I rode it with my dad and younger brother in 1979 or 1980 - went on to Moosonee. I must say that as a teenager it didn't make a great impression on me.

The Provincial government of Ontario is really in a tight spot with getting the provincial deficit under control and are cutting from every area it can. This includes the provincial parks and the teacher collective agreements (here the government is changing how sick days are awarded and used. Only 10 per year and they do not accumulate as in the past. This also means that for the teachers and employees that had the benefit of being paid out for unused sick days when they retire will also loose that perk, comes out to half a year pay and can be tax free if done right).

If the government gets all the changes through then the deficit will be more manageable, but a lot of people will not be happy.
In the end though the real dollar value saved will not be the bean counter theoretical value calculated on paper.

In the last election the Porvincial Government spent a lot to keep things going and people happy, now looking back makes one wonder when it happens again: How long will it be after you feel that you are finally getting one step ahead that you realize you are now two steps back .

Fortunately, the ONR Polar Bear Express (Cochrane to Moosonee) is still in operation. Information on the Polar Bear can be found at http://www.ontarionorthl...polar-bear-express-train
. Chris