Larry Killens piles on Owen Sound Transportation CEO

To the Expositor:

Now is the time to stand up and be counted as a supporter of your community and friends in relation to the Chi-Cheemaun dilemma.

I read a plea in the paper that all of Manitoulin should take up the cry of “foul” as it relates to each of us and the Chi-Cheemaun. I wish to be a part of that charge to stand up and be counted.

We, in the past, heard CEO Susan Schrempf, Owen Sound Transportation Company CEO, go on and on about water levels and indeed all but promise a rise of 25 cm in the lake level. I do have, however, quotes voiced by her dating to last year and up until a month ago that it was the water level, and water level only, that was an issue. As of one month ago, she is quoted as saying, “It is not time to push the panic button yet.” Now she has changed the game plan, and brought into play bumpers are the main problem. While I recall them being mentioned occasionally, as a secondary concern, I only wish she would be consistent in what is the primary issue here—water or bumpers?

The politicians are no better arguing about who should pay a few hundred thousand dollars tab for getting us up an running on the Manitoulin while they close a power plant to the tune of 500 million dollars cost to the taxpayer. The Ornge Air episode costing taxpayers millions as well. Adjectives such as corrupt, out of touch, mishandling of monies and on and on are being thrown around parliament. Nothing being done mind you, but those words are voiced. This, all while a pittance of those bottom lines, flow by without being challenged.

I digress. Here is how I see education suffers as a result. No tourists, no income, businesses suffer and lay off people. Our secondary students are hurting for summer work to help deplete their student loans to come. Our businesses on the Island who take in students to complete their academic needs for a graduation diploma through Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program or Co-Op programs cannot afford to take those students in. Businesses who downsize are laying off persons or not re-hiring those with families and they are leaving the Island for work. Result, our school enrollment declines even further. My bottom line—you’re hurting our kids.

I think the CEO Susan Schrempf, who is now pushing the panic button at an impossible moment to recover, must not have practiced good management. She has done so by not seeing this coming through a five-year improvement plan which any business entity has in place. She needs to have her job assessed as well as to effectiveness and value to others. Politicians are saying there was a breakdown of communication at their level and Susan Schrempf again should have ensured that assuming her claim to warnings issued to government were in the very least acknowledged. This would have assured the pending disaster was being looked at five years ago. Anyone knows you do not leave it up to the government to address important issues.

Susan Schrempf is where the buck stops. She is chief executive officer. She is the one who wrongfully or correctly wears this problem. I do not hear her being even partially aggressive and establishing a business case for immediate attention.

With the government creating smoke and mirrors and Susan Schrempf moving from one story to another, it reminds me of Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burned.