'Harper leaves Northern Ontario residents stranded,' Rota

Nipissing‐Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota
News Release

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Stephen Harper must stand up for Northern Ontarians and act immediately to resolve the impending Greyhound transportation crisis, Liberal MP Anthony Rota said today.

"He's leaving these towns and cities in the cold. Thousands of communities between Sault Ste Marie and Winnipeg do not have rail or air service, and Greyhound was their lifeline to the world," said Mr. Rota. "Folks are not going to be able to travel down the highway to get medical checkups or fill prescriptions or shopping for necessities."

"It is imperative that Mr. Harper find a solution when his transportation minister sits down with provincial transport ministers and Greyhound in October."

In early September Greyhound announced that it planned to halt bus service to its least profitable routes, beginning with routes west of Sault Ste. Marie in Northern Ontario and Manitoba. The changes were to take effect in Manitoba in early October and in Northern Ontario on December 2. However it was announced this week that Greyhound may delay a final decision until after an October 22 meeting of provincial and federal transport ministers.

"This Reform-Conservative government has continually let Northern Ontarians down," said Liberal candidate Roger Valley. "They've failed these residents in the mining industry, the forestry sector, they've left these residents to fend for themselves in a jobs crisis and now residents are left with nonexistent options for travel."

"It is clear is that Stephen Harper isn't willing to stand up for rural Canadians."

"Northern Ontarians deserve better. Canada can do better," Mr Rota added.

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