Carmichael hiring wonderful news, Stevens said.

A union spokesman representing a number of Ontario Northland Railway employees says he's pleased with the choice of the new ONTC president and CEO.

Further information is included in the following news release from CAW Local 103 issued this hour:
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Canadian Auto Workers Local 103 leadership and membership are pleased to learn that following an exhaustive Presidential search process, the ONTC has chosen Steve Carmichael as the new President effective immediately.

"What a year of good news it has been already and today's announcement is the added topping! This is wonderful news, we now have a fulltime President, one who has a demonstrated passion and commitment to the organization and Northern Ontario," said
CAW Local 103 President Brian Stevens.

It was four years ago this month when the Harris government announced that the then president John Wallace was no longer part of the organization and the Tory government would immediately begin to implement its plans to carve up and sell off the ONTC assets to the private sector.

That December 2000 announcement resulted in
the launching a long and extensive fightback campaign led by community leaders across Northern Ontario vowing to keep the ONTC in public hands.

"We have gone from the brink of the abyss to a vibrant organization on the fast track to rebuilding. We're investing into modern facilities in North Bay and
Cochrane, we've already hired 100 people in nearly every community in Northern Ontario with new employees joining us each month. We have attracted new customers like GO Transit and are confident that we will attract others. The new Ontera brand
was recently launched along with an exciting new partnership with Telus. We are improving all our business processes and we will better serve the region in supporting economic and social development. With Steve Carmichael's leadership as president we are confident we will continue along this path of renaissance for the benefit of all stakeholders in Northern Ontario," added Stevens.

"These truly are exciting times for all of us at ONTC, our customers and the communities we deliver services to. The CAW leadership is very much looking forward
to working with Mr. Carmichael, building a better ONTC and bringing growth opportunities to the North," concluded Stevens.

The CAW represents over 450 bargaining unit members at Ontario Northland whose members perform work in ever sector of the organization, from Rail and Bus division mechanics to clerical workers in Ontera, On-Board service staff on the passenger
trains, to housekeeping staff at the Cochrane Station Inn. The CAW represents ONTC employees in North Bay, Englehart, New Liskeard, Kirkland Lake, Cochrane, Timmins, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Moosonee and Rouyn Quebec.