Northlander stop at Thorah Park
Petitioners ask the Minister of Transport to prioritize federal funding and support a Northlander stop at 23801 Thorah Park Blvd with Ontario Northland, Indigenous partners and developer public‑private partnerships. The government responds that Ontario leads the project, Canada is not currently funding it, and federal funds could be considered if the province requests them.
Why we would sign this petition
- Improves local transit access and reduces travel time for residents who currently lack a nearby Northlander stop.
- Could serve over 10,000 annual tourists and boost regional mobility, aligning with rural transit funding priorities noted by the petition.
- Collaboration with Ontario Northland, Indigenous partners and developer-led public‑private partnerships may leverage funding and speed delivery.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The Northlander project is led by the Province of Ontario and federal funding is not guaranteed, so urging federal priority may be ineffective.
- Building a new stop diverts infrastructure resources and may be less cost‑effective than investing in higher‑demand corridors.
- A better step may be a provincial project proposal with specific ridership and cost estimates before seeking federal funding.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Fair Transit for York-Simcoe: Northlander Passenger Rail Stop at 23801 Thorah Park Blvd We, the undersigned residents of the York-Simcoe area and citizens of Canada, draw attention to the following: Whereas, the York-Simcoe area currently lacks a Northlander rail stop, forcing residents to endure excessive travel times to access rail service; Whereas, adding a stop at 23801 Thorah Park Blvd would: •Serve residents of Brock Township, Vallentyne, Jackson's Point, and surrounding areas •Accommodate 10,000+ annual tourists visiting Lake Simcoe's south shore •Be more utilized than low-demand stops along the Northlander rail corridor Whereas, this aligns with federal priorities under the Rural Transit Solutions Fund and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP); Therefore, your petitioners call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Urge the Minister of Transport to prioritize funding for this stop through federal infrastructure programs; 2. Encourage collaboration between Ontario Northland, Indigenous partners, and the Thorah Park development to ensure the stop is built and services our community; 3. Support public-private partnerships that leverage developer contributions to expand transit access in undeserved rural areas.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada Signed by Jennifer McKelvie, M.P. The Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for sharing their concerns regarding the lack of access to rail services in the York–Simcoe area. The Northlander Rail Infrastructure project is led by the Province of Ontario, which is managing all aspects of procurement and project management. The Government of Canada is not a funder in this project and as such, the petitioners are encouraged to reach out to the Province to address their concerns. Should the Province of Ontario choose to seek federal funding for the project, and in particular for a station as noted by the petitioners, potential options would include the Canada Public Transit Fund. The Canada Public Transit Fund supports transit in communities of all sizes across Canada, providing funding for public transit projects that are of mutual interest to provincial, territorial and federal governments. Project leads would need to come forward with a specific funding request, in line with program requirements, for the federal government to be able to consider the request.