Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli says he's disappointed at the announcement by OPG this morning to close its North Bay operation and is angered by how they did it.
"I'm disappointed, especially in how they treated the community," Fedeli told BayToday. "They did it by stealth."
Fedeli says he stood in the Legislature this morning to ask the Minister of Energy, Glenn Thibeault about it, but Thibeault left early even though Fedeli had the first question. The MPP wrote to him last week but didn't get a reply.
"I feel insulted, and the community should feel insulted that OPG did this by stealth. They never consulted with the union, with the employees, or city leaders. This is a betrayal by OPG to a community that they have been into for more than 100 years."
Northern Ontario Party leader Trevor Holliday calls the move "political."
Holliday cites a source high up in OPG ranks.
"It's never about the budget. They're using economics as an excuse. It's just more high-paying jobs leaving this community. The annual salaries of the 60 people working there would be in the eight million dollar range, and OPG spends over 20 million in the community every year."
Holliday blames the Ontario government and Premier Wynne.
"It's the government making cuts. It's not that they can make it more efficient. They're looking at doing it from a political mind frame. Wynne just made a political announcement of a 25 per cent cut in hydro. You look at it, they're going to have some cost savings by closing down the operation here in North Bay. That takes away from the economy of North Bay."
North Bay Mayor Al McDonald is in meetings in Toronto today, but in a text, promised a reaction later this afternoon.
