Achieving efficiencies and driving new business to the rail car refurbishment shops in North Bay are a prime focus in the restructuring plan of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

Restructuring Ontario Northland prepares to pick up steam

northernontariobusiness.com
By: Ian Ross
1/6/2015

A new “transformational” era has arrived at a reformed Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) and its interim CEO is urging everyone to get on board.

Senior management at the North Bay-headquartered Crown agency are hitting the road for a series of town hall discussions in communities across northeastern Ontario to lay out their plans to transition into a new chapter.

“I’m hoping it’s sort of a Northern Ontario family initiative,” said chief operating officer Corina Moore, who’s temporarily occupying the seat while a search is underway for a permanent chief executive....


....However the rail services unit – both passenger and freight – will likely rely on continuing government support.

“The rail freight side is definitely cyclical with the mining and paper industry,” said Moore, mentioning Resolute Forest Product’s sudden decision to close its Iroquois Falls paper mill by December.

To drive more freight from wheels to rails, Moore said a concerted effort is needed to meet with northeastern customers to explain the value proposition of rail versus truck.

For other freight opportunities, Moore sides with the unions and some mining interests that there’s a future hauling Ring of Fire ore.

“Ontario Northland needs to play a role in that but we also have some work to do right now, and that is to make the agency efficient and able to support that type of customer in the coming years. It’s a ways off. We certainly are the transportation experts in northeastern Ontario.”

Restructuring Ontario Northland prepares to pick up steam

northernontariobusiness.com
By: Ian Ross
1/6/2015