NDP MPPs France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) and Gilles Bisson (Timmins—James Bay) are slamming the McGuinty government for turning its back on Northern Ontario by refusing to intervene to stop Ontario Northland’s bus service cuts.

“These cuts will make it very difficult for residents to arrange important medical appointments, visit family and get to work on time. Young people trying to get home for Thanksgiving weekend later this month will have a very difficult time,” said Gélinas

“I’ve asked that the government intervene to reverse these cuts – they have flat out refused,” she added.

Ontario Northland reduced bus service on the Cochrane-Timmins-North Bay, Sudbury-Toronto and Timmins-Hearst routes effective October 1. The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities passed a resolution earlier this week condemning the move, and asked that the McGuinty government intervene.

“If the McGuinty government thinks that cutting service will help reverse the downward trend in ridership and revenues, think again,” said Gilles Bisson, who serves as the NDP’s Transportation Critic.

“Ontario Northland’s cuts will make green alternative transportation choices even more difficult to make,” he added.