Province calls last stop for Ontario Northland

On Sept. 28, the Northlander Train will make its last run between Toronto and Cochrane as a public service.

The announcement came Thursday morning as a part of the provincial government's controversial divestment plan, making itsfirst concrete blow to the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

As ofThursdaymorning, the word from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mineswas that, after the ONTC stops the service in just over a month, buses on that route will still run.

The Polar Bear Express train between Cochrane and Moosonee will not be affected.

The province announced plans to sell the Ontario Northland Transportation Corporation in its March budget, saying its annual subsidy had grown from $27 million in 2003 to about $100 million a year.

The government has also announced that the Ontera telecommunications system will be the first ONTC business in line to be put up for sale.