This news release was issued May 22, 2018, by the NDP on behalf of Sudbury candidate Jamie West and Nickel Belt candidate France Gélinas
SAULT STE. MARIE – NDP candidates Michele McCleave-Kennedy (Sault Ste. Marie) and Michael Mantha (Algoma-Manitoulin) announced the NDP’s funding commitment to keep the Huron Central Railway operating, in order to protect and create good jobs in the Sault, and across Algoma-Manitoulin.
"Huron Central’s railway to Sudbury is a lifeline for Algoma to get its products to market. Without the line, the steel mill will lose an essential part of its production operation,” said McCleave-Kennedy.
“An NDP government led by Andrea Horwath will work closely with Huron Central Railway to keep the line running, maintain Algoma’s supply chain operating smoothly, and protect our jobs in the steel mill.”
The railway company announced today they would discontinue operations by the end of 2018 because the Wynne Liberals failed to provide adequate funding to keep the railway economically viable.
The NDP candidates said that if the NDP forms government on June 7, it will take action on its Northern Rail Strategy, outlined in the NDP’s northern platform, that will fund the province's fair share of capital costs for Huron Central Railway – $4 million per year for five years. Huron Central Railway needs funding to complete upgrades required by new federal safety regulations in order to continue operating.
"Andrea Horwath and the NDP have been outspoken when it comes to keeping the Huron Central Railway line running. Our commitment to the railway is specifically mentioned in our platform. An NDP government will make sure the line stays open to keep industrial operations running smoothly in the Sault, and across the Algoma district to Sudbury,” said Mantha.
“Families whose jobs depend on the railway can finally rest assured, after too many years of uncertainty under the Wynne Liberals, that with an NDP government their jobs will be safe. An NDP government will bring the federal government to the table to help support Huron Central Railway.”
The Huron Central Railway short line stretches from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury, and the majority of its business originates in the Sault.
"Kathleen Wynne has done too much damage to our local economy. More than 7,000 jobs depend on the industries that the railway supports in our region. Doug Ford and his Conservatives plan to cut $6 billion more from the services that we need. The much-needed investment into Huron Central Railway will be at risk,” said Mantha.
"We don’t have to settle between bad and worse. We can create more jobs and opportunity in our region. We can build an economy that will allow our kids to stay here. But we need a government that will support our communities. Andrea Horwath and the NDP will protect each and every Algoma mill job, and help create new ones here in the Sault, and right across Algoma-Manitoulin," said McCleave-Kennedy.
