Transportation cuts in northern Ontario 'disconnects' residents

The MP for Timmins James Bay says he's concerned about access to transportation in this region.

Last week, Bearskin Airlines announced it will cut service between the northeast and Ottawa.

And, after the federal government cut its funding, Algoma Rail may not run this season between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst.

Charlie Angus said there are other airlines to service the areas, but noted that losing any type of flight or rail service isn't good for the region.

"Without the train and with really, sometimes, spotty bus service, I feel like people feel much more isolated from the rest of the province, Angus said.

You have to ask yourself, in 2014, would we ever think the province would be more disconnected?"

Meanwhile, members of the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains are waiting to see if the federal government will chip in for that train to continue to run.

Coalition spokesperson Linda Savory Gordon said the final train is set to go at the end of April. She said it would cost the federal government $2.2 million to have the train run this season.

"And the estimated impact on the regional economy would be many, many times that. There [are] just so many businesses. It's not just the lodges and tourist outfitters, but when people go in and rent cabins and so on, they buy groceries at local stores, they buy fishing gear."

Savory Gordon said the coalition will continue to lobby the federal government to keep funding the line.