Over 40 Years in the Making: High-Speed Rail Legislation Finally Arrives in Canada
The positive momentum to building Canada's first dedicated high-speed rail in Ontario-Quebec continues with the tabling of BILL C-15 An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025 for FIRST READING, November 18, 2025.
In it under Part 5 -- Various Measures - Division 1 is the High-Speed Rail Network Act.
As a person who has watched the ups and downs of attempts to implement high-speed rail in Canada for over 40 years there is some optimism.
The Long History of High-Speed Rail in Canada
The Canadian federal government study asking the simple question in 1981 - Is there a future, a potential, for high-speed passenger rail services in Canada? That was then and nothing happened.
I remember well in 2000, the ill-fated VIA Fast Study that died during the Chrétien/Martin Liberal feud.
Just maybe the 2025 High-Speed Rail Network Act can finally begin the implementation of high-speed rail in Canada. It is a landmark piece of Canadian legislation designed to kickstart the development of a modern high-speed passenger rail corridor between Ontario and Quebec. This blog post summarizes its core features in clear and easy to read way. We have added the actual BILL C-15 to our Ontario-Quebec high-speed rail page on the High-Speed Rail Canada website.
What Is the High-Speed Rail Network Act?
This new federal law sets out the legal framework to build and operate high-speed rail linking Ontario and Quebec, focusing on efficient passenger travel and modern infrastructure. The Act empowers VIA HFR -- a subsidiary of VIA Rail Canada -- as the main corporate body responsible for planning, construction, and operation.
Key Definitions and Roles in Bill C-15
- The "high-speed rail network" is defined as a passenger rail system enabling rapid travel between Ontario and Quebec.
- VIA HFR (a VIA Rail Canada subsidiary) acts as the main executing corporation.
- The Minister of Transport oversees project implementation.
- Special definitions clarify terms for property ownership, land rights, Indigenous knowledge, and impact assessments in both provinces.
Route Approval and Federal Power
- The railway route is officially recognized as a work for the general advantage of Canada, streamlining federal oversight.
- Construction of railway lines is automatically pre-approved, eliminating standard review steps and reducing bureaucratic delays.
- The Canadian Transportation Agency cannot review or overturn these approvals, assuring procedural efficiency for the project.
Environmental and Impact Assessments for High-Speed Rail
- The full network project isn't classified as a "designated project" under the Impact Assessment Act, meaning the overall development faces a simplified environmental review.
- However, the construction, operation, or decommissioning of any individual segment of the network does trigger a designated review for local impacts, maintaining oversight for sensitive areas and specific new sections.
Land Acquisition and Expropriation Powers
- VIA HFR may identify and register a "right of first refusal" against land along the intended route, meaning it has the first chance to purchase relevant properties.
- Landowners must inform VIA HFR if they plan to sell, and sales to third parties are restricted if a registered right exists.
- For land urgently needed, expropriation powers are significantly streamlined, giving the government direct authority to acquire properties without prior negotiation and limiting grounds for legal objection.
- Compensation procedures and transparency requirements are built in for affected owners, lessees, and occupants.
Indigenous Knowledge and Consultation Protections
- The Act provides robust protections for Indigenous knowledge shared with the government and VIA HFR, ensuring confidentiality and requiring consultation before any disclosure.
- Disclosure may occur only with consent, public availability, or in legal circumstances, with strict compliance required from those who receive the information.
Official Languages and Bilingual Operations
- The law strengthens bilingual service mandates along the rail corridor, extending Official Languages Act requirements to contracted partners and operators.
- Any entity operating high-speed passenger rail services---directly or via contract---is considered a federal institution for language accessibility laws, ensuring both English and French are supported.
Access to Information and Transparency
- The Act amends the Access to Information Act to explicitly include the High-Speed Rail Network Act, furthering government transparency and public oversight of rail development decisions and data.
When Does the High-Speed Rail Network Act Come Into Force?
Final implementation and operational details are subject to an Order in Council, meaning the federal cabinet will set the official start date for the new legal provisions.
Conclusion: A Historic Moment for Canadian Rail Transportation
This legislation marks a major step towards bringing world-class, sustainable high-speed rail to the heart of eastern Canada, promising improved travel options and economic growth while balancing environmental safeguards, landowner protections, and bilingual service commitments.
Paul Langan
Founder, High-Speed Rail Canada
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