City accountant Ted Hargreaves appointed chairman of ONTC

Nugget File Photo Ted Hargreaves.

Local News - North Bay accountant and former member of the city's economic development commission, Ted Hargreaves, has been named chairman of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

The appointment was announced Tuesday morning by Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci.

"The rich business and community service experience Ted Hargreaves brings to his new duties will serve him well as he leads Ontario Northland through one of its most important periods," Bartolucci said.

"Ted is a Northerner who is deeply committed to strengthening the economic and social foundations of his community and whose appointment is another step toward revitalizing and reinvigorating operations at Ontario Northland," he said.

One of the ONTC's unions was quick to respond.

“Keep the good news coming," said Brian Stevens, president of CAW Local 103.

"What a turnaround in fortunes since the October election. The previous government wanted to abandon the North and had their hired privatization consultant and ONTC board involved in secret negotiations with CN to rid the northern landscape of the ONTC," he said.

"When we met the minister for the first time, we had said that we were an asset to the taxpayers, we were efficient, highly skilled and competitive and clearly minister Bartolucci believes in us, believes in the North and this is a wonderful first step in putting that terrible legacy behind us and begin anew,” he said.

In the last three months, Bartolucci has formally announced the ONTC will be kept in government hands, he supported ONTelcom/Telus alliance proposal, authorized an early retirement window that will facilitate the restructuring and rejuvenation of the organization, allowed the ONR mechanical department to reply to an $81-million GO Transit tender this past February and cleared the way for the purchase of 10 BC Rail passenger cars which came on the market unexpectedly," Stevens said.

“These are exciting times for all of us at ONTC and in the communities we deliver services to. The CAW leadership is very much looking forward to meeting and working with Mr. Hargreaves in the coming months, building a better ONTC and bringing growth opportunities to the North” concluded Stevens

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith said, "I am thrilled to have worked closely with Minister Bartolucci in the appointment of Ted Hargreaves as chairman to the ONTC board. The knowledge and energy that Ted brings to this position is second to none," she said.

"It's an exciting time for the ONTC, with a bright future and a team that is willing to work together for the common goal of a prosperous ONTC," she said.

Hargreaves has been a managing partner with the firm of BDO Dunwoody in Sudbury and North Bay since 1986 and has more than 25 years experience in public accounting. His volunteer and community service to the North Bay area spans three decades, including serving currently as a member of the Canadore College board of governors.

Hargreaves replaces Royal Poulin, who served has chairman for the last four years.

For full coverage, see Wednesday's Nugget.

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