From Chris West and the Save Via Rail Group
(Niagara At Large posted news a year or so ago of the decision by Canada’s Harper government to cut funding to passenger rail services across the country, including to and from regions like Niagara, Ontario.
Good to know that there are still citizens out there fighting for a return of these services, even in the face of a federal government that cares more about selling oil made from tar crud than it does about supporting more environmentally friendly means of transportation.
Here is a piece you might want to check out and join in following the call to push a federal government, unfriendly to public transit, into the 21st century.)
Appeal to Gary Schellenberger, MP, Harper Conservative for the riding of Perth Wellington
When asked to get involved in the VIA issue, many felt the sole issue was ridership. Ridership is an important issue by itself and is enough reason for us to be involved.
In the ensuing months, we have discovered the VIA issue is a VERY HOT issue with the public. This has been demonstrated by phenominal media support, event support, and the emotional comments made in the media and on the current online petition.
There are two other reasons that may be more important to all.
Economic. It has been proven that economies grow along rail and road lines. Having an effective VIA line brings business and residents. The alternative, without VIA, is higher employment, declining real estate values and wealth, increased property taxes and a reduced standard of living.
Threat posed by road congestion. Unless we have the efficient movement of people with three popular modes; all on rails by the way; VIA, GO and Subway, we will have prohibitive restrictions placed on those driving vehicles. These restrictions could include increased and expanded road tolls, restriction of driving days, restriction on driving licences issued and greater taxes on vehicle licencing and taxes.
We are urging you, to speak to Jim Flaherty and arrange a meeting with the Save VIA group in Ottawa or in St.Marys/Stratford to discuss VIA and what may be done to make VIA more viable.
In addition, we would like provision for private citizens to be able to attend question period in September, be recognized as VIA supporters from their specific areas and, on the same day, have their respective MP’s speak on the VIA issue on their behalf.
We understand supporting “the team”. However, when the government is moving in a direction that will cause harm to the Canadian economy, it is time for all MP’s to speak up!
We wait to hear from you!
Chris West, Save VIA committee
Check out more from this group by clicking on http://www.cjcsradio.com/news/5757-save-via-group-spreading-out-across-canada .
(Niagara At Large invites you to join in the conversation by sharing your views on the content of this post below. For reasons of transparency and promoting civil dialogue, NAL only posts comments from individuals who share their first and last name with their views.)
Niagara At Large 
Via is critical for the success of Niagara residents, who need a reliable means of transit to Toronto, as well as people from Toronto who want to use the rail to get to Niagara or to the USA. This should be a no brainer, once the meddling of big oil is removed from the decision-making process. Canada needs a proper national transportation strategy based on science and best practices in economic development.
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I have caught this service several times to get to downtown Toronto for work. It amazed me then that the schedule landed you in Toronto at like 8:45am which for most professionals does not cut it. You see most of us professional, private sector workers have to be at work far earlier. Guess it must have been a unionized public sector worker that put the schedule together.
It would be great for many if this service were modified and retained. Its a step above the GO which I hate and while the schedule was screwy it was fairly full each time I took it.
Just sayin…..
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For the information of Niagara-at-Large readers who live in the region, I’d like to pass on the following message I received on July 5 from Malcolm Allen (MP, Welland), as a follow-up to the meeting he convened in February on the cancellation of VIA services to Niagara:
“It has come to our attention that VIA Rail management has been invited to the Niagara Region to discuss the “business decision behind the recent changes in service delivery in South-Western Ontario”.
In the past you have expressed an interest in the VIA Rail issue and the reinstatement of service to the Niagara Region. We felt it pertinent to inform you of this meeting and apprise you of the opportunity to continue to express the need for there to be reliable, effective train service to the Niagara Region.
As other industrialized nations are moving toward high speed, integrated public transportation systems Canada is undermining the railway which was instrumental in building this country. We consistently hear from community members who previously took the train into Toronto, on a daily basis, and described the train as “to capacity”. These people and many others continue to be inconvenienced as many of them now have to brave the GTA traffic in order to travel to Toronto. In addition, the lack of train service leaves the area isolated and contributes to a lack of growth, economic investment and potential for tourism.
Please take the opportunity to express your concert to VIA Rail upper management at either of the one hour sessions scheduled for Thursday, July 18, 2013. The first session will be at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Catharines train station , the second at 1:30 p.m. at the Welland Civic Center. Please RSVP to Fernand_LeFebvre@viarail.ca with your choice of location by Wednesday, July 10, 2013.
In addition, please pass this on to your contacts and other concerned citizens.”
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