Image: 1 of 3

Previous Next

• 3 sec.
  • 1 sec.
  • 2 sec.
  • 3 sec.
  • 4 sec.
  • 5 sec.
  • 6 sec.

By LEN GILLIS

len.gillis@sunmedia.ca

Al Spacek, president of the Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association (NEOMA), is encouraged and hopeful that Ontario's new Liberal government is going to make some sort of important positive announcement next week about Ontario Northland and rail services.

Spacek made the comment Friday at the fall meeting of NEOMA held in Timmins. Spacek told the group he expects to be in Toronto on Monday to meet with government officials to discuss the future of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

It was in March of 2012 that the Dalton McGuinty Liberal government announced that the assets of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) would be divested, or sold off, since many ONTC operations were not considered sustainable.

The news shocked community leaders across Northern Ontario. Since then, the new Liberal government under Premier Kathleen Wynne appears to have softened on that issue. Both the premier and Northern Development minister Michael Gravelle have stated in visits to Timmins this year that they see other options than divestment.

Spacek said he is hopeful Monday's meeting will reveal new options when he meets with Gravelle to discuss the future of ONTC.

“We are looking forward to seeing the results of what has transpired since our meeting in September. They indicated to us in September they needed a long period of time because it was a very complex file and that was their rationale for the big delay in between meetings,” said Spacek, who said he expects an important announcement.

He said Gravelle mentioned publicly that divestment was not the only option that that Northern Ontario leaders submitted several suggestions for keeping Ontario Northland rail services viable.

“Personally I am expecting something substantial because after four months of them being able to do their work, and due diligence, that there should be some tangible options on the table for us to consider,” Spacek said.

The issue will also come back to Timmins on Friday, when a Northern Ontario leader's summit is scheduled to take place.