Today, VIA is once again being forced to chop services on what many consider to be already a minimal rail passenger system. A federal government cut of $41 million in VIA operating funds over the next three years has already forced the discontinuance of several VIA trains. More cuts are coming.
Behind this decision is a long list of vested interests who are – and always have been – hostile to VIA’s existence. They include numerous high-ranking civil servants, certain freight railways and tourist train operators, and some of VIA Rail Canada’s air and highway competitors.
If they get their way, Canada will be the only industrialized nation without modern, effective rail passenger service. It will make us totally dependent on less efficient and unsustainable forms of transportation. We will be socially, economically and environmentally uncompetitive with those other countries that are investing today in
expanded and improved rail passenger service.
What can you do about it? You can join us for one of the numerous National Dream Renewed town hall workshops we will host across Canada this fall. This is your chance to learn more about VIA and voice your opinion about its future. Details of this joint initiative by Transport Action Canada and its five regional affiliates are available on the project’s dedicated website at http://nationaldreamrenewed.com
What else can you do? You can become a National Dream Renewed sponsor. Your donation will help Transport Action take the workshops across the country and give all Canadians a voice in this latest attack on VIA.
The easiest way to donate: By PayPal.ca to ndr@transport-action.ca (PayPal also accepts Visa or MasterCard).
By cheque: for this important public education, consultation and outreach project should be marked National Dream Renewed and made payable to:
Transport Action Canada
Box 858, Station B
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5P9
(Registered Charity 119268571RR0001)
An official receipt for income tax purposes will be provided.
We need your help to save VIA and all rail passenger service across Canada!
Please join us in ensuring we finally have the efficient, affordable and sustainable rail passenger service that Transport Action has called for since our 1976 inception as Canada’s only nationwide public transportation education and advocacy association.
Your donation will help to make the National Dream Renewed a reality!
All inquiries regarding donations to National Dream Renewed should be directed
to Elizabeth Hill at lhill@istar.ca or (416) 497-6090.
