Ontario Region

Overview:

Ontario is Canada’s most populous province, home to approximately 38.8% of Canada’s population (2020). Roughly half of the population lives in the Greater Toronto Area, which is forecasted to grow to over 9.5 million residents by 2046. Ontario also houses Canada’s largest economy and is home to some of Canada’s largest transportation hubs, facilitating the transportation of people and goods throughout the country via an integrated multi-modal network.

The Region is home to four National Airport System airports (London, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and Toronto). Toronto Pearson is Canada’s largest airport and one of the busiest hubs in North America, with 312,000 tonnes of cargo in 2021 and 25.7 million passengers in the first 9 months of 2022.

Ontario also has a large, sophisticated marine industry, driven by freight cargo traffic throughout the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway system, facilitating trade to 50+ countries. The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) administers port operations in both Hamilton and Oshawa, with the Hamilton site being the busiest port location on the Canadian Great Lakes, with approximately 700 vessels visiting each year.

The Ontario Region has two Class I freight railroads (Canadian National, Canadian Pacific) that operates over 8,600 kilometers of track, as well as two passenger rail operations (VIA Rail, Amtrack). Union Station in Toronto is Canada’s largest commuter hub, with over 200,000 passengers passing through per day. The station is serviced by VIA Rail, Amtrack, Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission. Metrolinx operates the busiest commuter rail service in Canada with plans to dramatically expand the reach and capacity of the network. Metrolinx is undertaking the Union Station Enhancement project that includes design and construction of transit infrastructure and upgrades that will accommodate their expanded GO rail service increases as part of the GO expansion plans.

The UP express operates out of Union Station, connecting passengers to Pearson International Airport.

The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is a critical connector for intermodal shipments and handles the majority of transportation volumes in Ontario, with a network that includes:

  • Canada’s busiest highway corridor (Highway 401 and connecting highways)
  • Canada’s four busiest land border crossings

Profile:

Duwayne Williams

Duwayne Williams

Regional Director General, Ontario Region

Bio

Duwayne Williams - Regional Director General, Ontario Region

Duwayne Williams

Duwayne studied Engineering at Ryerson University, graduating in 2004 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Duwayne also holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Duwayne has extensive experience in the transportation industry. Prior to a private sector career in both commercial and military aerospace manufacturing and high speed railway, Duwayne began his career in the Federal Public Service in 2011 and worked as a Regional Engineering Manager and a Rail Safety Inspector in Ontario Region. Duwayne left TC in 2017 to take on the role of Vice-President of Engineering and eventually became the Chief of Engineering at Metrolinx – a Transit company in Toronto. During his time at Metrolinx, he developed the company’s first Engineering and Asset Management team, deployed billion dollar asset management programs, safety oversight and risk management programs. Duwayne returned to Transport Canada in spring 2021, as Regional Director General for Ontario Region. In his spare time, Duwayne likes to do woodworking, run half marathons and dedicate his time to helping professionals with career development.

Regional Director General, Ontario Region: Duwayne Williams

Employee count: 423 employees

Offices: 11

  • Regional Headquarters in Toronto, ON
  • 10 offices throughout ON:
    • Hamilton
    • Kingston
    • Niagara-on-the-Lake
    • Ottawa
    • Pearson Airport
    • Pickering
    • St. Catharines
    • Sarnia
    • Sudbury
    • Thunder Bay

Transport Canada owned assets:

  • 5 ports:
    • Owen Sound
    • Pelee Island Scudder Warf
    • South Baymouth
    • Tobermory
    • Walpole
  • The Pickering Lands site (8,700 acres of land for potential airport).