ONTC GCA updates their members

ONTC GCA updates their members:

As you many of you are likely aware the Wynne Government tabled its budget yesterday May 2nd. It is noteworthy that in regards to the ONTC, the government’s tone is quite different from the previous McGuinty - Bartolucci budget which was all about the fire sale of Ontario Northland’s assets.

Although the budget document did not emphatically take divestment off the table, it does recognize the importance of the ONTC in delivering services in the North, something northerners have been saying all along. Ms. Wynne’s government it appears is sending a message that it intends to look at all available options for the ONTC. If that is correct, then the GCA lead New Deal proposal goes a long way in meeting the government’s policy objects of building a transportation infrastructure into the Ring of Fire. At the same time it would provide the catalyst to bring about the needed change to revitalize and enhance the integrated transportation and communication services the ONTC provides to northerners.

We continue to work with the community stakeholders lead by North Bay’s Mayor Al McDonald in reaching out to the Wynne government conveying that ONTC can remain in public hands and be revitalized without the need to sell off its assets to the private sector. We also continue to meet with MP Jay Aspin and MPP’s John Vanthof, Gilles Bisson and Mike Mantha and others in continuing efforts to gain momentum for the New Deal proposal.

At the moment it is not clear what the government’s next move will be, but we are hopeful that the government’s change in tone will allow all stakeholders, including the GCA the opportunity to have meaningful dialogue with the Wynne Government about the future of Ontario Northland.