With Tearful Eyes, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Says He Will Work to Ensure a Better Life for Canadians for as Long as He Has Left

With Tearful Eyes, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Says He Will Work to Ensure a Better Life for Canadians for as Long as He Has Left

Montreal – The Canadian government announced on Wednesday that it will begin a multibillion-dollar project to build a high-speed rail network connecting Quebec City and Toronto.

The rail network will be entirely electric, span approximately 1,000 kilometers (622 miles), and reach speeds of up to 300 km/h (187 mph). There will be stations in various cities, including Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a news conference that the government will commit CDN$3.9 billion (US$2.74 billion) over six years, starting in the 2024-25 fiscal year, to finalize details such as station locations and the network's route, before construction can begin.

Officials said that it is too early to estimate the final cost of the project or when it will be completed.

“A reliable, efficient high-speed rail network will be a game-changer for Canadians,” said Trudeau.

The new rail system, named "Alto," will allow travelers to go from Montreal to Toronto in just three hours. This announcement from Trudeau and Transport Minister Anita Anand comes after years of discussion and extensive study of various options to improve commuter rail services in central Canada. Currently, passenger rail services rely on tracks used by freight trains, limiting the frequency of service and often causing delays. The high-speed rail network will be Canada's largest infrastructure project, according to Trudeau.

Trudeau made this announcement despite uncertainty over how long the Liberal Party will remain in power. He announced on January 6 that he would resign as party leader and prime minister. The Liberals will elect a new leader on March 9.

Additionally, all three opposition parties have vowed to bring down the Liberal government's minority by triggering a no-confidence vote when Parliament reconvenes on March 24.

Trudeau remains confident that the rail connection will be built even if the Liberals lose the next election. "High-speed rail in this country was never going to be a project that would be built quickly. It is a project that spans multiple governments," Trudeau said. "It takes a will and determination from the government to move forward and lock in this progress."

Martin Imbleau, president and CEO of Alto, stated that Canada needs a viable, sustainable alternative to car and air travel.

“A high-speed rail network is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” Imbleau said. “Highways are more congested than ever, airports are stretched to their limits, intercity travel is frustrating, unreliable, and unsustainable.”

The government has selected Cadence, a consortium of companies, to co-design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the rail megaproject.