27 March 2010

Lanark County Leaders Step Up Effort to Keep Rail Line

Almonte Ontario - Eastern Ontario municipal leaders have been moving full steam ahead with a campaign to save a threatened Canadian Pacific rail line, but Mississippi Mills mayor Al Lunney is worried about losing momentum.
 
At a meeting of Lanark County council last Wednesday, Lunney said it's critical that followup takes place, particularly at the federal level, to a meeting of potentially affected parties held in Petawawa earlier this month.
 
That meeting led to a motion by Renfrew County council calling on federal and provincial governments to commit to a funding program to keep shortline railways economically viable. The motion is being widely circulated to key municipal, provincial, and federal players.
 
A federal and provincial commitment would, in turn, help maintain valuable transportation corridors such as the line in question, which links the Ottawa Valley from Smiths Falls to Mattawa.
 
The motion says the loss of the rail line would have a devastating economic impact on an area already reeling due to the global recession.
 
It points out that Canadian taxpayers contributed substantially to establishing such transportation infrastructure, arguing it is an environmentally responsible way to carry goods, particularly with energy and other costs rising.
 
While it might appear that rail service isn't as important as it once was, it still provides vital transportation to some businesses, said Renfrew warden Don Rathwell.
 
Arnprior mayor Terry Gibeau said the CP corridor creates jobs and has passenger tourism potential. He hopes to stop CP's bid to shut down the line.
 
The rail company has already advertised its intent to sell the line. If a buyer is not found soon, the company could begin dismantling the line and selling off the land as early as the fall.
 
Tom van Dusen.