Add Thorah Park Northlander stop
Petitioners ask the Minister of Transport to fund a Northlander stop at 23801 Thorah Park Blvd through federal infrastructure programs and to ensure Ontario and Indigenous collaboration and public–private partnerships. The government responds that Ontario leads the project and federal funding would require a provincial request to programs like the Canada Public Transit Fund.
Why we would sign this petition
- Reduces travel time by providing a local Northlander stop for York–Simcoe residents (Brock Township, Vallentyne, Jackson’s Point), improving access to rail service.
- Improves tourism and ridership: petitioners say it would serve 10,000+ annual Lake Simcoe visitors and be busier than low‑demand corridor stops.
- Leverages partnerships and funding by seeking federal infrastructure support plus Ontario, Indigenous collaboration and public‑private partnerships to share costs and accelerate delivery.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Jurisdiction and funding: the Northlander project is led by Ontario, so the federal government may not be able to act without a provincial funding request.
- Cost and priorities: building and operating a new station requires significant investment and may compete with other local or regional infrastructure needs.
- Practicality and process: federal support would require a specific provincial application to programs like the Canada Public Transit Fund, which could delay or alter plans.
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.