Daniel Drolet, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Monday, October 06, 2008

Four federal election candidates in Pontiac riding -- including Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon -- pledged yesterday to help resurrect the Wakefield-Chelsea-Gatineau steam train.

There were even suggestions that the line, once fixed, could be used for a commuter train.

The four were taking part in an all-candidates' meeting in Wakefield organized by the Low Down to Hull and Back News and Friends of the Steam Train. Apart from Mr. Cannon, the Conservative incumbent, the meeting included Liberal Cindy Duncan-McMillan, New Democrat Céline Brault and Green candidate André Sylvestre. Bloc Québécois candidate Marius Tremblay and Marxist-Leninist Benoit Legros did not attend.

"If there's an issue where there's any consensus, it's this one," said Mr. Cannon, pledging that the government would make sure the train can reopen for the 2009 tourist season.

The other three candidates also strongly supported resurrecting the train. In fact, they even raised the possibility of using the track for a commuter line, an idea that was roundly applauded by the audience of about 150.

The train has been idle since May after a landslide forced the business to close. Since then, the owner has put it up for sale.

Area groups are trying to raise funds to repair the track.

Gatineau, Chelsea and La Pêche, which own the line, plan to kick in some money, but want the federal and Quebec governments to help.

Gatineau MNA Stéphanie Vallée has said Quebec is committed to repairing the rail line.

However, the federal government rejected a grant application in 2007 because the steam train did not carry freight.

© The Ottawa Citizen 2008