Here is an update on the work that Chief Jason Gauthier has completed in order to bring back passenger service from the Sault to Hearst. 

The Chief has had very productive meetings with CN and Watco, the new owner of the line from Sault Ste. Marie to Oba. 

In order to operate a rail line in Ontario, the Missanabie Cree First Nation had to comply with the following requirements:

1. Receipt of a Railway Operating Certificate
2. Completion of the Bear Train business plan. A revised plan is being completed by the Mask-wa Transportation Association Inc. Board to reflect recent changes, with the addition of a well-defined Marketing Plan and current marketing data
3. Completion of a required safety plan



The Federal Government’s Ministry of Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAC) officials supported the proposed Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban (Bear Train), seeing it as an important economic development opportunity, providing stable employment for Indigenous people, and as a clear example of a Reconciliation project in the spirit of the “Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action” which the Federal Government committed to implementing. To that end, INAC provided financial resources for the development of the first business plan. While INAC assistance was essential and much appreciated, INAC is not able to provide the transportation operational resources required to run the passenger service. 

To develop the Bear Train Business Plan, Missanabie Cree First Nation engaged the services of transportation and financial experts under the leadership of Richard Lande (Avocats/Barristers & Solicitors, Transport Law). Richard Lande made this comment about the group of advisors: “(The) 5-year business plan is intended to provide a realistic overview of the costs and revenues of continuing the Algoma passenger rail service in a safe and professional manner, by the Missanabie Cree First Nation. Our firm has been assisted by an advisory group of railway operations experts in the vetting and support of the implementation plan. This advisory committee includes Gary Schlaeger, former Vice President of Burlington Northern Railway, Travis Smith, Vice President of the Genesee & Wyoming Railway Francois Prenovost, Executive Vice President of Rail Term, and Aaron DeGodny, President and Chief Operating Officer of Rand Logistics Inc.