TORONTO – During Question Period in Queen’s Park on Tuesday, Lise Vaugeois, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North, confronted the Ford government regarding what she described as inaction toward striking a deal to reopen the Terrace Bay mill or aid those employees who cannot afford to travel to find work.
Vaugeois said Premier Ford made a powerful statement back in April about retaining workers and providing them with opportunities.
But, quoting a letter from a constituent she received earlier in the week, “the government has forgotten the north and continues to give money to conglomerates with no accountability. Our families are being torn apart looking for work that doesn't exist.”
From there, Vaugeois asked the Premier two questions: “Is a deal for the mill imminent and if not, what training will you provide for those with family responsibilities who cannot leave home for weeks at a time to work?”
Patrice Barnes, parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, answered by stating the province had put forth $28.3 million in last year's budget for pre-training programs and $1.25 this year in a Class Enhancement Fund to retraining programs.
“We have committed and continue to commit to supporting our workers to get well-trained jobs as they move forward in their new positions,” said Barnes.
Vaugeois pointed out that the answer she received did not address any of the concerns regarding the employees of AV Terrace Bay.
However, Vaugeois highlighted a major issue with Ontario's policy on ensuring more products are made in Canada - particularly, when it comes to retaining workers at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay.
She stated that American manufacturing contracts must have at least 70 per cent American content. But in Ontario, the Ford government “lowered the local content rules to a mere 10 per cent and gave the Ontario line to a Japanese corporation. $9 billion was paid by Ontario taxpayers with not one of the trains built in Ontario.
“We have the expertise, facilities, skilled workforce and supply chain. What we're missing is a commitment from this government to keep people in Northwestern Ontario working,” Vaugeois said.
She asked the province to reconsider its changes to the lower content rules and commit to the maximum for local manufacturers.
Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation for Ontario, claims the Ford government is actively funding transportation in the North, including building roads to the Ring of Fire, Highways 11/17, and supporting transit workers in Thunder Bay.
"We have over $40 billion worth of new foreign direct investment into this province, and because of the vision of this government, $70 billion is being invested into public transit to help support people,” said Sarkaria.
