August 3, 2011

NDP’s Dougherty launches Facebook campaign to save Ottawa Valley rail line

Brian Dougherty at the Ottawa Valley Rail Line

PEMBROKE, August 3, 2011: NDP candidate Brian Dougherty has launched a Facebook campaign as part of his effort to raise a public outcry to prevent the removal of the Ottawa Valley’s only rail line.

While people are enjoying vacations and summer weather, CP Rail is at work beginning the processes of ripping up the train tracks through the Ottawa Valley, to the dismay of local residents, he said.

“It is unfathomable in this era of environmental concern for the provincial government to stand idly by while this critical transportation infrastructure is destroyed”, said Brian Dougherty, Ontario NDP candidate in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke. “They should be building infrastructure, not destroying it.”

Dougherty, who was nominated provincial NDP candidate for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke in June, points to the 30 million provincial dollars invested to save the CP rail in Northern Ontario as a precedent and asks why our MPP John Yakabuski has not said a word to access funding for our riding. “While we see investment in our neighboring ridings to the North, South East and West, we watch our infrastructure get ripped out of the ground” he said.

Alternatively, Dougherty calls for the provincial, federal and municipal governments to come to the table to develop a regional transportation strategy that connects the Valley with Ottawa, Ontario and the World. “The CP Rail line provides the perfect basis for a commuter rail to and from the city for residents and tourists, while offering local farmers and manufacturers a sustainable transportation alternative as the price of gas continues to skyrocket,” said Dougherty.

The Counties of Renfrew and Lanark called on both the Provincial and Federal governments to come to the table and play a key role in saving this economic asset. Resolutions were followed by a rally and press conference by municipal leaders on parliament hill, calling for a moratorium on rail line discontinuance to allow all stakeholders to have a coherent dialogue on the future of the rail line. “The responding silence has been deafening” said Dougherty, “it is just another example of the McGuinty governments blatantly disregard for rural Ontarians, while funneling money to the big cities for urban projects.” He said.

Dougherty is calling on residents throughout the Valley to speak up and make their voices heard through a Facebook campaign; Save the Railway. To participate, residents take a picture of themselves standing on the tracks, post it on Facebook at Brian Dougherty ONDP and spread the word. Residents are also encouraged to post pictures of local rail activity, to monitor the removal operations. “This is a way for residents to get involved and speak up before it is too late” said Dougherty. “If social media can transform governments, surely it can rally common sense,” he said.

Local NDP President and recent federal candidate Eric Burton joined Dougherty in calling on the public to show its support for rail. “The Ottawa Valley railway is not only part of our heritage that was paid for by our grandparents’ tax dollars, but it is critical to the future sustainability of our communities” said Burton.

Along with the reduced carbon footprint and environmental sustainability of rail, he is concerned that regional assets like AECL and CFB Petawawa will no longer be connected to the integrated transportation network, resulting in a decline of federal investment. “CFB Petawawa is in a strategic location because it is connected to the nation’s capital and the continent by both rail and road” said Burton. “Ripping up the tracks reduces its strategic value, and we may see those funds go elsewhere” he said.

CFB Petawawa utilized rail as the method of transportation for a recent troop and equipment movement to California. Burton says that this raises two critical questions. “First of all, if rail is not more efficient then truck for this purpose, why did the government mismanage our funds. On the other hand, if rail is the most efficient mode of transportation, why would we be removing the track? Are we not intending further operations?”

Despite the imminent threat to the rail line, Dougherty remains an active optimist. “As long as the rails are still in the ground, we are not going to give up trying to save them for future generations” he said. “After all, this is our home, and if we want our kids and grandkids to say the same, we have to plan and invest in our future.”

For up to date information on the Save the Railway campaign, follow Ontario NDP candidate Brian Dougherty at twitter.com/BrianONDP, join Brian on Facebook at Brian Dougherty ONDP or call (613) 620-5315.

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