Kelly worried ministry will bleed the ONTC dry 44

By JENNIFER HAMILTON-MCCHARLES, The Nugget

Thursday, November 6, 2014 1:07:55 EST PM

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ONTC union spokesman Brian Kelly is worried the Ontario government will bleed the rail company dry and then get rid of it.

Kelly was joined by seven other union officials Wednesday who met with Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle and some of his staff in Toronto for an hour meeting to discuss the future of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

“It wasn't a good meeting. It was quite intense. We had a full and frank discussion, but we were firm in our questioning and simply wanted to know what was the end game for the ONTC?”

But it wasn't what was said that has Kelly worried.

He said the ministry took credit for saving the majority of the Crown corporation from divestment, however “Minister Gravelle was completely silent on the Ring of Fire and the strategic alliance.”

“I believe the ministry is moving away from putting any work into this building. There is no end game,” he said.

“I'm quite concerned where the government wants to take the ONTC. I believe they are slowly trying to bleed the place dry. I really hope I am wrong, because we're losing our young who don't see a future.”

The province has indicated it would work with Unifor, ONTC, Metrolinx and the Transportation Ministry to explore a strategic alliance that would provide long-term opportunities for rail refurbishment.

But that promise was made more than three years ago and Kelly said there's still no work coming into the shops.

Kelly said it's the ministry who holds all the cards and can give the green light for the ONTC to move ahead with the strategic alliance.

“But the bureaucrats don't want this. Gravelle didn't say they are working behind the scenes to bring more work to North Bay. He wouldn't answer our question, What is the end game for the ONTC?.”

Gravelle has stuck to his message that discussions between labour and ONTC management will play an important role in the transformation of the ONTC.

Kelly said the government is being non-committal and the unions are now looking to meet with Premier Kathleen Wynne.

j.hamilton-mccharles@sunmedia.ca