Mr. Speaker, I rise with petitions signed by people from the regions of Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie.
As the House knows, the issue of public transportation in northern Ontario is becoming increasingly critical with the shutdown of the Ontario Northland. Now we see the failure of the Conservative government to protect the interests of the people in the Sault Ste. Marie region with the Algoma Central Railway.
It plays an important role in development in our region. Many of our communities rely on it. For many of our businesses, it is an economic corridor as well.
The petitioners are calling on the Conservative government to stand with the people of northern Ontario and support public transportation by maintaining support for the Algoma Central Railway.