Mr. Speaker, the government has northern Ontario singing the lonesome railway blues.
CN Rail has cut Algoma Central Railway's passenger service for the second time in three years. Tourist operators, small towns and first nations communities will suffer.
Meanwhile, CN Rail, built with federal support and the recipient of federal subsidies, announced today a profit of $2.09 billion for 2006, meaning more profits and less service.
Have we forgotten that CN is required to run whatever passenger service the government deems necessary?
Our tourism strategy must be in sync with our train strategy. Ontario tourism generates $20.8 billion in revenue and employs over 320,000 people.
Investing in passenger trains creates jobs, generates taxes, helps the environment and gives northerners access to regional health care delivery.
Let us stop the strategy of abandonment for Algoma's trains. Let us get CN Rail back on track. All aboard?