Huron Central Railway has given notice to its employees that their positions will be terminated should the railway cease operations in December.
The notice was issued to all 43 employees last Thursday.
"This notice is a fulfillment of our obligations as an employer, following the previously announced termination of HCRY’s operations by the end of the year. None of the 43 HCRY employees have been laid off yet, and we continue to work diligently with both levels of government to find a solution to avert the shutdown," said Michael Williams, vice president of corporate communications for Genesee & Wyoming Inc., in an email to SooToday Monday. "We have committed to maintain full employment and service until the last train runs."
The railway services Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Domtar's pulp and paper plant in Espanola and EACOM's sawmill operation in Nairn Centre.
The company is waiting on Ottawa and Queen's Park to put together a $40-million package for track maintenance and safety upgrades to the 288-kilometre line.
Genesee & Wyoming Inc. had originally planned to cease operations of the railway in March, but extended the timeline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- with files from Northern Ontario Business