SPEAKING NOTES FOR
THE HONOURABLE LAWRENCE CANNON,
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES,
TO
A MEDIA CONFERENCE CONCERNING
INTER-CITY PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE
TORONTO, ON
OCTOBER 11, 2007
Dear friends,
Thank you for joining Minister Flaherty, VIA Rail's Chairman Donald Wright and myself for this announcement of a new funding package for VIA Rail Canada Inc., to revitalize inter-city passenger rail services in Canada.
In the century that followed the launch of Canada's first public railway, thousands of kilometers of track were laid across the new country, acting as a binding force and playing a steadily expanding social and economical role.
VIA Rail is Canada's national passenger rail company. Today, this well-managed Crown corporation operates trains in all regions of Canada over a network spanning the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Great Lakes to Hudson Bay.
It carries over 4.1 million passengers annually with trains running over 14,000 km of track serving some 450 Canadian communities.
As Minister responsible for VIA Rail, I can say it is clearly an essential entity and it has convinced millions of people that trains are "a more human way to travel".
This year marks 30 years that VIA Rail has been in existence. Today's announcement will make sure it is well equipped to continue delivering intercity passenger rail services across the country, well into the future.
Canada's New Government has made infrastructure investment one of our top priorities. That's why today I am announcing that we are investing $691.9 million over five years in VIA – $175.9 million for transitional operating costs, and $516 million for capital investments – to position VIA for the future.
The operating funding will help VIA to continue providing an affordable and competitive option for inter-city travel.
The capital funding – over half a billion dollars – represents the largest capital investment ever made in VIA Rail, and demonstrates our commitment to providing Canadians with safe, reliable and sustainable passenger rail service.
VIA will use this capital investment to refurbish its passenger car and locomotive fleets, upgrade and build new railway stations, and improve infrastructure in its busiest corridor, from Quebec City to Windsor.
The investments we are announcing today will be allocated over five years, but they will be felt well beyond 2013. They are
targetted at the passenger rail system, but by saving energy, reducing emissions, and providing the quality of service that will encourage more travellers to leave their cars at home and choose the train, they will benefit all Canadians.
Refurbishing cars and locomotives will benefit travellers across Canada. Earlier this year, you may recall, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the rail industry that set targets for emission reductions – in an industry that is already one of the most sustainable modes of transportation.
I'm glad to announce today that by rebuilding the existing locomotive fleet, VIA will achieve these emissions targets. It will also improve fuel efficiency, and provide travellers with faster and more reliable service.
The improvements in strategic infrastructure will increase track capacity and alleviate bottlenecks in the Quebec-Windsor corridor. As a result, VIA will be able to add more passenger trains, increase train speed, and reduce trip times, as well as improve the safety and reliability of its service.
As I said earlier, Canada's New Government has made infrastructure investment one of our top priorities.
In fact, through our new long-term Building Canada infrastructure plan, we will invest $33 billion – Canada's largest investment in infrastructure in half a century. This plan will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada – in communities large and small.
Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country, through infrastructure projects that support a growing economy, a cleaner environment and more prosperous communities.
Thank you.
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