David Collenette to lead Ontario’s high-speed rail project

Ontario has appointed the Honourable David Collenette to lead Ontario’s High-Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board, continuing the progress of the high-speed rail service which will reduce travel times between Toronto and Windsor.  

The proposed stops for the rail line are currently Windsor, Chatham, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and Toronto Union Station, with a connection to Pearson International Airport.

Kathryn McGarry, Minister of Transportation, and Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre announced David’s appointment. A former federal Minister of Transport, David was the province’s special advisor for high-speed rail. Now, as Chair of the HSR Planning Advisory Board, David will continue to provide strategic support and advise the government on this landmark project.

Ontario is working to appoint individuals with a breadth and depth of expertise to the high-speed rail advisory board, including high tech, engineering, environmental sciences, transportation planning, and financing and delivery of infrastructure projects.

This is going to be the first introduction of HSR in Canada and will connect communities from Toronto to Windsor as part of Ontario’s Innovation SuperCorridor. High-speed trains are expected to travel up to 250km per hour on a combination of existing tracks and new dedicated rail corridors. This would cut the travel time between the major centres from over four hours to just over two.

HSR will also help businesses attract the best talent and boost their productivity; increasing the economic value of the areas. All these factors will help Ontario make the transition into a low-carbon economy.

Moving forward with high-speed rail is part of Ontario’s plan to ensure fairness and opportunity with the plan including a higher minimum wage, better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25.