Barry Devolin, MP for Haliburton – Kawartha Lakes – Brock, Dean Del Mastro, MP for Peterborough, Tony Smith, Shining Waters Railway and Dan Stanford, Chair of the Eastern Ontario CFDC Network Inc.


Peterborough, ON - Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peter-borough Riding was at the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce today to announce that East-ern Ontario Development Program funding has be awarded to the Shining Waters Railway.

The Eastern Ontario Development Program helps to create, build and develop the necessary conditions to increase business and employment opportunities in Eastern Ontario communities by investing in six priority areas: business development; community development; skills development; access to capital; retention and attraction of youth; innovation and technological enhancements. In 2009, our Govern-ment committed an additional $20 million to the Program over two years through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. This past year, FedDev Ontario provided $8.8 million to 15 Eastern Ontario Community Futures Development Corporations to support local projects.

“I am very pleased to announce today’s investment under the EODP’s regional component to support the development of a financial business plan and an economic development analysis for the Shining Waters Railway.” stated MP Del Mastro.

With this support, the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce will undertake an economic impact analysis to re-establish a commuter rail and freight service between Toronto and Havelock via Peterbor-ough with eventual services through Perth. Upgrading the railway will create opportunities for expanded service resulting in potential growth far beyond existing usage.

“I applaud the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and the Shining Waters Railway Interim Board of Directors and Steering Committee for taking on this project.” stated Del Mastro. “The Cham-ber is a well respected organization and a catalyst for the development and organization of programs and services that help make this Region a better place to live and work.”

This project, supported by the EODP investment of up to $115,600, represents the potential that exists within our communities and fits within the Eastern Ontario Development Program’s objectives as it pro-motes community capacity building by supporting initiatives that stimulate business and community de-velopment opportunities. Other regional projects under the Eastern Ontario Development Program will be announced in the coming weeks.