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> > TRANSPORT 2000 ATLANTIC News release April 20, 1999 > > HALIFAX - Federal plans to franchise most of Via Rail Canada's operations to the private sector may be a backward step for the national rail passenger network, according to the president of Transport 2000 Atlantic. > > John Pearce says federal transport minister David Collenette appears ready to press ahead with plans to franchise chunks of the Via system, despite evidence a similar initiative in the U.K. has been plagued by fragmented services and lack of investment. > > Mr. Pearce credited the transport minister acting on recommendations for Via Rail made last year by the House of Commons Transport Committee. But Pearce said the minister's haste has resulted in a process that is not as open as it should be for taxpayers and consumers. Despite initial promises by the transport minister to consult, Mr. Pearce says it now appears no dialogue with Via's passengers will take place until after the government's plans are finalized. > > Other options to improve Via's financial health are being ignored by the federal government, says Mr. Pearce, including the development of private sector partnerships, introduction of services such as mail and express, and needed capital funding. > > In attempt to provide public input to the process, Transport 2000 is hosting an open panel discussion on the future of Via Rail Saturday afternoon in Halifax. Pearce, rail author and historian Robert Tennant, and urban planner Marcus Garnet, will lead the discussion on the federal plans for Via's future, possible franchising models, and private-public > partnership opportunities. > > The session is set for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at St. Matthew's > church hall, 1471 Barrington Street. (near Spring Garden - next the Lt. Governor's Residence) > > -30- > > For media information: > John Pearce > (902) 469-3474 > jk.pearce@ns.sympatico.ca > ___________________________________________ > Roy Jamieson > Revenue Canada Communications > Phone: (902) 426-9889 > Fax: (902) 426-7024 > EMail: roy.jamieson@ms.rc.gc.ca > > --------------------------------------------------------------- -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- You received this because you are subscribed to "sust-mar", the Sustainable Maritimes mailing list. To unsubscribe, send email to <majordomo@chebucto.ns.ca> with "unsubscribe sust-mar" (without quotes) as the body of your message. To post a message to sust-mar subscribers, send it to <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca> Posts that are off-topic or excessive length (10K) will be rejected. For help contact <sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
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