Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains (CAPT) volunteer Al Errington says that he’s witnessed a downturn in his business since the Algoma Central Railway shut down roughly three years ago.
Errington Wilderness Island Resort, located northeast of Wawa, has been relying on the stretch of railway connecting Sault Ste. Marie to Hearst since the outfitter opened its doors for business in the early 1950s.
“We’ve had a smaller economic and employment footprint for the last three years,” said Errington. “I know in my own business, we’re still down around 46 per cent, we’ve switched a lot of our people over to float planes, but a lot of our senior guests they don’t come anymore because they can’t physically climb in and out of float planes.”
CAPT, along with members of the Northeastern Ontario Rail Network (NEORN) and the Committee Promoting Muskoka Rail Travel (CPMRT) is hosting the Northeastern Ontario Passenger Rail Summit later this month, and it’s hoped that the broader discussion during the summit will lead to a plan for getting passenger rail service back in the northeastern region of the province.
Errington says that right now, it’s a lack of political will and a lack of recognition of the railway itself that present the biggest barriers to reviving passenger rail service in the Algoma District.
“Roads are built without thought or analysis of cost really, other than whether there’s any money available,” said Errington. “But other means of transportation, such as trains, have to be rationalized on a business case instead of an economic case.”
“Transportation should always be analyzed on an economic case because transportation is the foundation of any economy,” he continued. “If you can’t move people, products, energy and information as effectively or more effectively than competing jurisdictions, you’re at a competitive disadvantage with the other economies.”
Missanabie Cree First Nation Chief Jason Gauthier - who has put forth a business plan to reinstate the passenger rail service under the name Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban (Cree for ‘bear train’) - says that he has been in talks with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) about getting funding in order to cover the startup costs.
A portion of the existing rail line travels through the traditional territory of the Missanabie Cree, and access to that territory is something that Gauthier and his First Nation want, no matter what entity owns it.
“Whoever runs it or however it’s run, our intent has always been to have it run,” said Gauthier. “It doesn’t matter to us as long as the service continues for the region and for all of the people that depend on that rail line.”
When asked about the potential impact the upcoming provincial election could have upon the reinstatement of the railway, Errington said that he remains hopeful.
“Transportation should be an election issue actually, because it is the foundation of opportunity,” Errington said. “The Conservatives and the NDP have already said that they’re very interested in bringing passenger rail back to northern Ontario.”
“We don’t want talk anymore, talk gets lost in studies and what we need is a commitment to actually bring effective transportation back to northern Ontario.”
The Northeastern Passenger Rail Summit will take place April 19 at Quattro Hotel & Conference Centre.
The keynote speaker for the summit will be Corina Moore, President and CEO of the Ontario Northland Transportation Corporation.