CFAX 1070 - Feb 20, 2009

WITH PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS UP FOR GRABS, A GROUP OF MAYORS AND COUNCILLORS ALONG WITH PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL POLITICIANS GATHERED IN LANGFORD FRIDAY MORNING TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR THE E&N RAIL LINE.

THEY'VE MADE THE CALL BEFORE, BUT THIS TIME THE GROUP OF POLITICIANS SAY THE FLOOD OF INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING FROM SENIOR GOVERNMENTS MEANS THE OPPORTUNITY IS HERE NOW TO REVITALIZE THE E&N RAIL BED -- AND, TO START MOVING COMMUTER AND FREIGHT TRAINS AND EVEN SPECIAL BUSES DESIGNED TO TRAVEL ON THE TRACKS.

WHAT WAS MISSING FROM THE EVENT AT THE LANGFORD TRAIN STOP ON STATION ROAD WAS ANY MEMBERS OF SENIOR GOVERNMENTS. MALAHAT JUAN DE FUCA MLA JOHN HORGAN SAYS THEY'RE HOPING TO CHANGE THAT WITH TODAY'S RALLY.

"THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE REQUIRES THE PROVINCE TO ASK FOR IT," SAYS HORGAN. "WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, AGAIN, IS REINFORCING TO THE SENIOR LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT THAT THIS IS NOT AN NDP IDEA, IT'S NOT A LIBERAL IDEA, IT'S NOT A CONSERVATIVE IDEA, IT'S A GOOD IDEA."

COLWOOD MAYOR DAVE SAUNDERS THE PROJECT IS MORE THAT A GREEN TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION, "IT'S A CHANCE TO CREATE JOBS - IT'S A CHANCE TO STIMULATE OUT ECONOMY. WHY WOULDN'T YOU DO IT?"

SAUNDERS SAYS THREE COLWOOD DEVELOPERS ARE READY TO TAKE PART IN THE PROJECT, ALL THEY NEED IS SENIOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.

VIEW ROYAL MAYOR GRAHAM HILL, SOOKE MAYOR JANET EVANS, LANGFORD COUNCILLOR LANNY SEATON AND OTHER FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL OPPOSITION POLITICIANS JOINED MEMBERS OF THE ISLAND CORRIDOR FOUNDATION AT THE EVENT.

- RYAN PRICE