In 2016, the party changed its name to "Northern Ontario Party", by registering the name change with Elections Ontario as per regulations, and announced Trevor Holliday as its new leader. Holliday, previously a bus driver for Ontario Northland, was converted to Northern Ontario separation when the government of Dalton McGuinty announced plans in 2012 to shut down the service, and attracted media attention early in 2016 when he created an online petition on change.org which eventually attracted over 4,000 signatories. Deibel remained involved in the party executive. Under Holliday's leadership, the party restored separation from Ontario to its platform.