THUNDER BAY – Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan has introduced a Private Member’s Bill that, if passed, will ensure that more of the money Ontario municipalities spend on mass transit vehicles will stay in Ontario – and help strengthen the province’s mass transit industry.
“Our government has invested billions into mass transit in Ontario directly resulting in 1,200 new jobs at our Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay bringing the total workforce to approximately 1,400. While my previous work on this file has resulted in a 25 per cent Canadian content policy I believe we can do more to leverage even greater job creation in this sector. My Bill, the Buy in Canada for Mass Transit Vehicles Act, if passed, would accomplish just that,” stated Mauro.
The proposed bill, known as the Buy in Canada for Mass Transit Vehicles Act, would require that at least 60 percent of the cost of mass transit vehicles purchased by Ontario municipalities with the assistance of provincial funding be made up of Canadian labour costs, material costs, overhead, and profits. Also, the legislation would require that the final assembly of these mass transit vehicles take place in Canada. This means that, more than ever, the funds municipalities spend on passenger commuter rails, subway cars, light rail vehicles, street cars, airport people movers and buses – essential parts of Ontario’s modern infrastructure – would help strengthen the domestic mass transit industry and protect jobs in the province.
MPP Mauro’s private member’s bill holds special significance for Thunder Bay.
The MPP says, “Where Bombardier Canada employs 1,400 people in the construction of light rail vehicles, subway cars, and GO-transit vehicles. The regulations called for in the proposed bill would help protect these jobs and encourage future job growth in the mass transit sector”.
