Proposal includes new rail line to massive mineral deposits in James Bay Lowlands
NORTH BAY, ONTARIO (October 19, 2012) – The General Chairperson’s Association (GCA), representing unionized employees at Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC), today announced a plan to revitalize the company while creating significant new job and economic opportunities in Ontario’s North.
“This is a new deal for Northern Ontario,” declared GCA representative Brian Stevens. “Not only will we save transportation services and hundreds of existing jobs in the North, but our plan will also create thousands more jobs by providing access to the Ring of Fire.”
The proposal calls for transferring ownership of the railroad and other assets of the provincially-held ONTC to a new ports authority to be operated under the Canada Marine Act. The first step in this process was recently completed with the creation of The James Bay & Lowlands Ports Trustee Corporation.
ONTC operations will be strengthened to ensure that they are economically sustainable. The new Ring of Fire rail line will be designed and built to ship thousands of tons per day of chromite, nickel and other minerals and finished products to markets around the world. ONTC employees, with a long tradition of providing rail services in Ontario’s North, will provide their energy and leverage their position as a significant creditor toward this New Deal.