Ontario Northland's future big issue at Nipissing debate
The issue of Ontario Northland’s future was a big talking point as hundreds gathered in a hotel ballroom to hear all five candidates square off in Nipissing’s debate Wednesday night.
In 2012, the Ontario government said increased costs lead them to winding down the ONTC, a divestment which has angered many northerners.
When Nipissing Liberal candidate Catherine Whiting had to answer for her party’s plan to sell off one of North Bay’s largest employers she blamed former premier Dalton McGuinty, adding that Premier Kathleen Wynne is committed to reforming the public transportation company.
"I am a strong supporter of the ONTC and will continue to be,” she said.
However, Progressive Conservative incumbent Vic Fedeli doesn’t agree, instead accusing Whiting of misleading voters in the 2011 election about a Liberal plan to get Ontario Northland more government contracts when the sell-off was already in the works.
"I'm telling you that was a flat out lie to the people of the city of North Bay and the hard working men and women at Ontario Northland,” Fedeli said.
New Democrat Henri Giroux accused Fedeli of using the Ontario Northland issue to score points for the election instead of actually working to save local jobs.
"Not once did you say, you know guys, I'm going to fight for you. I'm going to have this fight..,” Giroux said.
Green party contender Nicole Peltier called on all parties to stop bickering and work together to find a solution.
Nipissing’s Libertarian candidate Derek Elliott said his party wants to sell off all crown corporations.