Ford leaves Northerners stuck waiting for Northlander: NDP

SUDBURY – Doug Ford promised to bring back the Northlander in his first term as premier, but confirmed Tuesday that’s not going to happen. Jamie West, NDP critic for Northern Infrastructure, Transportation and Roads, said Doug Ford and the Conservative government’s announcement Tuesday failed to fund the much-needed return of the Northlander. He issued the following statement on behalf of the Official Opposition:

“The Liberals scrapped the Northlander, making cuts that left Northerners behind. But Doug Ford and Vic Fedeli have let us down, too — it turns out their election promise to restore the Northlander in their first term in office was hollow electioneering.

More than three years later, and nearing the end of their term in government, the Ford government just gave us a plan to build a potential plan for years in the future. Sounds like more election promises with no train in sight.

Clearly the Northlander was never a priority for Doug Ford, Vic Fedeli and the Conservative government.

New Democrats are calling for funding for the project, and a clear timeline for when the trains will start running. And if Doug Ford refuses to deliver that before the election in 2022, the NDP is committed to reviving the Northlander, and the essential transportation service it provided for northern communities.

Northerners have waited long enough.”