Latest news with #ViaRail
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Military steps in to help airlift some Pukatawagan residents out of harm's way
Since an evacuation order was issued on Wednesday due to a wildfire affecting the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, thousands of people have been waiting to be flown out. Military aircraft flew residents out over the weekend to The Pas, Man., from where 120 evacuees were able to take a Via Rail train to Winnipeg on Sunday.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Conservative Senate leader criticizes $330K rebrand of high-speed rail project
A Via Rail train is seen on tracks in Dorval, Que., as it heads out of Montreal on May 23. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi MONTREAL — The Senate opposition leader says it was 'irresponsible' for a federal Crown corporation to spend $330,000 on a rebranding exercise. Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos says the decision to pay an outside marketing firm to help design a new name and brand for a Via Rail subsidiary was another example of wasteful spending by the Liberal government. Housakos was referring to Alto, a Crown corporation responsible for building a high speed rail project between Toronto and Quebec City. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press show the corporation changed its name and pivoted to high-speed rail because of a lack of public support for a high-frequency rail project announced in 2021. It changed its name from VIA-HFR to Alto as part of its rebranding. The high-speed rail project was officially announced in February and would take passengers from Montreal to Toronto in just three hours. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025. The Canadian Press
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
Conservative Senate leader criticizes $330K rebrand of high-speed rail project
MONTREAL - The Senate opposition leader says it was 'irresponsible' for a federal Crown corporation to spend $330,000 on a rebranding exercise. Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos says the decision to pay an outside marketing firm to help design a new name and brand for a Via Rail subsidiary was another example of wasteful spending by the Liberal government.
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Via Rail subsidiary paid marketing firm more than $330,000 to rebrand passenger rail project
A federal Crown corporation paid more than $330,000 to an outside marketing firm to rebrand a planned passenger rail project between Toronto and Quebec City and boost its popularity. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press detail how the corporation, concerned about 'widespread disinterest' in a high-frequency rail corridor announced in 2021, decided to change its name and pivot to high-speed rail instead. As part of that shift, the Via Rail subsidiary hired a Quebec-based firm, Cossette Communication Inc., to develop a marketing plan that would reflect a new direction – signalled by the Crown corporation's chief executive, Martin Imbleau – to ensure the project placed a greater emphasis on speed. With the firm's help, the corporation came up with a new logo and a new name – Alto – more than a year ago. The rebranding was apparently so sensitive that the Crown corporation also chose a code name for Alto. Multiple documents, obtained using access-to-information law, refer to the new name as 'Tracks.' It would take until February, 2025, for the new name to be made public, when former prime minister Justin Trudeau announced the government was awarding a contract to a consortium to design the 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail network. If completed, the train would take passengers from Montreal to Toronto in just three hours. Via Rail workers vote to give Unifor strong strike mandate The government's initial plan for the passenger rail system, announced in July, 2021, envisioned a high-frequency rail line connecting Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. The network would have cut travel times for passengers, but the trains would be too slow to be considered high-speed. The documents make clear that by the fall of 2023, however, the Crown corporation felt it needed to change course and scrap its original name – Via HFR. 'The concept of 'high frequency' faces strong opposition. There's widespread disinterest and dissatisfaction associated with the term, hindering any meaningful discussions and support. This resistance has become particularly challenging to navigate as the term 'high frequency' is directly embedded in the [corporation's] name,' reads an undated briefing note written in late 2023 or early 2024. It goes on to say that discussions of higher speed 'are met with openness,' which would lead to 'greater project support and acceptance.' It adds that the Via HFR name should be changed early in the process, while the public's awareness of the project is 'relatively low.' Via HFR's work with the marketing firm dates back to at least September, 2023, when it signed a contract with Cossette to develop a 'brand narrative' and a tag line for the corporation as part of the shift to high speed. The contract appears to have been extended multiple times through the end of 2024, and invoices from the marketing firm show it billed more than $330,000 between October, 2023, and January, 2025. Opinion: Great high-speed rail, Ottawa. Let's make sure we can actually build it Cossette declined to comment on the contract. In a statement, the office of Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland said Alto is an arm's-length organization responsible for its own day-to-day activities. 'Minister Freeland expects that these institutions are well-managed and ensure value for taxpayer dollars,' it reads. A presentation from the firm dating from December, 2023, shows a list of 'top 3' names under consideration at the time: Inter, XLR and Trax. But none of those made the cut. An April, 2024, presentation from Via HFR shows the corporation had landed on Alto, which it said 'embodies the project's stronger focus on incorporating higher speeds and providing a higher level of service to Canadians.' Alto also evokes 'music and the train as catalysts for connection,' the presentation says, and is a 'play on words with the train as an alternative way to travel.' The name also works in both official languages, it adds. 'Naming a national project of this scale goes beyond branding,' a spokesperson for Alto said in an e-mail statement. 'A strong, meaningful name anchors public support, reflects ambition, and shapes how Canadians will connect with the project for decades. It's a sensitive process. We approached Alto's naming with care, rigour, and a long-term vision.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Via Rail strike possible for late June. Here's what it could mean
Approximately 2,500 Via Rail workers represented by Unifor have voted overwhelmingly (97.5 per cent) in favour of a strike mandate. This group includes staff in administration, customer service, on-board service, maintenance, call centres, mechanics, and other skilled trades. Negotiations between Via Rail and Unifor are ongoing, with conciliation talks scheduled to last until May 31. After that, there will be a federally mandated 21-day 'cooling-off' period. The earliest date a legal strike or lockout could occur is June 22. A strike is not imminent at the moment. The union is not obligated to strike upon being legally able to do so. Negotiations could continue, and an agreement could be reached before any job action is taken. The strike mandate simply gives the union the authority to call a strike if negotiations fail. Meanwhile, Via Rail is operating normally, with no disruptions reported as of May 26. Recent railway labour disputes involving freight railways (such as Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City) have caused service disruptions on some routes that Via Rail uses, particularly in Northern Ontario, but Via Rail has been able to maintain most of its intercity operations. The length of a potential Via Rail strike before service resumes would depend on how quickly Via Rail and the union can reach a new agreement. Historically, Canadian rail strikes have varied in duration — from as short as a few days to several weeks — depending on the complexity of negotiations and whether government intervention occurs. For example, a Canadian Pacific rail strike in 2022 lasted about 60 hours before a tentative deal was reached. If a strike did occur on or after June 22, there could be significant disruptions to Via Rail services, especially if no agreement is reached by then. All services could be suspended for the entire duration of the strike, and normal operations would resume only once a settlement is reached and it is safe to do so. A strike could last days, weeks, or longer if negotiations stall and no back-to-work legislation is introduced. So, a Via Rail strike could significantly impact an upcoming trip, depending on the timing and the route you plan to take. Via Rail does not provide alternate transportation if your train is cancelled. However, affected customers will be able to modify their reservations or obtain a full refund if their train is cancelled due to a strike. Via typically contacts affected passengers directly if a work stoppage is confirmed and provides information about refunds and changes. Passengers are advised to check their email or Via Rail's Train-Alert service for the latest updates. For any questions or if you need to modify your reservation, contact Via Rail directly at 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245). Via Rail ridership still well below pre-pandemic levels as losses mount and trains face retirement More travel chaos: Via Rail receives strike notice, warns service may be suspended Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
