High Speed Rail Canada officially announced support for MP Philip Toone's introduction of Bill C-640, An Act respecting Via Rail Canada and making consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act into the House of Commons. WireService.ca Press Release (02/16/2015) Cambridge, ON, - High Speed Rail Canada is Canada's only national advocacy group promoting the introduction of high speed rail since 2008. Philip Toone, New Democrat MP for Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, on February 20th is introducing into the House of Commons Bill C-640 a Private Member's Bill C-640, An Act respecting Via Rail Canada and making consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act. According to Mr Toone, the bill will: Increase VIA Rail's efficiency by granting passenger trains priority over freight trains. Give Canadians access to reliable passenger service by requiring VIA Rail to seek approval from Parliament before eliminating service routes. Help VIA Rail rea...

A recent interview in the Globe and Mail outlines the vision of VIA RAIL CEO & President Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano. I will evaluate this article, highlighting both the positives and the negatives and what the VIA president should be doing. THE GOOD 1. VIA Rail President actually speaks to the public - Full credit for Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano for not hiding in his office and for actually going out to sell his vision of what VIA Rail should be. 2.VIA Rail focusing on getting people out of their cars - For decades VIA senior management were delusional in their priorities in thinking VIA Rail could compete with the airline industry and that they were competing for the same customer. It is refreshing to see VIA realize that they should be getting people to switch from their driving their autos to taking the train. 3.VIA needs their own dedicated track - It doesn't take rocket scientist to see that this is necessary, but it is still good to see the CEO saying it is a priorit...

Full credit to MP Olivia Chow for her introduction of private members BILL C-577 - An Act respecting VIA Rail Canada and making consequential amendments to another Act. Here is her statement in the house March 4th introducing the bill. Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present the VIA Rail protection bill. The bill presents a vision for the future of VIA Rail. It lays out a clear mandate and government structure. It gives it a larger say in determining its funding needs and frees the railway board from patronage appointments. By strengthening VIA Rail's position vis-à-vis CN and CP, delays for passenger trains would also be reduced. Currently VIA Rail has no clearly delineated rights, powers, obligations, or mandated targets. Without legislative protection, it has suffered years of neglect and devastating service cuts. It is time to secure VIA Rail's role and responsibility through a federal law. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed). Her point t...