Peterborough commuter railway project remains in the hands of government officials
Shining Waters Railway president was encouraged by MP's interest in the project at November meeting.
Peterborough This Week
By
Jamie Steel
PETERBOROUGH — Nearly a decade after former Member of Parliament Dean Del Mastro introduced plans to bring a commuter rail from Toronto to Havelock, the Shining Waters Railway remains in the hands of federal and provincial government officials.
Tony Smith, Shining Waters president, says his main concern following the election was that all the documents, all the paperwork, all the effort they had put into the project so far would be destroyed. That, he says, is not the case. All files have been retained, he says, and now they are simply waiting for a decision.
READ MORE: Commuter rail to stay on track without Del Mastro as MP
On Nov. 26, Mr. Smith says three of the Shining Waters directors met with MP Maryam Monsef, just three weeks after her swearing in, to discuss the project.
“She certainly understood the importance of the project. We’re certainly encouraged by Minister Monsef’s interest in the project,” says Mr. Smith.
“It was an extremely good meeting,” he says.
Mr. Smith says the federal government has expressed interest in fast-tracking projects that are ready to go. The Shining Waters Railway, he says, fits that description.
“This is shovel-ready,” says Mr. Smith.
READ MORE: Study for proposed commuter rail complete
While the provincial government also has a role to play, Mr. Smith says the federal government will have to make a decision first.
“I don’t think we’re under any illusion this will happen in the next couple weeks. We can’t expect them to react within a month or two. It wouldn’t be realistic,” he says.
At a provincial level, MPP Jeff Leal says the project rests with ministry officials.
“There’s a lot of information to be analyzed,” he says.
MPP Leal says he has participated in many meetings and has heard the importance of not just commuter service but freight service as well. He says he’ll be sitting down with MP Monsef to further discuss the matter once their schedules allow.
The Ontario Legislature is on break until mid-February.
MP Monsef returned to her seat in the House of Commons this week as parliament resumed following winter break. She could not be reached for comment prior to This Week’s deadline.
At a
candidates debate in September, MP Monsef said she would support the passenger rail as long as the cost doesn’t burden area taxpayers.
Jamie Steel is a reporter with Metroland's Kawartha division. She can be reached at
jsteel@mykawartha.com. Follow her on Twitter at
@jamiecsteel and Peterborough This Week on
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