Concern about the north not being treated fairly

With the news recently that the feds wouldn’t be funding the Algoma Central passenger train service between the Sault Ste Marie and Hearst many people in the north are not happy about it.

In fact, the Northern and Eastern Ontario Rail Network believes it’s further evidence that rail transportation in the north is being treated as 2nd class by senior levels of governments compared to the south.

They say in recent years the Northlander Train has been cancelled and right now the Polar Bear Express does not get any federal funding.

Spokesperson Eric Boutillier says the opposite is true in Southern Ontario with senior government support for Via Rail and Go Transit.

Still He points out there aren’t a lot of public transportation options in the north unlike southern Ontario when something unexpected happens like forest fires or flooding.

He says in recent years there have been over 670 highway closures in the north.