New board, but same message

The Nugget
By: Jennifer Hamiltom-McCharles
Monday, April 13, 2015

A few new faces but the same message coming out of the ONTC Monday afternoon.

Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle travelled to North Bay Monday to attend the first meeting of the new Ontario Northland Transportation Commission board.

He introduced the local media to board chairman Thomas Laughren, Steve Carmichael, Ewen Cornick, Gaeten Malette, Ila Watson and returning commission member Ted Hargreaves, as well as, interim president and chief executive officer Corina Moore.

Gravelle didn't unveil anything new or suggest new work could be soon coming to the North Bay agency.

Instead he continued to tout the political line of praising his government for keeping four out of the five lines in public hands, but warned that tough decisions will have to be made to ensure the ONTC is sustainable.

“Our government has made a very strong commitment to keep four out of the five lines of the ONTC in public hands, that wasn't that case three years ago,” Gravelle said.

“But this is going to be a challenge. We are committed as a government to the four business lines and committed to them moving forward in a sustainable fashion, but that is going to take some tough decisions,” he said.

“The bottom line for us is how can we transform the ONTC so it does continue to operate in a sustainable long term way, maintain a significant level of employment, providing the services people expect and provide a brighter future particularly related to the refurbishment division."

But Gravelle wouldn't comment specifically on how the commission plans to move forward and if there will be further job cuts.

He also wouldn't explain what the ONTC has to do to remain competitive.

“I appreciate we use the word sustainability a lot but it means something.

In order for the refurbishment division to be successful it needs to be in a competitive environment. We need to position ourselves to make it a competitive operation. There are other opportunities there but we need to have that competitive environment that will allow us to win those contracts,” Gravelle said.

“We need bargaining to continue and want to be respectful of that process nor will I interfere in that process.”

Outside the Clarion Resort Pinewood Park, a new ONTC accessible bus was parked to show the minister the government's investment.

“We have 11 new buses, refurbishing rail coaches for the polar bear express and make decisions to ensure the long-term sustainability of the ONTC,” Gravelle said.

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