The NDP’s Transportation Critic is pushing back against the Liberal’s plans to privatize rail
On Feb. 19, the Liberal Party of Canada announced that they are awarding the high-speed rail project between Toronto and Quebec City to a private consortium led by one of Canada’s biggest pension funds, Caisse de Depot et Placement and Montreal-based engineering company AtkinsRéalis Group.
“I’m gravely concerned the privatization of passenger rail on the Toronto-Quebec City corridor will spell the demise of VIA Rail, especially for rural communities,” said Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach.
“Currently, the corridor generates over 90 percent of VIA’s revenue. Once this is handed over to a private partner, VIA will be tasked with operating its remaining long-distance routes in the rest of Canada with a small fraction of its previous revenue.”
Bachrach asked passenger rail experts, if this privatization scheme goes ahead, where would that leave routes like the Skeena?