Ontario to establish a high-speed rail advisory board

This Advisory Board was announced by Premier Kathleen Wynne in a speech to the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. In addition to providing strategic advice on major business issues associated with the project, the HSR Planning Advisory Board will engage with the private sector, stakeholders and Indigenous communities.

“High-speed rail will dramatically change what’s possible for people in Southwestern Ontario,” said Premier Kathleen Wynne. “Whether that’s giving people a faster, greener way to get to a great job in the tech industry, allowing family members to visit more often or helping people discover more of our beautiful province. Canada’s first high speed rail service will also help companies along the Toronto-Windsor corridor to continue to attract top talent and take their business to the next level.”

Canada’s first high speed rail service will shorten people’s travel times, providing a faster, greener travel option that creates new opportunities for workers, businesses and anyone traveling in this part of the province.

By expanding Ontario’s Innovation SuperCorridor to Windsor, another aim for the high-speed rail link is to enhance economic opportunities in Southwestern Ontario and across the province. This will help businesses attract the best talent and boost their productivity, and help Ontario make the transition to a low-carbon innovation economy.

“High speed rail will have a transformative impact on travel in Southwestern Ontario, helping people to innovate, connect with each other, and travel for work, study and play,” added Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation. “This is just one part of our plan to invest in transit across the province — connecting communities and supporting growth in jobs and the economy.”

The aim for the new board is for its members to bring a wealth of expertise to the project, including in the high tech and innovation sectors; engineering, environmental sciences and transportation planning; and the financing and delivery of infrastructure projects.