Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon.
It's great to be here this afternoon. Thanks for the opportunity.
Via Rail's high-frequency rail project is more than just a transportation initiative; it's a revolution that has the power to redefine how Canadians travel, meet one another and fulfil their potential.
The HFR will connect Canada's largest corridor, Quebec City to Windsor. With almost 20 million people already living in the region, and plans for another five million to move there, having options that are sufficient, frequent and reliable to connect Canadians affordably and quickly is paramount.
The high-frequency rail system will set off from the station near the port of Old Quebec City, travel through the central part of la Belle Province, cross Ontario, the greater Toronto area and stops at the Windsor-Detroit border, the crossing point for millions of people and billions of dollars in goods from everywhere in Canada. It's a major corridor, and current transportation capacity is inadequate.
CUTA recognizes that the success of HFR relies on accepting the challenge and the promise of connecting people. That means connecting with Canadians and consulting with transit authorities throughout the various project phases, and doing that early and often.
It's great that the HFR team has already been meeting with local transit systems like the TTC and others to have these important discussions. Maintaining a focus on the connections between the intracity HFR and intercity public transit is essential.
From the design and development through to day one of operations and beyond, we have before us an opportunity to build a connected travel experience in an era when more car traffic and short-haul planes will miss out on creating value by saving Canadians time and money and building on our productivity.
High-frequency rail is more than just a transportation project; it will reduce our carbon footprint, help combat climate change and improve quality of life for all Canadians.
Moreover, we have other programs coming online that will help us build transit more quickly. I think about the permanent public transit fund. The importance of this cannot be overstated in this context. The $3-billion annual fund, beginning in April 2026, will play a crucial role in providing the financial resources needed to support the transformational projects that will complement things like high-frequency rail.
These expenditures are also investments, more importantly, and they're investments in our nation's future. Continued support for the permanent transit fund and for transit systems will lead to a wide array of collective public benefits.
HFR also has some social benefits, such as making it easier for Canadians to visit their friends and relatives, enhancing access for people with reduced mobility and contributing to social cohesion through more frequent contacts between Canadians.
The economic benefits are just as important, because the project will create jobs, boost local economies and foster innovation in the transportation sector.
Let me briefly turn to transit-oriented development and communities. These offer sustainable and high-density living options that are accessible through public transit. By fostering TODs, we can reduce car dependency, lower our emissions and create vibrant communities.
The time to act, we believe, is now, as Canada's population is expected to reach 45 or 50 million people in the coming years. Today's transit systems are designed for about 25 million. We know there's a demand for over five million homes by 2030. We need those to adequately address our nation's housing supply requirements. CUTA released a housing and transit paper here in Parliament just a few weeks ago. I think the report will be helpful for the committee members as you progress through your study.
Transformational projects that will be funded through the permanent transit fund, again, can advance these aims, keeping in mind that HFR makes the links between our corridor cities real.
The HFR project is also a major and unique opportunity that can redefine how we travel and live in Canada. It will strengthen our biggest economic corridor, link our communities more readily and contribute to a better future for all Canadians.
Thank you for your attention. I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have about this key project.