Ontario Northland axes stations, reduces service
Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle addresses media, local politicians and Ontario Northland Transportation Commission employees Friday morning at the ONTC garage on Wallace Road about the future of the Crown agency.
Ontario Northland Transportation Commission has announced bus station closures and reduced service at other stations, including its facility in Sudbury.
Ontario Northland bus stations in Englehart and Matheson will be closed and reduced services will be offered in Kirkland Lake, New Liskeard and Sudbury.
Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof blamed the Wynne government for the cuts.
"The Liberal government has broken its promise of an enhanced bus service to Northerners by announcing the closure of bus stations in Englehart and Matheson. The Wynne Liberals will also leave the people of Sudbury, Kirkland Lake and New Liskeard with reduced service at these locations," said Vanthof.
Since the ONTC stopped providing passenger train service in northeastern Ontario, the only option people have for travel from the North to southern Ontario is by bus.
"The ONTC passenger service is the only regional public transportation service in the northeast and thousands of people depend on it," stated Vanthof. "Instead of strengthening the ONTC, Northerners are seeing the Wynne government dismantling it."
The cuts take effect May 22. The new station hours will be:
n Sudbury: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday
n Kirkland Lake: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday
n New Liskeard: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday
Ontario Northland said it will be holding community information sessions to update affected communities about changes.
"We are working with our employees, community leaders, passengers and our bus parcel express customers to ensure a successful transition," the agency stated in a release.