THUNDER BAY – One of this city's MPPs says the local Bombardier plant is safe despite word that Metrolinx will look at competitors for an upcoming LRT contact.
Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx issued a request Tuesday for qualifications for the Hurontario Light Rail Transit project, a 20 kilometre rapid transit between Mississauga’s Port Credit GO station to the Gateway Terminal at Steeles Avenue in Brampton.
The decision to look into manufacturers outside Bombardier have put is noteworthy considering the long-term relationship the two organizations have had.
In an interview with CKPR Radio MPP Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay-Atikokan) said the local plant should remain in a good position to move forward if they want the contract.
“I’ve done my best to represent the interests of Bombardier and our plant in Thunder Bay,” Mauro said.
“The way we’ve been able to do that is to ensure there has been a Canadian content requirement in the vehicles that are procured and end up on track, and on rail and subways here in the province of Ontario.”
Mauro said it’s a change in the procurement, there’s not a guaranteed result at the end, but the 25 per cent Canadian content policy is what guides and instructs his efforts and work in this regard.
He added that it’s his responsibility to continue to advance, and it is their expectation to continue to meet the minimum 25 per cent Canadian content requirement.
“We realize in Thunder Bay how important those jobs are to the community, and this has been 12 years of trying to represent their interest and Thunder Bay’s interest when it comes to the expenditure of Ontario taxpayer dollars,”
“We are doing that through our 25 per cent procurement policy, are Canadian content policy and nothing as far as I’m concerned in terms of this different method of procurement has changed that.”
Bombardier spokesman Marc-Andre Lefebvre said Bombardier signed a contract to build 182 light rail vehicles for Metrolinx, which are being built in Kingston.
“As to what Metrolinx will do with those vehicles and on which line they will use them is their prerogative, and that’s something that we would refer to Metrolinx,” Lefebvre said.
Lefebvre added that the entire bidding process belongs to Metrolinx, and the requirements are theirs.
“On our part we are actually putting all of our resources to making sure that we deliver on time all of the vehicles necessary for service on all of the lines that they’ve contracted us on including the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
