Has privatization increased winter highway closures in the North?
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO NDP COMMUNICATIONS
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NDP: Increased road closures go hand-in-hand with privatization
QUEEN’S PARK – Today in question period, Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson called on Premier Wynne to explain the government decision to further privatize snow removal and road maintenance services.
“Highway conditions in Northern Ontario and across this province in winter are atrocious. We’re seeing more and more road closures; we’re seeing more and more accidents. Why? Because highways are not being maintained to the standard they should,” said Bisson.
“We know that the Conservatives started winter road maintenance privatization; your government accelerated it. And what’s worse is you have even privatized the patrolling of highways as to how we dispatch salt trucks and plow trucks,” explained Bisson, asking: “Why did the government privatize that section of the work? Because clearly now, we’re not getting the maintenance that we need on our highways.”
Many Ontarians believe that privatized road maintenance has led to an increase in road closures, particularly in the North.
Last winter, NDP MPPs ran a road closure hotline to track closures across the North.
“The fact that the minister is not aware that our highways are in bad condition this winter is quite frankly surprising,” said Bisson, referring to Minister of Transportation Glen Murray. “It is not as if you have not been without warning. It has been reported in the news for the last number of months, the same thing this year as it was last year.”
Bisson continued to push the Premier, asking: “Why did your government go ahead and privatize the patrolling of the highways that was done by the MTO? Because without those patrols, we are not dispatching sand, salt and plow trucks in the way that we should, and as a result, our highways are in terrible condition. Why did you privatize it?”
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Sam C 2/26/2013 7:02:59 PM ReportI'd like to see some data to back up these claims... and not just a list of dates that the highways were closed and for how long, but the amount of snow that had fallen, visibility and road conditions, and /or other reasons for the closures.
It's all well and good to say we've had more closures than last year, or the year before, but I would like to know if the closure was justified.
Vicci 2/26/2013 7:03:44 PM ReportI really don't know where the checks and balances are in the privatization of provincial road maintenance. It doesn't seem to take much to close the highways now. Whether that is the MTO or OPP's doing is a good question also.
right wing 2/26/2013 7:07:34 PM ReportSam C
Dittos and thanks for posting that... you saved me the trouble.
I cannot stand this grandstanding with a seemingly liberal amount of claims made with ZERO facts, info etc. to back it up.
Typical NDP retoric
Snowdon 2/26/2013 7:10:04 PM Report"Typical NDP rhetoric"
hahahaha, I almost fell over.
Acting as if every party isn't the exact same in their dealings with the media. Ever heard a Conservative MP being interviewed and watching them duck and dive and swerve the question being asked? Happens all the time, they're robots with marching orders.
Every party does this, and the media doesn't hold them accountable to a Canadian public that largely makes no fuss over it.
Wicket 2/26/2013 7:39:00 PM ReportGuess you fellas don't travel Hwy 17 North on a daily basis like a lot of people who live out there and work in town. Have relatives and friends at Goulais for years and you need to speak with them before you make your comments. Hardly any snow the last couple of years and lots of road closures and accidents.
Buddy_Bob 2/26/2013 8:01:22 PM ReportI would have to agree that I've found road conditions worse since privitization. Sure the OPP close the highways often. ?Usually due to white out conditions, and that only makes sense. However since many of us northerners have to travel hundreds of kilometers for medical servces, I feel we should have, and expect safe well maintained winter highways.
brandonchantal 2/26/2013 8:32:38 PM ReportNope I have worked on the highway plowing for7 yrs its not just the private contractors or the opp its its both transfield don't call out until there's two inches and mto called right away once they seen a snow flake so I think opp need to get transfield out of the north and bring back mto and everything would be better I can promise u that
Vindicator 2/26/2013 8:49:41 PM ReportAs usual, neither the media nor the politicians get their facts straight. The MTO over serviced the roads at the taxpayers expense and roads were still closed due to Mother Nature. The OPP are responsible for road closures and some members of the OPP over react to the conditions. Private contractors are not allowed to respond to the media, as per their contracts. Private contractors are governed by performance requirements that are administered by the MTO, failure to meet these requirements means the contractors will be assessed financial penalties. The MTO has coordinators monitoring these contractors on a daily basis, they can see what any piece of equipment is doing since they are equipped with AVLs (automated vehicle locators) that tell the MTO what the unit is doing, how fast and whether it is covering the routes as per contract requirements. Private contractors also have families that travel these highways and anyone who thinks they would put their families at risk, let alone the public, is an idiot. Here's a little information for the know it alls; most of the people working for these contractors are the same ones who worked for the MTO. This winter is the worst one in more than six years.
fullstringer 2/26/2013 9:21:54 PM ReportI've got several years experience of driving plows and sanders out of Echo Bay, Bruce Mines and Hilton Beach MTO yards. I'm confident to say I know how the system works.
Transfield is doing a terrible job on our highways! They aren't calling out the units early enough and they don't have enough equipment to properly maintain the roads when they do call them out. They are in it for profit and any savings they can squeeze out of the system, you can be sure they will try. At the very least, there should be MTO patrols doing the assessment of conditions and doing the call-outs of the equipment!
H.E.T. 2/26/2013 9:22:06 PM ReportThere are stats to support the number of closures. The contract that covers our area was designed to put all small contractors out of the picture. You had to have a 30 to 75 million dollars to bid, the amount you had to put up depended on your bid. That is cash not company worth. Then the gov give the contract to a company from Australia! It should have been open to Ontario companies only, not the other side of the world. It is true the OPP calls the closure for public safety, but it is more likely to avoid lawsuits over accidents by people saying their loved one got killed when the hiway should have been closed but was open. And we all know that politicians care how big the payoff is not how many people die. If the premier and transportation minister had to drive their own cars from Quebec to Manitoba every winter then things would change. But the are scare to so they fly.
jaker 2/26/2013 9:40:08 PM ReportI travel the highway North of the Sault everyday , twice a day, and I can say this winter the highway has been the worst it has ever been when it snows. Unfortunatley we vote these idiots in that privatize this crap!!
Thim 2/26/2013 9:54:43 PM ReportSooo, do we want the government building our cars also?
jonesur 2/26/2013 10:24:43 PM ReportWhen roads are closed, it is not "due to road conditions", as regularly reported. It is due to visual impairment. With that said, every citizen of this province should be ashamed of our Trans Canada Highway link between Ottawa and the Manitoba border. Not because of poor snow removal, but because government after government has found it more important to waste money, than to upgrade "what should be their highest priority."
danno2257 2/26/2013 10:31:13 PM ReportA lot of you people must have been to young to drive when the M.T.O. looked after are roads ,they were kept to a lot higher standards the contracter was not trying to save money because there were none.We had worse winters you must be aware of this Sam and lefty.Have either of you drove on a highway the last couple of years? A lot of people have died because of the poor job done on our highways are you guys that far in the dark?
jonesur 2/26/2013 10:42:36 PM ReportMore traffic, faster vehicles(and drivers), and larger commercial transports on a road built for the 1950's, is THE reason for increased fatalities.
Right of Centre 2/26/2013 11:18:57 PM ReportThere's a pretty simple way to tell if things are worse under Transfield. I lived north of the city for twenty years. During that time, there was a very clear demarcation line of road conditions at the city limits. The highway in the city was often horribly maintained, while the highway north of the city limits was always in great shape. Is that still the case?
danno2257 2/26/2013 11:19:43 PM Reportjonsar you have it partly corect but we are at the mersey of contracters some trying to save and make a buck yes their are some good ones but not enough they should all be held to high standards to preserve life and this goverment does not hold them to these standards.
LaughingCat 2/27/2013 2:27:19 AM Report... umm - duh!. Anyone who's travelled these roads for the past few decades have noticed the difference in care since privatization. When driving you can literally see the difference from where one road contract meets with another. I am a social conservative, but I'm first a Canadian and we have and should stay unique with our taxes mingling government policy to promote business. If we can let's defy history - gut graft and corruption and apply public will where it's needed. Or we can all 'work for the government' and make a six-figured salary with a pension and job security ...
seen_your 2/27/2013 4:22:13 AM ReportObviously, when you privatize something it becomes business, and the only concern for business is to make money. Don't worry, it's just business.
lowla 2/27/2013 4:50:23 AM ReportI agree with the people above that said that there is not enough equipment and they're not on the road soon enough. I think that the standards were lowered when they contracted out, does anyone know for sure?
WAVEACTION 2/27/2013 6:00:08 AM ReportIt would interesting to see a report on dollars saved since privatization.
blackspruce 2/27/2013 6:09:14 AM Report The cops should close the roads and Contractor or MTO we will always blame someone except ourselves stay at home when the weather is too bad or at least drive to the weather conditions. Ask the cops the statics on the number of accidents caused from people drivng to fast or not even having proper snow tires. Seems everyone is in such a hurry I drive quite often between Wawa and the Sault for the last 30 years and seen alot. And as far as the salt not sure but is there not more stricter guidelines from the MOE on what can be put down on the highway since the time of the MTO
Sam The Dog 2/27/2013 7:15:37 AM ReportWhat need to remember is; the Provincial Government along with MTO officials wrote the Standards and Level of Service into the Contract for Snow removal of Provincial Highways. If contractors do not adhere to the contract there is huge fines, so it is in best interest to the contractors to fill their obligations to the contract. Don't blame the Contractor, blame the MTO for the contract they provided.
Nunavut 2/27/2013 7:34:51 AM ReportHow many times do we hear that highway north is closed due to a tractor trailer jacknifed on a hill. Those trucks are not getting into accidents because of visibility, it is because the private contractor does not go out and plow until a set number of centimetres of snow has fallen. Except while they wait and save money the snow gets packed down into ice and that is what shuts down the highway. Meanwhile an hourly paid crew would be managed such that when snow is forecast they are out and ready with salt and sand. The same way our city plow operators are managed. When it is slow they do snow banks or get to take vacation days off . Nope Transfield and the other private operators have their contracts and they keep to them to a tee. Yes maybe first step is to improve those contract standards so that less amount of snow needs to fall before they are activated, or more proactive measures allowed for.
JUSTANOTHERNAME 2/27/2013 8:03:22 AM ReportYou're all missing one vital fact, these contracts are not a trial to see if it works we are locked into 7-10 year contracts that if cancelled still cost the same as if executed. To me that is the governments biggest failure. How is it we allow a Preimer to dictate that far in advance? That is 3 terms minimum that these contracts are locked in for.
KFM 2/27/2013 8:17:24 AM ReportDrove from Thessalon to the Sault for work for 18 years, highway conditions are worse now than when I was driving. Snow is alloud to build now causing more ice conditions. Sure the roads became snow packed in heavy storms in the past but now a minimal amount causes this and creates hazards that should not be. The government privatizes to save money, but it doesn't in the long run, and keep digging into our pockets deeper just look at the College of Trades that is being force on us. The lose of one life because of reduced road matanance is to many.
sinikka 2/27/2013 8:28:45 AM ReportNDP complain just for the sake of complaining. Were the roads any better when Bob Rae was in power in this province. Give me a break. You don't have to be a brain surgeon to realize that we have had a considerable amount of snow in the north this year and it all fell in a short period. I have travelled the roads considerably this winter and i am amazed at how good a job the removal has been all things considered. I was not aware that private contractors are now handling the job but i think they have done a great job.
Geco 2/27/2013 8:29:26 AM ReportI have lived on the 556 Searchmont highway for the past 7 years and have never seen our highway so poorly maintained as it has been for the past 2 winter seasons. I literally feel as though I am risking my life in the mornings after a snow fall just to go into work. I meet the high school bus every week day morning and have seen it driving on the snow covered highway, this was a true eye opener! I fear that our highway may see a fatality this season due to the lack to maintenance it is receiving. Please be careful if you are a Resort goer!!!
KFM 2/27/2013 8:34:00 AM ReportAnd to add to that why is our tax dollars going to foriegn companies when it was being done by Ontario companies with better service and the money was spent here suporting local businesses. I know of a couple of construction companies in town that have reduced thier winter work force drastically because they can't compete money wise with the multi nationals. Rediculous out spending by the province even though they condone companies from doing this. Atleast if a local company out sources the jobs stay local and so does the money.
right wing 2/27/2013 9:26:30 AM ReportWow...some certainly see through different eyes.
I travel the East and North highway with my work so often I could dam near drive them with my eyes closed.
The highways to me have been no different on average than they have always been.
There are times of heavy snowfall when the plow trucks have to play catch up but other then that I see no significant difference.
mac2 2/27/2013 9:41:32 AM Reportwell, we have heard from the people that drive and work those roads, who are not happy with the results of privatization, and we hear from the peanut gallery, looking to pass the blame, defend what is going on, or even say its the same or better, lol, what a joke.
66cherokee 2/27/2013 10:37:33 AM ReportNever mind the closures. The highways are not being plowed like they used to be. Last Tuesday it was not plowed from Bruce Mines to the west 4 lanes and that was at 7:30 in the morning. Slush in the amount of 6 to 8 inches on the road. One could only travel at a very safe pace. There were people that worked in the Soo at Essar Steel that didn't go to work. They have to travel in the really early hours of the day.
danno2257 2/27/2013 10:55:18 AM Reportright wing- how old are you and can you see?You better get your eyes checked because I also travel to Toronto 7 or 8 times a year and from area to area there is a distincted differance in road conditions.Where or did you even have a drivers licence when department of highways did the the roads cause it sure apeers that you are in the dark and didn't.
KENNEDY919 2/27/2013 12:13:18 PM Report Our highways have been plowed by private contractors since 1995, The only difference the last two years is that the patrolling of the highways is now done by Transfield and not MTO.
MTO always exceeded the minimum standards while Transfield simply has to meet them. MTO operated 53 units of sanders,plows and Combos. Transfield now operate 28 units with more combos. Prior to Transfield MTO held the insurance liability for the highway conditions. Liability for the condition of the highways today now rest with Transfield.
Thus it is easier for Transfield to close the highway when there is bad conditions than risk the liability of potential accidents.
Luckily we have 150 less trucks going up and down the road due to the decline in the wood and paper business.
Ricatoni 2/27/2013 1:41:40 PM ReportNDP complain just for the sake of complaining. Were the roads any better when Bob Rae was in power in this province. Give me a break. You don't have to be a brain surgeon to realize that we have had a considerable amount of snow in the north this year and it all fell in a short period. I have travelled the roads considerably this winter and i am amazed at how good a job the removal has been all things considered. I was not aware that private contractors are now handling the job but i think they have done a great job.
Yes the roads were ten times better than they are today.... just read the comments.... but then again kinda hard to tell a conservative anything they think they know it all LOL.......get a life...
danno2257 2/27/2013 3:17:17 PM ReportRacatoni are you still a die hard Liberal at all cost $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ give up they are going to be gone soon and the peoples party N.D.P.will be in.The liberals are to crooked and expensive.The PC'S are for the ritch we are left with no choice but N.D P..
blackspruce 2/27/2013 6:33:16 PM Reportdanno keep dreaming
danno2257 2/27/2013 6:46:23 PM ReportYou mark my word white spruce or balsum did you work in the pulpmill?
sinikka 2/27/2013 7:57:43 PM ReportRicatoni all you do is complain much like the party you support. i am a card carrying conservative so please get it right. Last week you were ashamed to be living in the soo. Why don't you relocate to where the roads are better, the politicians better, the city better. People like you complain but never offer any solutions. When was the last time you drove the highways in the north. I drive them every week and i can tell you they are a hell of a lot better than when bob rae was in power. Actually we are still trying to cover some of the debt left over from mr. rae's reign but you would not know anything about that. In society there are contributors and takers, you my pitiful little friend are definitely a taker.
danno2257 2/27/2013 10:37:18 PM Reportsinikka you are in the dark it was Harris who privatised and got rid of the D.H.O.and in this community it was Bob.Rae who kept the steel plant and paper mill running get your facts right or it would be a ghost town check these facts .I hope some poor person wants something from you and takes it because there needy.
paw65 2/28/2013 12:24:28 AM Reporti just rescently worked for transfield north of the sault, i was plowing and sanding secondary highways, and was not aloud to drop material or plow the main highway. i was try to help the one truck to keep the main highway open and was told not to for fear the company would be fined. i have worked on the northern highway for 20 years and never heard or seen anything so rediculous,the mto should be back in charge privitization is for the birds how many people have to die or be hurt for a few dollars saved
blackspruce 2/28/2013 7:07:55 AM Reportkeep campaigning Danno you might be fooled by the NDP but not this guy and yes I once worked for a pulpmill 52 years ago
cdnprincess 2/28/2013 10:22:58 AM ReportI have been living in Heyden for 2 yrs now and I work full time in SSM. Until I read this article, I have felt that the highways have been taken care of well for the conditions we've been having and even after reading the article AND comments, my opinion stands. I can tell where the "City" stops plowing and where Transfield takes over. I have driven through the worst storms we've had this year, the one just before Christmas, the one a few wks ago etc and the highways have been just fine. But then again, maybe I just drive better than most...
danno2257 2/28/2013 2:19:41 PM Reportcdnprincess thats only a very itsiebitsee part of the transcanada highway in ontario ,maybe you should try driving to Toronto a couple times a week iam sure you would hold that steering wheel pretty tight and your tone would change .Wow u drive all the way to heyden!
danno2257 2/28/2013 2:21:51 PM ReportBlackspruce we can't aford flash Orazetti
