Montréal, October 10, 2024 ‒ A coalition of five chambers of commerce and boards of trade in the Windsor-Québec City corridor are urging the Government of Canada to move ahead with VIA’s High Frequency Rail project. In a letter to Transport Minister Anita Anand, dated October 9, 2024, the coalition, which represents a region that is home to nearly 18 million people and generates 40% of Canada’s GDP highlighted why an efficient, well-integrated, and sustainable transportation system has never been more critical.
A high-speed passenger rail project has the potential to transform travel within this economically significant region, where population growth is expected to rise by an additional 6 million residents over the next two decades. Like similar projects elsewhere in the world, it will offer a fast, modern and comfortable solution for connecting North America's leading metropolitan areas and business centers from city center to city center.
“The construction of a high-speed, frequent rail link in the Québec City-Windsor corridor represents a historic opportunity for Canada. The VIA Rail HFR project meets the main demand of the Chamber and the business community: to offer a structuring rail link that is a credible alternative to automobile transport, in a context of green transition. If we get it right, this project will generate major economic benefits, strengthening our Canadian value chain in the rail sector. It's a project that must move forward, beyond the political context,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.
“VIA’s HFR project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform travel, unlocking tremendous economic potential by integrating our region as the global business hub it is. For decades we have needed a rail service that’s fast, dependable and frequent to meet the growing travel and business needs of Canada’s most densely populated and economically significant region. Canada is facing a productivity crisis and investing in efficient transportation infrastructure is a critical way to address it. We strongly urge the government to modernize our rail infrastructure and connect Canada's economic powerhouse region. This is a nation building opportunity,” said Giles Gherson, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade.
“Canada is facing a productivity crisis. We have the opportunity to make bold and transformative investments into our country’s infrastructure and to reinforce our Canadian value chain in the rail sector. A high-speed passenger rail project will position the Toronto-Québec City corridor as a global business hub, in turn attracting new investments, enhancing our visitor economy, and better connecting nearly 18 million residents,” said Sueling Ching, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade.
À propos de la Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain (CCMM)
Forte d’un réseau de 8 000 membres, la Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain (ci-après « la Chambre ») agit sur trois fronts : elle porte la voix du milieu des affaires de la métropole, offre des services spécialisés aux entreprises et à leurs employés et mène des initiatives d’impact pour renforcer l’environnement d’affaires. Depuis 200 ans, elle intervient dans des dossiers déterminants pour la prospérité des entreprises et de la métropole. Avec l’appui de ses experts Acclr, la Chambre vise à accélérer la création et la croissance des entreprises de toutes tailles, ici et à l’international.
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Source :
Jean-Baptiste Portrait
Conseiller, Relations publiques et médias
Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain
Tél. : 514 669-6768
jbportrait@ccmm.ca
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