The squeaky Quebec wheel gets the grease yet again

By Letter to the Editor on February 25, 2020.

I hate to be smug, but isn’t it rather nice to see Via Passenger Rail Service halted in Central Canada? What a hue and cry from those poor souls that are affected! Welcome to life on the southern Prairies for the past 50 years.

CP Rail was given every other 1/4 section of land across Canada to construct a railroad and provide rail service to achieve “Confederation.” This rail line covered the southern Prairies. Cities grew up along the rail line — Winnipeg, Brandon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Medicine Hat, Brooks and Calgary, plus many towns and villages. About 50 years ago, the CPR decided it could make more money hauling freight than passengers. So “Red Tory” Joe Clark, prime minister at the tine, switched Via Rail from the CPR southern Prairies to a more northernly route which just happened to go through his election riding of Yellowhead-Jasper. What a coincidence! Quite convenient for his re-election.

If the Laurentian elite want to save confederation from Western separatists, I would suggest they start by re-instating Via Rail service across the southern Prairies. Calgary has to be the only city in the world with 1.2 million residents that does not have passenger rail service. The feds have an infrastructure program costing in the billions that has not all been spent. Re-instating our rail service should be considered a priority. By the way, it was just announced last week, Feb. 18, that the only people in all of Canada that will have passenger rail service up and running again will be in Quebec – between Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa.

Don’t tell me the squeaky wheel doesn’t get the grease! It is amazing what Quebec has received and is still receiving by threatening separation!