Enforce CTA Order 1990-R-673
Petitioners ask the Minister of Transport to enforce CTA Order 1990‑R‑673 and direct Canadian National to work with Port Stanley Terminal Rail and St. Thomas to reconnect the southern line to main London–Port Stanley line. The government responds that the Canadian Transportation Agency has no reported non‑compliance to date and will review any credible information.
Why we would sign this petition
- Reconnecting restores the continuous London–Port Stanley rail link and enables local operator Port Stanley Terminal Rail to use the full historic route.
- Enforcing the CTA order would uphold regulatory decisions and give the community a formal route to compel cooperation if parties fail to comply.
- Coordinated reconnection could support local heritage tourism and economic activity by improving transport and access along the historic corridor.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Enforcement may impose costs or obligations on Canadian National or local governments, shifting financial or operational burdens without clear funding.
- A physical 1,800‑foot gap and infrastructure constraints may make reconnection technically difficult, expensive, or operationally complex.
- The CTA has no current reports of non‑compliance; insisting on enforcement now may preclude negotiation or phased solutions that resolve issues cooperatively.
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 We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: The London and Port Stanley Railway was one of the first railway lines built in Ontario and has historical and cultural significance to Elgin County and the community of Port Stanley; The southern line to Port Stanley is disconnected from the main line in St. Thomas by approximately 1800 feet; The National Transportation Agency, now the Canadian Transportation Agency, ruled the Canadian National Railway Company could not sever the connection to the southern Port Stanley line and ordered restorative action in Order No. 1990- R-673; The locally owned and operated Port Stanley Terminal Rail has expressed the desire to reconnect the southerly portion of the London and Port Stanley Railway to the main line; Therefore, we the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call on the Government of Canada and Minister of Transport to: Enforce CTA Order 1990-R-673 and direct the Canadian National Railway Company to work with Port Stanley Terminal Rail and the City of St. Thomas to reconnect the southern line to the main London and Port Stanley Railway line.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Signed by Mike Kelloway The Canadian Transportation Agency (the Agency) acknowledges the community’s interest in reconnecting the line to Canadian National Railway’s main line. Order No. 1990-R-673 approved an application by Port Stanley Terminal Rail Inc. for connection to Canadian National trackage at a specified location in St. Thomas. To date, neither Port Stanley Terminal Rail Inc. nor Canadian National has advised the Agency of any concerns related to non-compliance with the order. Should the Agency receive information indicating issues with compliance, it will review the matter and determine whether any action is appropriate.