A bipartisan provincial finance committee has recommended the government support creating commuter and freight rail on Vancouver Island.

The recommendation goes a long way to place commuter rail on the provincial government’s radar from a neutral voice, said John Horgan the NDP MLA for Malahat-Juan de Fuca and a member of the committee.

“This is a huge win for us on southern Vancouver Island,” Horgan said. “The challenge now is having (Finance Minister) Colin Hansen having the debt room.”

The select standing committee on finance and government services held public hearings around the province earlier this year, including a stop in Langford, to identify potential government spending priorities. The committee has Liberal and NDP politicians.

Of the 68 recommendations to the finance minister, the committee made partnering with the federal government and the Island Corridor Foundation to develop rail infrastructure and commuter rail a priority. It is one of seven priorities identified under provincial capital spending.

Groups such as Communities for Commuter Rail (C4CR), the ICF, West Shore-area developers and politicians spoke on developing rail at the Langford hearing, the first time the committee has met on the West Shore.

“This de-politicizes the debate on commuter rail,” Horgan said. “Every community (the committee visited in B.C.) had great ideas. All the committee members agreed commuter rail makes the most sense. It’s a huge step forward.”

“It says to government what infrastructure it should look at to prime the pump as we go into an economic downturn.”

The committee didn’t recommend a dollar amount.

The ICF, a public federal charity, owns the E&N rail corridor from Victoria to Courtenay. It estimated about $100 million is needed to upgrade the tracks for commuter and freight rail. C4CR, with West Shore, Victoria and transportation representatives, released a study in January estimating $16 million is needed get a basic commuter bud car going.

“I’m pleased to see the recommendations come through. It’s confirmation we’re on the right track,” said Geoff Pearce, chair of C4CR. “It’s now on the provincial priority list. We just have to see what the government does in its next budget.”

Horgan expects if the Ministry of Transportation comes onboard and convinces the federal government to help, the first project will be a commuter system between Langford and Victoria.

There seems to be some appetite from the West Shore public for commuter rail. A non-binding referendum question similar to the finance committee’s recommendation found support by a wide measure. Langford and Colwood voters were about 93 per cent in favour.

“This isn’t an NDP idea or a Liberal idea,” Horgan said. “It’s just a good idea.”

The select standing committee finance report can be found at www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com