Location: Canada
Issue/Source: Committee appearance
Date: March 13, 2023
Suggested Responses
- VIA HFR - VIA TGF Inc. (VIA HFR) is a new Crown corporation created to support the High Frequency Rail (HFR) project. It is seeking access to $43,670,000 in planned spending authorities provided in Budget 2022. The funds will cover activities to operationalize VIA HFR enabling it to provide expert advice on procurement-related activities, public engagement, Indigenous consultation, as well as project management functions throughout 2023-24.
If Pressed
- The HFR Project is among the largest public-private partnerships ever sponsored by the Government of Canada. It proposes to build a 1,000+ kilometer intercity passenger rail network between Toronto and Quebec City—Canada’s busiest travel corridor. HFR will transform intercity passenger rail in the Corridor by: providing more frequent services; offering more reliable and improved on-time performance; shortening journey times; adding new services to Peterborough and Trois-Rivieres; and providing a greener travel option using electrified technology.
Background Information
- VIA HFR is a new Crown corporation, incorporated on November 29, 2022. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VIA Rail with a mandate to develop and implement the High Frequency Rail (HFR) project with the private sector, including the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of passenger rail services in Ontario and Quebec, all done in cooperation with the Minister of Transport and his officials. VIA HFR will be the Government’s public sector counter party in any potential private-public partnership.
- The HFR project has successfully completed Phase 1 (Planning and Authority/Pre-procurement) and is now in Phase 2 (Procurement). A Request for Qualifications was launched February 17, 2023. Request for Proposal will follow in Summer 2023 and is anticipated to last until mid-2024 with the selection of a Private Developer Partner.