The I.C.R. and the Canada Atlantic.

In connection with the passing through the House of Commons of the bill authorizing the G.T.R. to acquire and take over the Canada Atlantic Ry. the announcement was made April 5, that special legislation would be introduced by the Government to enable it to take running rights over the G.T.R. from Montréal to Coteau, Que., and over the Canada Atlantic Ry. from Coteau, Que., to Depot Harbor, Ont., upon terms to be fixed by the Railway Commission. This will enable the I.C.R. to run its trains through from Halifax, N.S., and St. John, N.B., to Depot Harbor, Ont. The proposed legislation provides not only for the use by the I.C.R. of the Canada Atlantic Ry. Co.'s terminals at Depot Harbor, Ont., but gives authority to provide independent terminals there should circumstances warrant it. The Minister of Railways, in announcing the forthcoming legislation, stated the tolls to be charged by the I.C.R. west of Montréal should be subject to the control of the Railway Commission, and added that the Commission would have no more control of the line east of Montréal than it has at present. It would be the Government's policy to use the line between Georgian Bay and Montréal, together with the present system, for the purpose of taking freight from the Great Lakes to the Canadian seaboard, at Montréal, Québec, Halifax, St. John and possibly Sydney.

The special legislation necessary to give effect to the Government proposal was introduced April 10, and consists of an amendment to the Railway Act. The proposal is that on the transfer of the Canada Atlantic Ry. to the G.T.R., the Government reserves running powers over the G.T.R. from Montréal to Coteau, Que., and over the C.A.R. from Coteau, Que., to Parry Sound, Ont., for through freight and passenger trains, and to do a local freight and passenger business. The terms of compensation for such rights are to be determined by the Railway Commission, with an appeal to the Supreme Court instead of to the Governor-in-Council as in ordinary cases. The Premier explained that it was not the intention of the Government at present to run I.C.R. trains from Montréal to Georgian Bay, but as the G.T.R. and the Canada Atlantic Ry. were making an agreement between themselves, the Government merely ensured that if it were desired to have running rights for the Intercolonial Ry., the Railway Commission was authorized to fix the terms. The bill was read a first time.

Railways: C.A.Ry., G.T.Ry., I.C.Ry.

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