By Tom Parisi
If the upcoming provincial budget passes, all of Northern Ontario could be at a loss without the ONTC.
Mayors accross the north are uniting to meet with Minister of Northern Development and Mines Rick Bartolucci, this Thursday to try and change his mind.
Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren said there are four main points bartolucci needs to hear.
“Stopping the process in light there has been to consultation to transparency, it’s contrary to the northern gorth plan, we want to be informed in the decision making and there have been no discussion about the future of the ONTC or future opportunites regarding Northern Ontario.”
Cochrane Mayor Peter Politis said, this could have a much bigger impact on of matters than job loss or mine closures.
“You take away the rail that means you add more cars to the roads and we add more lanes. We’re going in the opposite direction, we’re not minimizing the carbon footprint, we’re increasing it and that’s what we don’t understand.”
“In Cochrane alone, we could lose 154 jobs and possibly the income from the Polar Bear express, which is currently subsidized by the Ontario Government.”
The mayors will meet with Minister Bartolucci on Thursday at Queen’s Park