Submitted by the Office of Welland Riding MP Malcolm Allen
OTTAWA –Malcolm Allen, the federal NDP representative for the Niagara, Ontario riding of Welland, spoke out in Canada’s House of Commons during Question Period this February 28 on behalf of constituents in his riding affected by the cuts to Via Rail.
Niagara, Ontario area MP Malcolm Allen
“Mr. Speaker,” stated Allen. “Via Rail is not working for Niagarians. On February 20th last week, I held a community roundtable on the cancellation of the only Via train from Niagara Falls to Toronto.”
“Many angry Niagarians from across the entire region actually came and raised concerns about the reckless Conservative cuts to (passenger rail services) that Via says ‘wasn’t because of ridership’. In fact most of the time it’s full.”
So what is the alternative that Via says we should in Niagara. It says well take the GO bus and get stuck in traffic. Oh, by the way, wait at night and take the Amtrak train from the U.S.
When will this government restore Via’s funding and give Niagarians their train back?”
To watch a video of Malcolm Allen asking this question in the House of Commons and the response he received click on the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-sWv6N6vEY&list=UUPlbB-Es16zaprMM1W1-5sg .
Later on February 28, at a Niagara regional council meeting, regional government Chair Gary Burroughs said the Region needs to assist in applying pressure on the appropriate federal bodies to reverse the cuts to Via Rail services in Niagara.
“We need rail service,” said Burroughs. “They took one of our services away and we will get involved as much as we can” to get the service back.
For more news on the Harper government’s planned cuts to Via Rail services for the year ahead, visit the site of Toronto area MP Olivia Chow at http://www.oliviachow.ca/2013/02/via-rail-massive-cuts-looming/ .
(Niagara At Large encourages all visitors to this site to share their views on this post or any other posts NAL has posted. Divergent views are most welcome in the spirit of NAL’s goal to operate as a virtual town hall for discussing and debating issues of interest and concern to our communities and countries across the greater Niagara region and beyond.)
Niagara At Large 
Mr. Allen is playing politics with this issue 100%….maybe there’s a shortage of REAL issues to tackle like getting jobs back to his riding, perhaps??? And if he doesn’t know the difference, then he shouldn’t be an MP. The VIA issue is all about Go Transit ridership, plain and simple. If he has a problem with the recent VIA service cancellation, his beef is with Queen’s Park, not Ottawa! He must know that, but the Tories are too easy a target compared to getting jobs back home which requires hard work, I guess?
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I find it interesting that a St. Catharines regional elected official disagrees with the Chairman of the RMof N, Gary Burroghs. It is to be expected though, however. The cuts to VIA are Federal cuts and well explained by Olivia Chow, had anyone time to read her piece here. Period.
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