VIA HFR Annual General Meeting - Frequency and Speed Important

 

On July 10th, 2024, VIA HFR, a federal Crown corporation created in November 2022, had its inaugural Annual Public Meeting (APM). The meeting was bilingual format and it was webcast. The video will be loaded soon and High Speed Rail Canada will let have a link to it and let their followers know where to view it.

The meeting featured key presentations from members of the Board of Directors and the CEO. The meeting began with Robert Prichard, Chair of the Board, who outlined the mandate given to VIA HFR by the Government of Canada to create a new passenger rail service linking Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Laval, Montreal, Ottawa, Peterborough, and Toronto. He highlighted the significant progress made in the first year, including the formation of a talented management team and strong financial backing from the federal government.

Marie-José Nadeau, Vice Chair of the Board, discussed the recruitment efforts to build VIA TGF’s leadership team and emphasized the project’s positive impact on passengers, its contribution to climate change mitigation, and its economic and social benefits for the communities served.

Martin Imbleau, President and CEO, detailed the accomplishments of the past year and shared the vision for the future of the High Frequency Rail (HFR) project. He underscored the importance of speed and frequency in the service, the project’s environmental benefits, and the commitment to working closely with Indigenous communities. He invited the public to join the effort, emphasizing the project’s role in enhancing connectivity, reducing travel times, and fostering economic growth.

The meeting concluded with a Q&A session, addressing various questions from attendees and reiterating the commitment to transparency and community engagement. Here are a few comments.

Martin: "We are now focusing on speed AND frequency. Because speed is necessary. And speed means both kilometres per hour and total travel time. It’s about making the entire trip from point A to point B as quickly as possible. This includes having a limited number of stops, dedicated tracks, and the right configuration to avoid slowdowns, especially when entering and exiting cities."

Martin: "It’s a colossal task, but our team has the expertise, resources, and unwavering commitment to make it a reality. Our approach is grounded in diligence and prudence. By proceeding with caution in the initial stages of the project’s development, incorporating local insights, and ensuring rigorous environmental assessments and advanced engineering stages, we set ourselves up for efficient and effective execution later on."

Martin:  "Nous sommes le seul pays du G7 qui ne dispose pas d’un réseau ferroviaire rapide, fiable et fréquent. Face aux défis pressants tels que la productivité en baisse, la congestion urbaine et les changements climatiques, le développement de ce service n’est plus un luxe mais une nécessité."

Martin:   "We are also committed to working closely with Indigenous communities. This includes meaningful consultations and partnerships from the early planning stages. We will collaborate on environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. We also aim to establish strong economic partnerships with Indigenous businesses and organizations, ensuring they play a significant role in the development and execution of the project. Together we can foster economic growth and make the perfect example of economic reconciliation."

Marie-José Nadeau: "Son impact sur les passagers sera très positif; sa contribution à la lutte contre les changements climatiques significative; et les effets bénéfiques sur les communautés desservies seront multiples tant au point de vue économique que social."

Marie-José Nadeau: "En offrant des options de transport rapides et fiables entre les communautés, le projet donnera aux Canadiens une plus grande liberté de choix quant à l’endroit où ils veulent vivre et travailler. C’est pourquoi il suscite tant d’enthousiasme."

Robert Prichard: "This investment will create a lasting legacy that will benefit our children and grandchildren."

Robert Prichard: "By improving connectivity between major cities and regions along this corridor, we will bolster productivity, support regional development, alleviate pressure on housing markets by offering viable alternatives for commuters, and ultimately provide a significant boost to our national economy."