Mayor Sue Jensen has been approved by council to attend a meeting of the Central Huron Railway later this month.
The mayor’s attendance was requested by Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano who was seeking support for the Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury rail line that is seeking financial support from the provincial and federal governments to continue its operation along the north shore corridor. The railway, which received financial support from upper tier governments in 2009, is again seeking support.
Huron Central Railway has announced that without outside funding it would discontinue service along the line, according to Mayor Provenzano in a letter to council.
No figures were provided from the Sault mayor on how much the rail company is seeking in assistance.
“This investment is required to ensure the long-term safety and viability of this important piece of transportation infrastructure which provides direct rail access to twenty-six communities and First Nations and indirect access to many other communities,” he stated in his letter presented to council at its July regular meeting. “Without the requested funding Huron Central has announced that it will not be able to continue its operation beyond this year.”
“Without this line operating, we could reasonably expect an additional 40,000 more transports per year on the Trans Canada Highway, 17,” the Sault mayor added in his letter. “This would be a tremendous burden for our single-lane highway, which badly needs investment. More importantly there will be a significant increased risk to passenger car travel and much more pollution into our environment.”
Blind River council generally supported sending the its mayor to the July 25 meeting in Sault Ste. Marie, but two councillors had some concerns with supporting the railway.
“That rail from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury is important for industry,” Mayor Jensen said of the request for support.
Councillor Paula Summers said some of the statements by the Sault mayor were “mind boggling.” particularly with the estimate of a 40,000 increase in transport traffic should Huron Central decide to abandon the line.
“That alone is enough to make you want to have that line,” the councillor said.
Councillor Steven Wells said with the change in provincial government, municipalities have to be proactive in getting their concerns to new ministers in Doug Ford’s Conservative government.
Deputy Mayor Ken Kennedy laid some blame of the financial difficulties faced by Central Huron on itself. He said company cannot continue to seek taxpayer money to keep operating.
“They make profits and they want the taxpayer to pay for the product,” the deputy mayor said. “They only have three customers between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. They should be out there trying to be competitive, lowering their prices to get more transports off the road, I find they’ve been very complacent, they’ve had the same three customers for years.”
Mayor Jensen suggested the July 25 meeting would be the forum where the issues could be discussed because representatives for the railway would be present.
Coun Clifford Spratt was also concerned about the railway again requesting government funding.
“They seem to be coming to the trough, coming to the trough and there seems to be no end to it,” he said. “I don’t agree with them.”
Despite the concerns, the majority of council voted for the mayor to attend the meeting.