The Northern and Eastern Ontario Rail Network is wondering when our region is going to get a share of transportation funding for passenger rail service.

Spokesperson Eric Boutilier says they aren’t opposed to the GTA receiving funding, like the recent $21-billion high speed rail announcement from the province, involving the Toronto to Windsor corridor.

He says they just want a piece of the pie for passenger rail.

“We find it a little frustrating that the provincial government doesn’t seem interested in investing pennies on the dollar for transportation services here in our region,” Boutilier says.

He says with reductions in service over the years, the north isn’t being treated fairly.

“The provincial and federal government are continuing to rob from Peter in order to pay Paul, which is creating this level of inequity between rural Ontario, northern Ontario and urban Ontario in Greater Toronto,” he says.

Boutilier also says they were at the recent FONOM conference in North Bay where smaller communities told the group they’d benefit from passenger rail service and plan on passing resolutions to show the province there’s a need.

Filed under: Northern and Eastern Ontario Rail Network, passenger rail