Blind River mayor Sue Jensen said she would like to revisit a decision by council in August not to support Huron Central Railway’s bid for $42 million in government funding.
At the October 15 council meeting, Mayor Jensen gave council a notice of motion to look at the support request from Sault Ste. Marie council for the railway bid.
Huron Central is owned by the Genesee and Wyoming Company of Canada which operates the 283-kilometer rail line between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. The company is seeking $42 million in federal and provincial funding for ongoing line maintenance and upgrades.
Huron Central ships goods from three northern Ontario companies – Domtar, Algoma Steel and Eacom and has been seeking support for its bid from municipalities along the railway corridor.
The company, in its bid for government funding, has cited insufficient freight volumes to generate revenue needed to maintain and rehabilitate the line.
Mayor Jensen said she has met with company representatives to talk about the funding and would like the issue brought back to council.
The issue is expected to come to council at its next regular meeting.