WATERLOO - Two-way, all-day GO train service is the single most important investment Ontario can make to boost the economy, chamber of commerce president Ian McLean said Friday as he urged the province to make a clear commitment to improve intercity transit.

Local business groups and leaders lined up Friday to make a strong case for the province to commit to improved rail service between Toronto and Waterloo Region.

"There is no other investment this government can make that will have the same economic impact as two-way all-day GO," McLean said.

The Queen's Park finance committee came to Waterloo for a day of prebudget consultations as part of a tour of six cities to consult on the 2019 budget, expected this spring.

A real commitment would include three things, McLean said: a concrete plan, a clear timeline and funding commitments.

The request had a new sense of urgency. Area leaders and businesses have been calling for better rail links for years but "not enough has happened," McLean said in an interview.

"Businesses, municipalities, post-secondary institutes, the Communitechs and MaRS of the world, economic development, everybody is saying we have to have this happen. So there is this sense of urgency," he said.

The lack of fast transit connections to and from Toronto is "the biggest single obstacle in attracting and retaining the talent we need to grow our economy," Communitech CEO Iain Klugman said.

It's the most common issue tech companies bring up, Klugman said. They "struggle to attract the talent and capital necessary to grow their businesses in the region, and regularly waste valuable time on the 401."

Smaller tech firms that are looking to grow, as well as larger companies like Google and Shopify, plan on hiring thousands of people in the region over the next several years. "The key challenge they all face is attracting that talent to the region - and providing viable transit is vital in accomplishing that," Klugman said.

Regional Chair Karen Redman's remarks to the committee also had a sense of urgency. "The region encourages whatever work will bring faster, more frequent GO Train service to Waterloo Region as quickly as possible - especially on inbound morning trains," she said.

A clearer commitment is vital, she stressed. "The lack of details about the specific implementation plan, schedule and budget is causing confusion and concern in the community. More clarity as soon as possible will be appreciated."

Better rail service isn't just an issue for Waterloo Region, said Janet De Silva, president of the Toronto Region Board of Trade. Manufacturing firms won't invest along the Toronto-Waterloo corridor "if we can't fix the gridlock on the 401," she said.

Investing in rail service would have several political wins, McLean argued - it helps the environment, helps attract talent and promotes job creation and economic growth. "There is no other ask that can do all that," he said.

"Every day we delay in making this decision is another job not created, another Ontario innovation company that cannot reach its full potential," McLean said.

But improving rail connections has a multibillion price tag. The Ford government has said it supports all-day two-way GO, but hasn't committed to a firm timeline or budget. In December it shelved plans for a freight rail bypass considered critical to improving GO train service.

The Ford government has said its 2019 budget priorities focus on creating jobs, cutting taxes and improving health care. It has also said it wants to cut $6 billion in government spending.

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