Location: Ontario Quebec/National
Issue: High Frequency Rail (Tran)
Date: November 28, 2022
Suggested Responses
- In March 2022, with a Request for Expressions of Interest, the Government of Canada launched the procurement process for the the High Frequency Rail project – Canada’s largest infrastructure project in decades.
- The second step in the procurement process, the Request for Qualifications for interested bidders, which is expected to be launched in January 2023.
- Engagement, consultation, and collaboration with Indigenous peoples are essential to the success of this project. I am committed to ongoing engagement and meaningful two-way dialogue with Indigenous peoples across Ontario and Quebec throughout the life of the High Frequency Rail project.
- Additionally, the Government of Canada is creating a new VIA Rail subsidiary for the purposes of developing and advancing the High Frequency Rail project. Incorporation is expected to occur by December 2022.
If Pressed
- The Government of Canada is not privatizing VIA Rail and passenger rail in Canada will continue to remain a public good.
- VIA Rail has been a driving force behind the High Frequency Rail project and a key partner in advancing the project to where it is today.
- The Government of Canada will require that any arrangement with a private sector partner respects existing collective agreements and benefits, is collaborative with unions, and ensures that existing employees would benefit from the job opportunities this project will offer.
Background Information
- The Request for Expressions of Interest was a major step in project advancement. It is an opportunity to: communicate the Government of Canada’s plan for advancing the project; seek feedback from experienced private sector companies to help shape the High Frequency Rail project; and provide information to industry so interested parties can prepare for subsequent phases of the procurement process, including the Request for Qualifications and the Request for Proposal.
- The High Frequency Project will be the largest investment in passenger rail in a generation and one of Canada’s largest infrastructure projects in the last half-century. Recognizing the project’s size and scale, the Government of Canada is inviting the best Canadian and international developers to compete and present innovative approaches to optimize, deliver and operate High Frequency Rail over the next 30 years. This collaborative approach will promote innovation, reduce risk and improve risk management, provide the best value to Canadians, and ultimately deliver a world-class service.
- The new VIA Subsidairy, a new Crown corporation, will work collaboratively with both the Government of Canada and the eventual private sector partner. VIA Rail and its employees are central to this transformation and to the success of the High Frequency Rail project, and will continue to play a key role across Canada as the national passenger rail provider.
- The Government of Canada would retain ownership of VIA Rail, its subsidiary, and its assets. The Government of Canada will ensure that workers are protected. As part of this process, the Government of Canada will require any private sector partner to respect VIA Rail employees, their collective agreements and benefits, and to demonstrate how they will work with VIA Rail employees and unions. These criteria will be mandatory and any proposal that does not meet them will be deemed unacceptable by the Government of Canada.
- The Government of Canada will also continue to ensure that intercity passenger rail will be operated in the public interest, issues such as equity and affordability will be adressed through mechanisms such as a fare policy. Similarly, the Government of Canada will establish service requirements to ensure that the level of service is delivered in light of public interest considerations.