MP Gallant Pleased to Confirm Federal Government Commitment for Short-Line Rail Infrastructure Funding

March 02, 2010

Petawawa, Ontario… Cheryl Gallant MP, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, is pleased to confirm that through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada will support funding proposals that include applications submitted for short-line rail projects.

“With the announcement by CP Rail that the Ottawa Valley Rail (OVR) line from Smith’s Falls to Matawawa is to be abandoned, and a possible similar fate for the Ottawa Central Railway (OCR) line that runs through Beachburg to Pembroke, I felt it was important to let residents know my support for rail is here,” stated Cheryl Gallant, MP. “As a member of the all-party Federal Rail Caucus, support is shared by my Conservative caucus colleagues in government as well as some other MPs.”

“A similar commitment is now required from the Province of Ontario. While the local provincial government MPP for Sault Ste. Marie announced support for the Huron Central short rail line, which is under similar threat of abandonment as lines in the Ottawa valley, our Federal Transport Minister John Baird insists that any rail agreement must include other Ontario short lines, including Ottawa Valley railways,” said MP Gallant.

“What now needs to happen at the Provincial level is for the Province of Ontario to swiftly  sign the Canada-Ontario Provincial-Territorial Base Fund Agreement, unlocking $175 million in the process for infrastructure projects in the province,” observed Gallant MP. “We have been waiting for the province to sign onto that agreement since 2008, and make a similar commitment as the federal government to railways.”

“The next step will then be for municipalities along the OVR to decide how they wish to proceed. In the case of the Huron Central railway in north-eastern Ontario, $3 million has already been provided from the federal and provincial governments to start rail line improvements to keep it open. Time is running out. Local, municipal politicians must act now to determine if the will exists to save our rail lines in the Ottawa valley,” remarked Cheryl Gallant, MP.

“The Conservative Government’s position with respect to supporting short-line rail has been clear nationally since 2006 when we worked with the Province of Quebec to design a short-line package valued at $72 million in support of similar infrastructure in Quebec. Since being elected to office in 2006, our government has invested billions of dollars into Canada’s freight, passenger and gateway infrastructure because we believe in rail,” concluded MP Gallant.