Bombardier management need to 'get their act together,' Doug Ford says during visit to Thunder Bay, Ont.

Ontario's Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford is calling outthemanagement of Thunder Bay's Bombardier plant for failing to meet their delivery goals for the TTC streetcar contract.

• Bombardier to miss 2017 streetcar target
• Bombardier shipped unfinished streetcars to meet delivery deadline, TTC says

"I want to keep people employed," Ford said, "its absolutely critical but they have to be competitive and most importantly they have to be on time."

The PC leader was in Thunder Bay, Ont. on Tuesday, April 10 for a politicalrally, drumming up support for local PC candidates.

Ford said sole-sourcing transit contracts in Ontario would be unacceptable, and looked forward to ensuring there was an open bid process, so the province could get the best price for transit vehicles.

Bombardier is the largest private-sector employer in Thunder Bay, with much of its work dedicated to bi-levelGO Train cars, as well as TTCstreetcars and subways.

• Doug Ford targets seats in northern Ontario, long a wasteland for PC party

Ford said his goal is to keep Canadian organizations in business while keeping thingsfair among companies in Ontario.

"You can't be charging forlate deliveries," Ford said.

"I love the front line people of Bombardier, but the management haveto get their act together."

Earlier this month, roughly 25 employees at the local plant, who are part of the TTCstreetcar line, were laid off temporary for about a week due to a shortage of parts on certain sections of the streetcar assembly.

• Dozens of Bombardier employees in Thunder Bay, Ont. receive temporary layoffs

Ford was in Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Lookout earlierthis week as part of a campaign-style tour of northern Ontario.

The provincial election is on June 7.