November 16th, 2015

NDP demands Liberal government stop dismantling ONTC

Ontario NDP MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane John Vanthof demanded Premier Wynne stop the Liberal government from dismantling public transportation in Northern Ontario, after ONTC employees were forced off the job again.

“Last week, management of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission locked out workers at its repair shops across the north, in Cochrane and North Bay, a move overturned by the Canada Industrial Relations Board. Now they’re locked out again after negotiators for the company, or the government basically, walked away from the table,” Vanthof said.

“First, the government ends train service. Then they cut back bus routes. Now they’re strong-arming workers.  Northerners are getting the feeling that they fought to take ONTC—to force the government to take them off the auction block, and now it seems they’re putting them on the chopping block. 

“Is this government actually determined to destroy public transportation in Northern Ontario?”