News Release Archives

Rail Corridor Renewal Support Campaign Growing

For immediate release
July 10, 2008

NANAIMO, B.C. – The group working to save the Island Rail Corridor says support for its efforts to get federal and provincial help for the $103.8-million project is growing across the island.

“More than 60 Key Supporter groups have joined the campaign to encourage the higher levels of government to invest in this incredible asset,” said Mary Ashley, Co-Chair of the Island Corridor Foundation, the non-profit society that owns and manages the rail corridor. “These are businesses, municipal councils, chambers of commerce, tourism and economic development organizations from across the island who all agree rail is important to the island.”

“We’re over half way to our goal of signing up 4,000 people as Friends since the Our Corridor: Rail Renewal Campaign was launched in March,” said Mary Ashley. “Over 2,100 individuals are showing support for saving rail on Vancouver Island.”

“We know we’ve got a solid business case and support is building,” said Frank Butzelaar, President of Southern Railway of BC whose trains operate on the line. “We are working hard to build our business case further to show both the provincial and federal government that rail is integral to the economic diversity and viability of Vancouver Island.”

At a meeting held today in Nanaimo with key supporters and business leaders to plan campaign strategy, participants discussed everything from raising public awareness of the island’s rail assets and the benefits to the community to the continued need to press the provincial government to support the rail renewal with key funding.

“The people and communities of Vancouver Island, through the Island Corridor Foundation, own our rail corridor but, after years of neglect under previous owners, we need to bring it up to North American standards, and to do that we need the senior governments investing with us,” said Ashley.

Speaking at a Rotary Club function in Port Alberni on Thursday, campaign co-chair Chief Judith Sayers spoke passionately about why it is critical this project move ahead.

“Vancouver Island needs an affordable, efficient, safe, green transportation corridor for goods and passengers while significantly reducing greenhouse gases, truck traffic and traffic congestion,” she said.

The group of First Nations, tourism, business and community leaders trying to revitalize the rail line will be raising the profile of the campaign by speaking directly to residents in various communities over the summer.

“You’re going to be seeing and hearing more from us over the coming weeks and months,” said Ashley. “Watch for us at your local markets, fairs and exhibitions and other community events.”

“We want everyone on the island to know that now is the time to speak up. We need their help now if we are going to save the rail corridor on Vancouver Island. There is a strong business case for rail and other parts of the country are investing in short line rail as they see the future is rail. The island deserves a new line – ready and able to deliver on better transportation.”

Plans also include setting up satellite “support offices” in communities along the rail line such as Duncan, Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Courtenay/Comox to bolster efforts to get federal and provincial support.

Volunteers staffing the satellite “offices,” (more than likely their kitchen tables – reflecting the grassroots nature of the campaign) will be encouraging people to visit the ourcorridor.ca website to sign up as Key Supporters or Friends of the Corridor, and to write their MLAs and MPs requesting their support.

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For more information contact:
Kim Van Bruggen, Island Corridor Foundation
250-727-7464

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The ICF is a partnership of First Nations, five regional and 14 municipal governments which created the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) and took ownership of the $366 million rail corridor asset in 2006 on behalf of the people and communities of Vancouver Island. Under an agreement with ICF, SVI will continue to act as the rail operator for both freight and passenger services. VIA Rail, which offers the current passenger service, is fully supportive of the Coalition’s plan.

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