The lobby group All Aboard Northern Ontario believes the ONTC move to expand northern bus service paves the way for improved rail in the future. Founder Eric Boutilier of North Bay says the bus expansion is the first sign that northern transportation is improving. Boutilier says the north has seen a steady decline in transportation beginning with federal cuts in 1990. He says the cuts continued and the big one was when the Ontario Liberals cancelled the Northlander in 2012. The lobby group says the bus expansion shows the ONTC has a vision for northern transportation.
