Fund 50% of Bear Train
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to fund 50% of the cost to restore passenger rail service (Mask‑wa Oo‑ta‑ban/Bear Train) from Sault Ste. Marie north to Oba Lake.
Why we would sign this petition
- Restores year‑round, affordable transport to remote Indigenous communities, improving access to health care, jobs and traditional territories.
- An Indigenous‑led operator with a local agreement with Watco could create jobs and advance reconciliation while showing operational readiness.
- Would enable Indigenous, recreational and seasonal tourism and may reduce road/air travel, supporting more sustainable transport options.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Funding 50% imposes a significant federal cost that could compete with other budget priorities.
- Long‑term viability depends on ridership, tourism and employer use; if these fall short the route may need ongoing subsidies.
- Restoring and operating a remote rail line faces practical, regulatory and maintenance challenges that could increase costs or delay service.
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 Government of Canada As the only Indigenous-led train in Ontario, it would recognize the rights of Indigenous peoples and demonstrate positive steps toward reconciliation, including access through their remote traditional territories for several First Nations and the Metis Nation of Ontario and providing much needed employment opportunities and recognizing culturally sound practices; The Bear Train will be under the direction of the Mask-wa Transportation Association Inc. (MTA Inc.) created by Missanabie Cree First Nation; MTA Inc. has a collaborative relationship with Watco, owner of the Agawa Canyon Railroad line, and Watco has agreed to be the operator of the Bear Train when all funding has been obtained; Would provide safe, affordable, all-season access to remote wilderness areas; Transportation for Indigenous tourism, Group of Seven tourism, Francophone-Ontarian tourism, eco-tourism, accessible tourism and snowmobile tourism; An important all-season transportation for employees of mines and forestry operations; Provide all-season access to health-care and accessible transportation for people with disabilities and seniors; Proven economic benefits to all communities along the line---between $38 million and $48 million annual economic benefits and $6 million annual tax revenues (2014 study); Train travel to Searchmont Ski Resort; and Would support sustainable development by decreasing reliance on travel by road or air, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to fund 50% of the cost to restore passenger train service north of Sault Ste. Marie to Oba Lake in the form of the Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban (Cree for "Bear Train") for the above reasons.
Government response
No government response is available yet.