NDP wants answers on the Northlander returning and a government response

NDP MPP John Vanthof says there was no mention of the Northlander during the recent throne speech by the new provincial government.

And in Question Period he wanted to know if the government is committed to restoring the train service.

“We didn’t hear much about Northern Ontario. We didn’t hear anything about passenger rail. There was no mention. Has the Premier forgotten his promise? And if not when will passenger rail come back to Northeastern Ontario, ” he says.

The question was answered by the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines Greg Rickford. He says the government will open the north for business and that includes minerals and forestry products.

“We want to move people and product. We want Northern Ontarians be able to move across our vast region. When the Premier says we’re open for business he means the great region of Northern Ontario,” Rickford says.