Madam Speaker, the Government of Canada is not privatizing Via Rail.
The Government of Canada will retain ownership of Via Rail, its subsidiary, and all high-frequency train infrastructure and assets.
A significant amount of analysis and due diligence was completed to determine the best delivery model for this transformational project. This included studying a whole spectrum of procurement options, ranging from fully public models to public-private partnerships.
The high-frequency train is the largest and most complex infrastructure project launched in Canada for decades. The Government of Canada therefore wants to enlist the knowledge and expertise of public entities and private sector companies with experience in developing and implementing major infrastructure projects.
That is why a private partner will be brought in to work with Via—