April 16 2026

CHAPLEAUEXPRESS By-electionsPropelTheLiberals ToAMajorityGovernment

BBCNews

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says the country's voters have demonstrated trust in his government's plan, afterhisLiberalPartysecuredaslimmajorityin theHouseofCommons.

TheLiberalsareprojectedtohavewonall three by-elections that took place on Monday Theseareontopofgainsmadeoverthelastyear through five opposition members of parliament defectingtoCarney'sparty

ThePMwillnowbeabletopasslegislation without relying on support from opposition benches,andhecouldstaveoffafederalelection until2029.

Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said Carney had relied on defections to win his majority, in an attempt to gain "power without anyaccountability".

The by-elections took place in two Toronto-area ridings, or constituenciesScarborough Southwest and UniversityRosedale - as well as in the Quebec riding of Terrebonne, where the contest was closely fought.

Through the night, Canadian media projected wins for the Liberal candidates in eachplace.

Carney congratulated all three winning Liberal candidates, who were Doly Begum, Danielle Martin and Tatiana Auguste respectively.

InastatementpostedonX, the PM wrote that the various candidates from all parties who had contested the elections had "strengthened our democracy at a decisivemomentforCanada".

He went on to say: "Tonight, voters have placed their trust in our new government's plan We accept that support with humility, determinationandaclearunderstandingofwhat thismomentdemands."

analyst Derek Holt last week on the expected Liberalgains.

Liberals will now hold 174 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons, giving Carney morelatitudewithhispoliticalagenda.

Carney has focused that agenda on boosting Canada's economy, notably in the face of a challenging trade relationship with the US, thecountry'slargesttradingpartner.

Hewillfacenewpressuretoalsodeliver on significant domestic promises, including major investments in housing construction and on national defence, and making Canada an "energysuperpower".

"Thetimefordelaysorexcuseswillhave passed and with it the expectations will rise acrossmultiplepolicyarenas,"wroteScotiabank

OnTuesdaymorning,Carneysaidvoters "placedtheirtrustinCanada'snewgovernment's plan".

"We accept their support with humility, determinationandaclearunderstandingofwhat thismomentdemandsforourcountry."

Hesaidhewouldmovequicklytodeliver onhiscommitmentsatanewsconferencewhere heannouncedatemporarysuspensionoffederal fueltaxondieselandpetrol,similartoaproposal thathadbeenpushedbytheConservativesasfuel pricesriseduetotheIranconflict.

He also defended getting his majority mandate in part through defectors from other parties,saying"we'refortunatetohavethemand we'removingtogetherwiththem".

OntarioIncreasingWSIB BenefitstoProtectInjuredWorkers

Proposed changes would give injured workers more income support and update rules to reflect today’s workforce

The Ontario government is delivering on its plan to protect Ontario workers by proposingthefirstincreaseinnearly30yearsto income replacement benefits workers receive through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) if they are injured on the job. The proposed changes would also update the WorkplaceSafetyandInsuranceActtoensure workerscontinuetoreceivesupportsiftheyare planningtoworkpasttheageof65.AsOntario continues to face economic uncertainty and impacts from U.S. tariffs, the government is taking bold and decisive action to protect workersandensuretheyhavethesupportsthey need to stay financially secure if they are injuredonthejob.

“Noworkershouldhavetoworryabout paying their bills while they recover from a workplaceinjury,”saidDavidPiccini,Minister

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Carole Pineau

E s t d é c é d é e subitement à son domicile de Sudbury, Ontario, le jeudi 26 février2026àl'âgede 65ans.

Fille chérie de feus Alexandre et Rosa Pineau Elle laisse dans le deuil sa sœur Hélène, ses frères Jules, David (Joanne) etsasœurRachel,ainsiquesonneveuAlex. Unemessecommémorativeseracélébréeà l'église Sacré-Coeur de Chapleau à une date ultérieure.Lesdétailssuivront. (Arrangements confiés à la Maison funéraire Kerry,Wawa,1-800-439-4937).

www.kerryfuneralhome.ca

OBITUARY

Carole Pineau

Passed away unexpectedly at her home in Sudbury, Ontario on Thursday February 26, 2026attheageof65years.

Beloved daughter of the lateAlexandre and Rosa Pineau. She is survived by her sister Hélène, her brothers Jules and David (Joanne),andhersisterRachel,aswellasher nephewAlex.

AmemorialmasswillbeheldatSacredHeart Church, Chapleau later this year Details will follow (Arrangements entrusted to Kerry Funeral Home,Wawa,1-800-439-4937).

www.kerryfuneralhome.ca

of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.“Byproposingthefirstincrease to income replacement benefits in nearly 30 years,ourgovernmentishelpingensureinjured Ontarianscanfocusongettingbetter.Ontario’s workersbuiltthisprovince,andwewillalways havetheirbacks.”

These proposed changes would, if passed, increase WSIB Loss-of-Earnings (LOE) benefits to 90 per cent of a worker’s take-home pay, up from 85 per cent, meaning workers would keep more of their income while they recover This increase would help injuredworkersmanagetherisingcostofliving whilemaintainingthelong-termstabilityofthe WSIB. For example, a worker earning $60,000 a year would receive$2,411moreinbenefits overoneyear.

Ontario will also be introducing changes in recognition that more workers are choosing to work past the ageof65.Ifpassed,thechanges wouldalloweligibleworkersto continue receiving LOE benefits after age 65 if they planned to keep working, instead of automatically losing those benefits at age 65 under the current rules Giving the WSIB discretion to continue paying LOE benefits past that age helps ensure older workers who are injured do not lose income they were counting on fortheirretirement.

Theseproposedchanges arepartofabroaderpackageof measures the government will introduceinthecomingdaysto continue delivering on its plan tocutredtape,protectworkers and make Ontario the most competitive place in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business.

Since 2023, the average retirement age in Canada has exceededage65.

According to Statistics Canada, about 444,000 Ontarians aged 65 and older remained in the workforce in 2025 (about 5.4 per cent of

Ontario'slabourforcethatyear).

Proposed changes would, if passed, applytoeligibleworkersonorafterthedatethe legislationisproclaimed.

TheWSIBadjustsbenefitsannuallyfor cost-of-livingincreasesbasedontheConsumer PriceIndex(CPI).

LOE benefits were reduced in 1998 when the WSIB faced significant financial pressures. Since 2018, the WSIB has eliminateditsunfundedliabilityandcontinues tomaintainastrongfinancialposition.

The WSIB’s current average premium rateis$1.23per$100ofinsurableearnings,the lowestinover50years.

Chapleau

Chapleauexperiencing'tremendouspowershift'tooas societalchangeincommunicationstakesplaceglobally

Fromthearchives of

Moments MichaelJ. Morris

More than 20 years ago now Howard Rheingold,oneofthepioneersofvirtualcommunities, said that " a tremendous power shift is underway...thispowershiftisaboutpeopleand our ability to connect with each other in new ways..."

Speaking at the first Writers' Retreat on Interactive Technology and Equipment conference sponsored by the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and Emily CarrCollegeofArtandDesign,Rheingoldnoted in 1994 that he was struck by the "citizen-to citizenmovementnowknownasvirtualcommunity"poppingupeverywherehetravelled.

Iwasattheconferencepreparingtoteach myfirstWritingforNewMediacourseatCollege of the Rockies where I was also working on the developmentofagradprograminNew(Social) Media Communications launched a year later Very few people at the time agreed with Rheingold and other internet pioneers who believedasIdidthatwewereembarkingonthe biggestsocietalchangeincommunicationssince thedaysofGutenbergandhisprintingpress.

I spoke on the topic of how the Internet coulddefeatpoliticians,orhelpthemwin, atan annual conference of the Canadian Association

of Journalists in 1996, and argued, that in due course, it would be a major contributing factor Interestingly, the old guard in the room vehementlydisagreedwithme,whilecampusjournalists supported my position.The old guard, and me,hadneverheardofBarackObamain1995.

Fastforwardtonow!Youdon'thearmuch about virtual communities now, as all the talk is aboutsocialmedia.Thepowershifthasoccurred despite the naysayers then and now, because of our need to connect, one with the other, and we have choices like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Skype,andyes,evenemail.

Recently, I have been thinking about Chapleaufolksandhowtheyareconnectingwith eachothernomatterwheretheymaylivetodayas I watch a group of Facebook friends communicate with each other each morning. They share the weather report from where they live, so typically Canadian, and other news I won't identify them as I did not request permission to use their names but I really enjoy their daily meeting.

Ihaveusedthreephotoswiththiscolumn toprovideexamplesofthreeChapleaupageson Facebook which are in my view at least very successful.

One is the Chapleau History and Genealogy group launched by Louise (Tremblay) Etter which now has over 1,500 members.Itsmembersprovideawesomephotos andcommentsrelatedtothehistoryofChapleau anditspeople.

Ienjoy"ChapleauKebsquasheshing"the golf club page because weekly it provides information on club activities, most particularly

"Adult Night" winners. Despite my almost 30 years away from Chapleau, I still can identify mostofthegolfers.

AndIselectedtheTrinityUnitedChurch pageasagreatexampleofhowtokeepmembers informedonchurchactivities.

There are many other Chapleau pages, whichIamdelightedtosee,andshouldanywish tocontactmeaboutthempleasefeelfreetodoso.

Despite having taught social media, I joined Facebook some years ago now at the suggestionofformerstudents,andIextendgreat thankstothem.Ihavebeenabletoreconnectwith so many people with whom I had lost touch for manyyears,andcatchupontheirlives.Facebook is also an example of the success of new media withitsconvergenceofallmediatodigitalforms.

AtanygiventimeonFacebook,"friends" areusingtext,stillphotos,videosandallkindof coolthingstocommunicatewithoneanotherand abroaderaudienceiftheywish.One-to-one,oneto-many, and many-to-many!!! While I have focused on Facebook, others like Twitter and Instagramarealsointhemix.

While teaching new media at COTR I mademanyfearlesspredictionsaboutwherewe Cont’donP.7

Trustintrains,governmentinstitutionsrequirespublicoversight

ByÉricBoutilier

The Government of Ontario and the Federal Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities have recently made headlines regarding announcements and discussionsheldonthetopicofpassengerrailin NorthernOntario.

In March, the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission purchased 205 kilometres of track between North Bay and Washago. The public now owns this strategic pieceofrailinfrastructure,whichshouldhelpthe Northlander operate more dependably through Cottage Country The company also began testingtheirnewtrainsetsacrosstheentirelength oftheroute.

At the same time, members of Parliament raised a number of issues plaguingtrainservicebetweenSudbury and White River to interim leaders and delegates of VIA Rail Canada. The organization intends to present a plan that ensures this remote, yet essential route is once again reliable and consistent(let’shope).

Thesearepositivedevelopments.

Undoubtedly, there are some important issues governments need to resolve.

We don’t know how well the Northlander train sets will perform in thedeadofwinter Thesameonespurchasedby VIA Rail infamously failed just before the holidays.

There is a ton of congestion between Washago and Richmond Hill that routinely createsdelaysandheadachesforVIA’s flagship train,theCanadian.WilltheNorthlanderbeable tokeepascheduleonthosesamesetoftracks?

Earlier this year, the Budd Car was inoperativefor25calendardaysduetorecurring mechanicalbreakdowns.Untilveryrecently,the baggage car was kaput. How much longer will this 70+ year old equipment continue running beforeitfailsoutright?

As constructive as the track purchase is towards reinstating the Northlander, we only achieve progress when we can investigate the problemsandengagepoliticians,bureaucratsand stakeholders in constructive conversations on issuesliketransportation.

In order to effect change and provide meaningful contributions to the discussion, the publicneedsaccurate,unbiasedinformationthat isn’t presented through the lens of a political party,orvettedbyamediarelationsdepartment.

The Freedom of Information and ProtectionofPrivacyActgrantsOntariansaccess to official data and records through various ministries, agencies or other public sector organizations like ONTC and GO Transit ― subject only to limited and carefully defined exceptions.

PremierDougFordwantstochangethat. Amongotherthings,he’sproposingtomakehis records as head of government and those of his cabinetministers’secret.

This is an alarming policy change for researchers, journalists and ordinary citizens who file FOIs to find out what’s happening behindthescenes.

If passed into law, the proposed changes will weaken our democracy. They will undermine confidence in government and taxpayerfundedinstitutions.

Since the creation of Northern Tracks Blog, I’ve filed nearly two-dozen access to informationrequestsonvarioustopicsrelatedto publictransportationinNorthernOntario.Afew excerptsinclude:

ONTC Rail Division Sustainability Plan (2009):

• “Generating some 35,000 annual passenger trips out of a total market base population of 200,000 (north of Toronto) is an acceptable performance in terms of indicating support for the service by actually using it [the Northlander].”

Sudbury-White River train service interruptions (2025):

• 44 cancellations due to engine failures, issueswithbatteries,fuelspills,exhaustleaks,or derailments from the passenger train or the host railway

• 326totalpassengersaffected.

Annual ridership, on-time performance and testtraindata

Whentheprovincialgovernmentwanted to deny access to what ultimately became the Updated Initial Business Case for the Northlander (prior to its release in 2022), I filed an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner(andwon).

Filing FOIs are incredibly time consuming,andthereisanominalfivedollarfee for each application. Depending on the topic or type of record requested, the province may chargeadditionalfeestofindthedatainquestion. But it’s a small price to pay for keeping governments in check. Politicians make decisionsonbehalfoftaxpayersandthegeneral public.Theyareaccountabletous,nottheother wayaround.

The former President of Kosovo,Atifete Jahjaga,says:“Democracymustbebuiltthrough opensocietiesthatshareinformation.Whenthere is information, there is enlightenment. When thereisdebate,therearesolutions.Whenthereis no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption,

UCFO

UCFO- Chapleau

Le cercle UCFO est fier d’annoncer la fin de la première phase de son projet intergénérationnel, qui s’est conclue le 7 avril dernier avec la participation des élèves de 7 e et 8 e année. Lors de cette activité, les jeunes ont eu l’occasion de choisir entre la confection d’un linge à vaisselle ou d’un tapis, leur permettant ainsi de découvrir et d’apprécier l’art

du tissage.

Nous sommes heureux de poursuivre cette belle initiative dès le lundi 13 avril, alors que nous accueillerons les élèves de 4 e , 5 e et 6 e année pour la prochaine phase du projet. À noter que les pièces réalisées par les élèves seront présentées lors de l’AGRA, qui se tiendra à New Liskeard au début du mois de mai. Une belle vitrine pour mettre en valeur le talent et le

Club Maria Chapdelaine

Résumé de l'article "19-25 avril: Semaine de l'action bénévole" paru dans Vivre+ (FARFO), édition avril 2026

Le bénévolat est un pilier essentiel de la vie communautaire, permettant de soutenir des causes, d’aider les autres et de renforcer la solidarité. Il repose sur l’engagement quotidien de nombreuses personnes et contribue parfois à la continuité d’activités essentielles.

Les personnes aînées y jouent un rôle central grâce à leur expérience, leur connaissance du milieu et leur disponibilité, constituant une richesse importante pour les communautés.

Le bénévolat procure aussi des bienfaits personnels, comme le sentiment d’utilité et le maintien des liens sociaux.Accessible sous diverses formes, il s’adapte à chacun et chaque contribution compte.

La Semaine de l’action bénévole est l’occasion de reconnaître cet engagement et de réfléchir à l’avenir du bénévolat afin de soutenir des communautés inclusives et solidaires.

Le Club Maria Chapdelaine ainsi que tous les groupes francophones de Chapleau désirent remercier sincèrement tous leurs bénévoles. Comme le dit l'article, sns bénévole, on ne pourrait exister! MERCI!!

CCLH

Un spectacle rassembleur avec Brian St-Pierre au Centre culturel

Le 9 avril dernier, le Centre culturel a vibré au rythme de la musique de Brian St-Pierre, qui a offert une performance chaleureuse et authentique devant un public conquis.

Dans une ambiance intime et conviviale, l’artiste a su captiver les spectateurs dès les premières notes. Entre chansons touchantes et moments plus rythmés, il a su créer une véritable connexion avec le public, qui n’a pas hésité à chanter et à participer tout au long de la soirée. Il a également su nous faire voyager à travers les différentes époques de sa carrière.

Le spectacle a permis de mettre en valeur le talent et la sensibilité de Brian St-Pierre, tout en offrant un moment de

rassemblement apprécié par la communauté. Plusieurs personnes présentes ont souligné la qualité de la prestation ainsi que l’atmosphère accueillante du Centre.

Nous avons aussi eu la chance d’accueillir une invitée spéciale de Chapleau, venue interpréter avec Brian la chanson Mon drapeau sur scène. Cette année marquant le 50e anniversaire du drapeau franco-ontarien, ce moment fut particulièrement touchant. Brian, auteur de cette chanson, a su raviver notre fierté franco-ontarienne en partageant la scène avec Celena, une jeune artiste locale.

Le Centre culturel tient à remercier chaleureusement l’artiste ainsi que tous les participants pour cette belle soirée.

Remerciementsàlacommunauté pourunmoisdemarsréussiÀla suitedesnombreusesactivités organiséesaucoursdumoisde mars,lesmembresdel’AFEC souhaitentexprimerleursincère gratitudeenverstoutela communauté.Quecesoientles participants,lesbénévoles,les artistesoulespartenaires,votre présenceetvotreengagementont grandementcontribuéausuccès decesévénements.Noustenons

égalementàremercier chaleureusementlespersonnes venuesdel’extérieurdelarégion pourprendrepartànosactivités, votreparticipationestprécieuse etenrichitnotre programmation.Grâceàvous,le moisdemarsaétéremplide momentsrassembleurs,culturels etmémorables.Merciàtoutesetà tous,etauplaisirdevousrevoir lorsdenosprochainesactivités!

Lastweekssolutions

MOMENTS IN TIME

On April 27, 1521, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan was killed during a tribal skirmish on Mactan Island in the Philippines

Earlierinthemonth,hehadmetwiththelocalchiefonthePhilippine island of Cebu, who, after converting to Christianity, had persuaded the Europeans to assist him in conquering a rival tribe on a neighboringisland Duringtheensuingconflict,Magellanwashitbya poisonedarrowandlefttodiebyhisretreatingfellowfighters

Vosplansd’étécomprennent-ilslasécuritécontrelachaleur?

(EN) Les épisodes de chaleur extrême, ou vagues de chaleur, présentent de graves risques pour la santé. Si vous n’êtes pas préparé, votre risquedemaladieliéeàlachaleuraugmente.Ces maladies peuvent vous affecter rapidement et entraîner des problèmes de santé à long terme, mêmelamort.

Voiciquelquesfaçonsdevouspréparerà lachaleuravantqu’ellen’arrive: Connaissezvosrisques

Les températures chaudes peuvent être dangereuses,surtoutsivousavez: ! desdifficultésrespiratoires ! desproblèmescardiaques ! del’hypertension ! desproblèmesrénaux

! unemaladiementale

! lamaladiedeParkinson

Si vous prenez des médicaments ou si vous avez un problème de santé, demandez à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien s’ils augmententlesrisquespourvotresantéencasde

chaleuretsuivezleursrecommandations Soyezprêtsàlachaleur

Prenez l’habitude de consulter les prévisionsetlesalertesmétéorologiqueslocales afindesavoirquandilfautêtreparticulièrement vigilant

Trouvez des moyens de rester au frais avant que la chaleur ne commence. Si vous possédez un conditionneur d’air, assurez-vous qu’il fonctionne avant l’arrivée de la saison chaude. Sinon, trouvez un endroit climatisé à proximité, où vous pourrez vous rafraîchir pendantlesjournéeschaudes Celavousaideraà mieuxgérerlachaleur.

Ayez une garde-robe d’été prête. Cela comprend porter des vêtements amples, de couleurs pâles et faits de tissus qui respirent. Protégez-vous en portant un chapeau à large bordetquiestperméableàl’airouenutilisantun parapluie.Lorsquevousachetezdeslunettesde soleil, assurez-vous qu’elles offrent une protectioncontrelesrayonsUVAetUVB

OntarioContinuestoCallfortheFullRemoval ofDutiesandTariffsonSoftwoodLumber

Today, Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products; Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources; and Vic Fedeli,MinisterofEconomicDevelopment,Job Creation and Trade, issued a statement in response to a preliminary indication from the U.S. Department of Commerce which suggests that softwood lumber duties may decrease from the current rate of approximately 35% later this year:

“Ontario’s forest sector has a global reputationasaleaderintheG7intheproduction ofhigh-qualitywoodandwoodproducts.People and businesses in Canada and the United States alike rely on Ontario-made softwood lumber to build homes and critical community infrastructure.

While this preliminary indication suggests some relief for softwood lumber producers later this year, Ontario remains firm thatdutiesareunwarrantedandnotsupportedby the evidence. We continue to call for the full removal of all duties that raise costs for both AmericanandCanadianfamilies.Theseongoing duties and tariffs reduce productivity, disrupt supply chains, drive up the cost of construction andmakehousinglessaffordable.

Trade and cooperation make our two countries stronger, safer and more prosperous. We urge the United States to work with Canada on a fair and long-term resolution in support of workers,familiesandbusinessesonbothsidesof theborder.”

ChapleauMoments

Cont’dfromP.3 wereheaded.AttimesIreallydidn'thaveaclue butknewsomethingbigwashappening.Iamstill learning.

In the COTR library where students had access to computers, they were banned by the powers-that-be from accessing chat rooms, which in those days was the main reason the students wanted to use the computers. To me it wasasuresignthatbigchangescouldnotbefar off.Thekidswerewayaheadinsocialnetworking, while the established order wanted to ban

themfromthepractice.Nowkidsare"tweeting" and"facebooking"andsoon.

WhenIthinkofitthough,mygeneration liked to pass notes around the classroom to our friends, which of course was forbidden. Now they stay in touch by texting each other on cel phones,andusingFacebook,Twitter,etc.Plusca change.Plusc`estlamemechose.

I would love to hear your comments on social media and its place in your life, and how youenjoystayingconnectedwithothers.Critics welcometoo!

Ayez des plans de visites en place

Organisez des visites régulières de membres de lafamille,devoisinsoud’amislorsdesjournées trèschaudesaucasoùvousauriezbesoind’aide. Les visiteurs peuvent aider à reconnaître les signesdemaladieliéeàlachaleurquipourraient nepasêtrecernéspartéléphone.

Élaborez un plan d’urgence pour votre foyer Élaborez un plan d’urgence domestique quiprendencomptelesmoyensdesepréparerà la chaleur extrême Voici quelques éléments à incluredansvotreplan:

Gardezvotreréservoird’essencerempli ouvotrevéhiculeélectriquebienchargé,aucas oùvousauriezbesoindevousrendrerapidement àunendroitfrais.

Desendroitsavecdesespacesintérieurs rafraîchis près de chez vous, comme un centre commercial, une épicerie ou une bibliothèque publique.

Avoirunplanenplaceavantunépisode de chaleur extrême peut aider à protéger votre famille Pour en savoir plus, consultez canada.ca/chaleur.

NorthlanderBeginsCriticalTestingPhaseinNorthernOntario Province delivering on its promise to bring back the Northlander later this year

Today, Premier Doug Ford was in North Bay to mark a critical step in the Northlander passengerrailservice’sreturntoservicelaterthis year, 14 years after it was cancelled by the previous government This return to service, which fulfils a key commitment as part of the province’s $70 billion plan to invest in public transit across Ontario, will take place following several months of rigorous testing now taking place along the entire route from Cochrane and TimminstoUnionStationindowntownToronto.

“For the first time in 14 years, the Northlander is back in Northern Ontario,” said Premier Doug Ford. “When it returns to service laterthisyear,theNorthlanderwillconnectpeople across Northern Ontario to life-changing opportunities,school,vitalmedicalappointments and more, while strengthening local towns and industries along the entire route, creating good

jobs and economic growth across the north for yearstocome.”

The province is nearing completion of “burn-in” testing on the first trainset, which has travelled more than 1,600 kilometres in conditionsthatsimulateregularservice.Thetrain will soon enter the next phase of testing and commissioning, known as Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD) During this phase of testing, Ontario Northland will train staff on the equipment, run emergency exercises, test schedulesandmakesureallsafetyandoperating systems are working properly along the full Northlander route. This phase will simulate normal operations, including station stops and announcements, before the line opens to the public.

ThesecondtrainsethasarrivedinOntario and will soon begin its own testing and commissioning along the Northlander corridor A confirmed return-to-service date will be announced in the coming months as testing proceeds. The province has also released anticipatedfaresatlaunch,which are approximately 10 per cent above the standard rate of travel ontheexistingOntarioNorthland busservice.Thispriceisdesigned to be competitive and accessible, while reflecting the cost of operating a more reliable and consistentpassengerrailservice.

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is protecting Ontario by restoring the Northlander and delivering reliable transportation for

northern communities,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation “This milestone brings us one step closer to connecting people to jobs, health care and opportunities across northeasternOntario.”

Many northern communities do not have access to taxis, local transit, rideshare or community transportation, making it harder for residents to reach Northlander stations or completetheirtripfrombeginningtoend.Tohelp address this, the Ontario government introduced the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, that would establish a Northern Rideshare Framework to support the growth of rideshare services in communitiesalongtheNorthlandercorridor.The frameworkwouldgivemunicipalitiesthetoolsto support local rideshare services, while helping informafutureprovincewideapproach.

The Northlander will travel 740 kilometresbetweenTimminsandToronto,witha railconnectiontoCochrane,foratotalof16stops.

The first Northlander trainset arrived in OntarioinDecember2025andunderwenttesting and commissioning in Toronto The second NorthlandertrainsetarrivedinOntariolastmonth.

Each trainset has 169 seats, including accessible seating, wide aisles, accessible washroomsandchargingports.

Theprovincehasinvestedmorethan$100 millioninrailinfrastructurenorthofNorthBayto support the return of Northlander passenger rail service.

Northern Ontario is home to more than 65,000 local businesses, contributing more than $55.5billiontoOntario’sGDPin2024.

Ontario is investing $70 billion in the largesttransitexpansioninNorthAmerica.