving David Miller, Toronto’s new mayor, in the effort.

“If we have an $80 million contract there’s going to be a trickle-down of that money with ONR employees from here perhaps spending some of their wages in Toronto,” Anthony said.

ONR employees have had too many years of uncertainty, Coun. Darryl Vaillancourt said.

“They didn’t know what was going to happen, and five to seven years of stable work for them will go a long way to help North Bay,” Vaillancourt said.

"Whose lives he's affecting"
Deputy mayor Peter Chirico suggested inviting Bartolucci, the Northern Development and Mines Minister to North Bay to tour the ONR shops.

“These are the people he’s going to have to deal with for the next three, four, five years in government, so he has to know whose lives he’s affecting,” Chirico said.

He also recommended inviting other Northern mayors to come to North Bay on the Northlander to meet with Bartolucci.

“Then they could tell him what the effects of this contract could be for Northern Ontario,” Chirico said.

“I think it’s that important.”

Coun. Sarah Campbell did not participate in the discussion since here husband works for the ONR.