Mayor Al dropped a political bombshell this afternoon.
He says the Office of Premier Wynne applied political pressure to OPG not to announce the closing of the North Bay operation until after her announcement of cuts to provincial hydro bills.
"They moved the date to March 6th because the Ontario government asked them not to make their announcement until they (government) came out with their announcement last Thursday (March 2nd) about reducing hydro rates."
McDonald says when he contacted Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault 10 days ago, he told the Mayor that he was unaware of anything.
"I believe him that he didn't know anything," explained McDonald. "If it wasn't his office, the only other office it could have come out of that would have the power to tell OPG not to tell their employees would be the Premier's office.
"So OPG was going to notify their employees February 22nd. They were told by the Ontario government not to make their announcement until after they made their political announcement. They were told not to inform their employees until after the announcement. Now you have political interference at OPG and they put more importance on their political announcement than they did on telling their employees...the women and men who work there.
"Especially with all the rumours were going on because you (BayToday) broke the story. The employees were asking a thousand questions wondering if they have to move, if they could sell their house or buy a car or take their kids out of school, and the Ontario government asked OPG not to tell their employees till after they made their political announcement."
McDonald says he was "shocked" when he found out but vows to fight to keep the jobs in North Bay.
See: OPG confirms it...40 jobs gone!
Meanwhile, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli says Premier Wynne knew all along about the political interference but wouldn't face the music in the legislature.
"When I asked my question in the legislative this morning to the Premier she shuffled it off to the Minister of Economic Development who had a prepared statement so I would say this was staged. The Premier wouldn't want to comment on job losses in Ontario so she leaves it to her minister. They were definitely well prepared with a printed answer ready to go. This was no surprise to them."
He says he was told by OPG it was "scheduling difficulties", that caused the announcement to be delayed.
"I told OPG that they have completely bungled their announcement and absolutely betrayed the community. They told me 'we wanted to tell our employees first' back on February 22nd but some 'scheduling issue' came up'.
Fedeli says he responded that they were not fair to their employees and the municipality for their failure to consult. Had they given some notice there would have been an opportunity to start analyzing operational issues and safety issues of having one less office, so at least it would have been an opportunity to talk. They took that opportunity away from the community because they're reducing their staff by stealth.
"It left the community in a terrible situation wondering what was happening and that's the worst possible scenario when you've got questions and no answers. These are people's families, people's lives they are affecting."
Also: Wynne's hydro plan draws ire and praise
BayToday has reached out to OPG COO Al Reid, and the Premier's office for comment, but have yet to receive a reply.
