Add Thorah Park Northlander stop
Petitioners ask the House to urge the Minister to fund and build a Northlander stop at 23801 Thorah Park Blvd via federal support and public–private and Indigenous collaboration. The government responds that Ontario is leading the project, federal funding is not currently provided, and federal funds could be considered if Ontario applies.
Why we would sign this petition
- Improves local rail access for Brock Township, Vallentyne, Jackson's Point and nearby residents, reducing travel time to rail services.
- Could serve over 10,000 annual tourists to Lake Simcoe’s south shore and attract higher ridership than existing low‑demand stops.
- Aligns with federal rural transit priorities and proposes cost‑sharing via developer contributions, Indigenous partnership and public‑private collaboration.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The petition seeks federal funding but the government says Ontario leads the project and is not currently funding it, so federal support may be unavailable.
- Projected ridership and tourist estimates may be uncertain; the stop might not justify capital and operating costs versus other priorities.
- Delivering the stop depends on provincial approval, a formal federal funding application and complex public‑private and Indigenous agreements, which could delay or impede the project.
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 Whereas The York-Simcoe area currently lacks a Northlander rail stop, forcing residents to endure excessive travel times to access rail service; 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; This aligns with federal priorities under the Rural Transit Solutions Fund and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). We, the undersigned residents of the York-Simcoe area and citizens of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: Urge the Minister of Transport to prioritize funding for this stop through the federal infrastructure program; Encourage collaboration between Ontario Northlander, Indigenous partners, and the Thorah Park development to ensure the stop is built and services our community; and 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.