Mayor Diane Therrien told a business crowd at the Peterborough Curling Club on Friday that she met with Via Rail officials lately about the potential for a passenger rail service in Peterborough, and she was encouraged by what she heard.

"There's some new management there (at Via) that's really aggressive and keen to get it done," she said.

Via Rail has proposed a new passenger train service between Ottawa, Peterborough and Toronto. Although the plan was to introduce the service in 2020, it needs federal approval and money.

Therrien was speaking on Friday at the StoneHouse Hall, which is the banquet facility at the curling club, before a sold-out crowd at the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Power Hour.

The Power Hour is a chance for the mayor, the county warden, the MP and the MPP to speak as a panel about a wide array of topics.

Chamber policy analyst and communications specialist Sandra Dueck asked questions, which Therrien answered alongside County Warden J. Murray Jones and Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith.

Federal Women and Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef, the MP for Peterborough-Kawartha, was in Ottawa Friday for a cabinet shuffle that gave her the additional portfolio of international development.

Smith said the Via Rail service would remove vehicles from the roads and make it a quick 43-minute commute to Toronto from Peterborough.

"We should be ensuring that all levels of government get out of the way so that train can come through," he said.

Talk later turned to the long-standing stalemate between the city and Cavan Monaghan Township over a land annexation proposal.

Last year, it looked as though the city might've gained 4,000 acres of much-needed industrial land from the township, but the previous council wanted to adjust the timelines for paying the township — and the township said it was done negotiating.

Smith urged Therrien and Cavan Monaghan Mayor Scott McFadden to talk until they come to an agreement.

"Let's tie their arms together and throw them out on the ice," Smith joked.

Therrien said she was open to a fresh round of discussions.

"Let's start talking again," she said. "Being honest and upfront about it is important. Stay tuned."

Meanwhile Jones pointed out that Peterborough County has a stake in the matter and ought to be part of the conversation.

He didn't appear to take kindly to Therrien's comment about how the impasse can be resolved if everyone involved can stay honest and upfront.

"Should we have a group hug, now?" he asked.

Therrien was also asked by Dueck when — not if — city council will start building a partial parkway between Clonsilla Avenue to Medical Drive and Sherbrooke Street.

Therrien said it will be up to council to decide whether they're prepared to do it.

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She also said the provincial government would have to "relax" its previous order requiring an environmental assessment on the full north-south parkway route, if even a small section of the road is to be constructed.

joelle.kovach

@peterboroughdaily.com