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The fight to save Ontario Northland is not over. At Monday night’s City Council Meeting, Councillor Mike Anthony put forward a motion. It is calling on Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Rick Bartolucci, to come talk with the Northern mayors, Aboriginal and business leaders and unions and about where they go from here. Anthony says it is devasting what has happened at a provinicial level for the ONTC. He says this region makes up 7% of the population, and he feels they “do not care so much if people are happy here.” Anthony says if they are going to divest, which they hope does not happen, at least have McGuinty and Bartolucci get up here and talk to the impacted groups. He says they need to discuss where to go from here to ensure that vital service is kept. Councillor Dave Mendicino says there has been a lot of discussion over the past weeks from Northern mayors and the union about what can be good for Ontario Northland. But, he says the Premier and the ministers responsible seem “not to care” and seem to “have swept the issue aside.” Mendicino says up until now, the Premier has not returned their phone calls.

Written by: jennifer.sapinet@northbayradio.rogers.com