A cavalry of municipal officials appeared during Monday night's regular city council meeting as the city fights to reverse the Metrolinx decision to award the ONTC-GO TRANSIT Refurbishment Contract to a Quebec company.
A cavalry of municipal officials appeared during Monday night's regular city council meeting as the city fights to reverse the Metrolinx decision to award the ONTC-GO TRANSIT Refurbishment Contract to a Quebec company.
Reinforcements came from several area communities as mayors from East Ferris, Mattawa, Bonfield, Callander showed up and Powassan expressed support as well.
"All the other mayors are on-board. We're readying to support you and give you all the help that we can", East Ferris Mayor Bill Vrebosch told North Bay Mayor Al McDonald in chambers.
The City of North Bay is requesting that Metrolinx award to an out-of-province firm be immediately suspended pending a review of the option that would provide the best net value to North Bay, the Region, all of Northern Ontario and ultimately the taxpayers of Ontario.
Metrolinx, an agency of province, has recently announced the award of a contract for additional refurbishment to a firm outside of Ontario was based solely on a low tender price with no consideration to the net financial benefit neither to the Province of Ontario nor to the economic impact to the affected communities in Northern Ontario. It appears this decision will result in a net negative impact of 6 million dollars to the province of Ontario and yet to be quantified significant impact to those communities served by Ontario Northland.
Further, the city is requesting that Ontario Northland be identified and supported by the Province in the Ontario Growth Plan as a key component in the transportation network required to grow and sustain the economy of Ontario.
"This can't be just a fight," said Councillor Dave Mendocino. "This has to be a brawl."
The Ontario Northland Transportation Commission has been the critical North/South link for North Eastern Ontario for over 100 years. It has been both a principal economic engine for Northern Ontario and the only land access to remote Northern communities.
In addition, Ontario Northland supports many northern communities with both service and stable employment opportunities.
"It's a complete lack of recognizing the North for what it does for the province," says Councillor Mendocino, who brought the motion forward.
The province of Ontario has recently issued a growth plan for Northern Ontario, which has been in the development stages for many years. Despite requests from numerous municipal representatives, the final Northern Growth Plan has not recognized the importance of Ontario Northland Transportation Commission to the present and future success of Northern Ontario.
Councillor Mendocino says it's a plan for the North that contains little substance.
"A lot of revenue is generated in the North that goes into Queen's Park coffers and unfortunately we don't see a lot of it come back. It's frustrating when you bring in jobs and then lose them through no fault of our own. We're doing our jobs and yet the province continues to kick you."
East Ferris Mayor Bill Vrebosch agrees with Councillor Mendocino's sentiments.
"Truth be told, we support Southern Ontario. Southern Ontario doesn't support us," Vrebosch says.
"Take the millions of dollars out of stumpage fees and the mining taxes that have come out of the North over the years. And the fact is, in this economy and with all this job loss, the North is going to save the South again with all the new mining developments, diamond mines and wood."
Brian Kelly, President of the CAW local 103 made a presentation and submitted over a thousand signatures calling on the province to award the contract to Ontario Northland.
Ontario Northland is currently completing a very successful refurbishment program on Go TRANSIT coaches and has been publicly acknowledged for the quality of work and adherence to budget.
"Our quality is second to none," Kelly said. "Montreal simply cannot compare."
Kelly says it makes little financial sense to move the contract to another province. He says that instead of saving 2 million dollars on the bidding process, the government of Ontario will lose 8 million dollars when factoring in health and employer taxation.
"The economic reasons just don't add up," he says.
"Metrolinx made a decision and didn't look at the bigger picture. What the government of Ontario needs to do now is to step in and look at what's best for the whole province."
Kelly says that if this contract is awarded to Montreal, a least 109 people in North Bay and surrounding communities could lose their jobs. Companies that supply or support the project will also be affected.
A copy of this resolution is being sent to all affected Northern Ontario communities and MPP's, the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, the Ministers of Transportation, Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, Premier Dalton McGuinty as well as Leader of the Official Opposition and Leaders of all Provincial parties seeking their support.
Councillor Mendocino says that the issue has become a snowball effect that will hopefully hit Queen's Park.
"We need to get a loud message out, especially to Dalton McGuinty", says Councillor Mendocino.
"He could be the only one who could overturn this."
"This could end up becoming a big election issue."
