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441-01578 (Transportation)
Original language of petition: English
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
Whereas:
- VIA Rail Canada is a Crown corporation and operates Canada's national passenger rail service on behalf of the Government of Canada;
- Before 2020, Via Rail Train 82 took morning commuters from Brantford to Toronto before 9:00 AM;
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, Via Rail cancelled Train 82 and is refusing to reinstate it;
- This decision has left hundreds of people stranded without a reliable mode of commuting from southwestern Ontario to Toronto and has had a significant impact on the daily lives of commuters who relied on this train line to get to work, school, or appointments;
- This decision has not only increased travel time for commuters but also put additional strain on our already congested highways;
- This has also caused many to leave southwestern Ontario or face unemployment;
- According to Statistics Canada, the number of commuters travelling between Brantford and Toronto has been steadily increasing over the past decade; and
- Commuting by train is more environmentally friendly than driving, and with climate change being an urgent global issue and traffic congestion causing significant economic losses, it is imperative that we prioritize sustainable transportation options, such as commuter trains.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
- Work with the management of Via Rail to expedite its decision-making process;
- Explain to them the benefits, including profitability, of reinstating Train 82; and
- Encourage Via Rail to reinstate Train 82 immediately.
Response by the Minister of Transport
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Omar Alghabra
As with the broader transportation industry, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on VIA Rail’s operations across the country, with reduced frequencies and schedule changes on most routes, including Train 82. When the number of travellers increased following the gradual easing of public health measures in 2021, VIA Rail implemented a return-to-service strategy based on consumer demand, as well as staff and fleet availability. This strategy demonstrates sound financial management by VIA Rail throughout what has been the most difficult period in its history.
The Government of Canada has made a significant investment in passenger rail with the purchase of VIA Rail’s new fleet, which is now entering operation in the Quebec City - Windsor Corridor. As additional capacity comes into service, VIA Rail continues to evaluate its scheduling and frequency across its national network. With respect to Train 82, VIA Rail is working to return it back to service, along with Train 83. VIA Rail is currently in discussion with their infrastructure partners and is confident that these trains will once again be connecting communities along the route, including Brantford and Toronto by Fall 2023.
VIA Rail is an independent Crown corporation that operates at arm’s length from the Government of Canada. Part of the Minister of Transport’s role is to determine VIA Rail’s broad policy while respecting its operational autonomy, including the scheduling and frequencies of trains, as well as overall service operations.
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Larry Brock
(Brantford—Brant)
June 21, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01578) - Government response tabled
- July 19, 2023
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.