GCA calls on Premier to release ONTERA Documents

NORTH BAY, ON, Feb. 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Representatives from the General Chairperson's Association (GCA) which represents all unionized employees at Ontario Northland (ONTC) have been denied by Infrastructure Ontario access to the recent Request for Proposal (RFP) documents in regards to the contemplated sell off of provincially owned ONTERA.

"Premier Wynne's throne speech outlined her government's willingness to hear all the voices of this province and work to prevent mistakes before they occur. That message, while still fresh, has not made its way down to the bureaucrats. Today we wrote to Premier Wynne, Finance Minister Sousa, Infrastructure Ontario Minister Murray and Northern Development Minister Gravelle, requesting that they instruct Infrastructure Ontario to release the ONTERA RFP documents," said Brian Kelly, GCA spokesperson.

In March 2012, in announcing the selloff of the ONTC including the cancellation of Northlander passenger train, the then Minister of Northern Development and Mines Rick Bartolucci assured everyone that "our government will be fair, open and transparent as we proceed with this transition".

"There's approximately $125M in outstanding severance, pension and benefits owed to management, unionized employees, retirees and surviving spouses who need to be assured those earned benefits are fully protected in any potential transaction," added Kelly.

"The GCA believe this refusal by Infrastructure Ontario staff is out of step with the government's commitments to a fair, open and transparent process," concluded Kelly.

SOURCE: General Chairperson's Association (GCA)

please contact Brian Kelly at 705-471-5263