Federal NDP politicians are urging provincial infrastructure minister George Smitherman to invest in railways to prevent carriers like the Huron Central Railway from pulling out of Northern Ontario this summer.
MP's Tony Martin of Sault Ste. Marie and Carol Hughes Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing want Smitherman to “reverse this decision and invest in the rail line.”
The federal MPs want Ontario to sign a deal with Ottawa, similar to Quebec's $75 million agreement to repair that province's short line infrastructure.
The Huron Central announced this month rail service to Sault Ste. Marie would be discontinued Aug. 15.
The 305-km track between the Sault and Sudbury is a feeder freight line for Canadian Pacific Railway which leases the line to the Huron Central.
The Montreal-based short line operator blamed the move on declining freight volumes, mainly from CP's customer, Essar Steel Algoma, and poor condition of the track which needs $33 million in upgrades.
Calls by Northern Ontario Business to Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti, a member of the McGuinty government, were not returned.
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