Ontario Northland

From the ONTC website:

Chad is Ontario Northland’s Chief Executive Officer. Chad has spent the past 20 years leading change and continuous improvement in the private and public sector as a business leader, technology and management consultant, trainer and speaker. As one of the architects of Ontario Northland’s transformation program, Chad has led and enabled the 100+ year old transportation company to adopt modern technology, continuous improvement practices and integrate performance measurement into daily operations.

He is certified as an ITIL Expert, ISO20000 Practitioner, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and holds an MBA from the University of London, England.

Additional information:

• Chad Evans replaced Corina Moore in 2022 after Corina resigned from the position. Corina was CEO since 2014. No statement of reason was given for Corina's resignation.
• Evans was the VP of strategy and corporate affairs at ONTC from January 2022. Previous to this he was VP of corporate services and director of information technology and transformation at ONTC since 2016. Previous to ONTC he was a business IT consultant.
• Evans lives in North Bay and did an undergraduate degree at Nipissing in economics.
• He was also chair of Near North Crime Stoppers in 2011.

Chad Evans has managed to cut IT services costs during his time at Ontario Northland through implementing technology at that level of the company.

From the Sunshine List:

Ontario Northland has focused on finding innovative ways to attract non-traditional employees to this largely male dominated field. Although there are incremental costs to operate the apprenticeship program, Ontario Northland is making this investment to ensure the ongoing safe and sustainable operation of its services. Overall, effective recruiting remains an area of focus for Corporate Services.

The rail industry is experiencing skilled trades’ shortages and challenges across North America. In order to address some of these challenges, Ontario Northland has initiated a two-fold approach:

1. to market and advertise rail-related careers to a younger and more diverse audiences, possibly including school visits and promotions; and,
2. begin discussion with Colleges and Universities, including Canadore College in North Bay, about increasing the program offering for rail-related skilled trades such as railway car technicians, engineers and conductors, machinists and electricians.

Metrolinx and the Commission are separate agencies with similar mandates. Metrolinx provides the Commission passenger booking services.

Their mandates are at odds over recruitment of staff and the specialized nature of employment in rail and passenger services in Northern Ontario.

Moving forward with passenger rail services involves the MTO and Metrolinx approval of the Commission's business case.

Freight services are being upgraded through procurement of new cars and track. The goal is to have joint service for Class 1 freight with CN.

The Ontario government recently announced that their plan is for freight rail along the ONTC rail lines will pay for much of the cost of passenger services on Ontario Northland tracks.

• Polar Bear Express

  • passenger train connects passengers from Cochrane to Moosonee and the First Nation communities on the James Bay Coast
  • The Cochrane Station Inn is a 23-room hotel, conveniently located above the Ontario Northland Cochrane Train and Bus Station. It is the only hotel in Canada located inside a train station

• The plan continues for the re-establishment of Northlander passenger rail along Ontario Northland Rail routes.

  • The province has purchased three new trains built by Siemens Mobility Limited for the Northlander resumption of service.
  • The Northlander service ran from Toronto to Cochrane (near Timmins) cancelled in 2012. The new service will end at Timmins.
  • Trains to be delivered in 2026.

• Hold bi-annual union-management meetings with all unions.
• Annual meetings with Mayors and Economic Development Officers in the major northern communities that Ontario Northland serves and bi-annual meetings in Moosonee.
• Meetings with Indigenous communities and attend community events.

2022-23 operating budget:

• Operating Subsidy Requirement: $52.5M,
• Revenues: $71M
• Expenses of $123.5M

Total labour and benefits decrease over the course of this multi-year plan by 2% due to a decrease in services.

Operating budget includes a reduction of labour and benefits expenses:

• 2022: $73,807K
• 2023: $71,302K
• 2024: $72,615K

Revenue breakdown: