Category Archives for "Press Releases and Open Letters"

Federal Government’s Defeat of VIA Rail Bill is Misguided and Destructive

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Press Releases and Open Letters

On April 24, 2015, the House of Commons, voting on party lines, defeated private members Bill C-640, known as the VIA Rail Canada Act.    The bill received unanimous consent by the NDP, Liberal and Green parties, Bloc Quebecois and Forces et Democratie, plus two independents. However, the Conservative majority and two former Conservatives who now sit as Independents voted against it.

This Bill drew heavily on the Amtrak working example in the U.S. and a previous bill that another Conservative government introduced in Parliament in 1986.   It would have established VIA’s mandate, rights and obligations in legislation.  Transport Action Ontario has long seen such an act as a vital component in establishing a modern intercity passenger rail service in Canada.  The proposed bill would have met many of the required legislative needs.

Our media release on this matter can be viewed here:    TAO VIA Rail Act Release 2015-04-30

Media Release: Network Southwest action plan could revive public transport across Southwestern Ontario

By Transport Action Ontario | Press Releases and Open Letters

Transport Action Ontario  and the Southwestern Ontario Transportation Alliance (SWOTA) are  pleased to release a major new report by  Greg Gormick, On Track Strategies entitled “Network Southwest  Passenger Rail and Bus Service Action Plan”

Network Southwest is a blueprint for reviving the region’s intercity public transportation system using a passenger rail spine and passenger bus feeders.  It can  rapidly and cost-effectively be implemented.  The full report can be accessed on this website under the “Major Reports” tab.

The media release can be viewed here:   TAO NSW Launch Media Release 2015-03-18

Letter to Premier Wynne and Minister Del Duca on GTHA Transit

By Transport Action Ontario | Press Releases and Open Letters , Urban Transit

Move the GTHA members met with Premier Kathleen Wynne and Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca on October 14.   We discussed several items relating to transportation funding,  project prioritization, potential new legislation and securing federal involvement.

Subsequently, we sent a follow up letter summarizing the discussion and identifying next steps.  That letter can be viewed here:  MTGHTA-Wynneletter2014-12-03

Media Release: VIA Rail is dying, but can be revived

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Press Releases and Open Letters

Transport Action Ontario is pleased to release a major new report by our colleague, Greg Gormick, entitled “Out of Steam: The Urgent Need to Modernize VIA Rail Canada”.

The report analyzes recent quarterly, annual and plan reports of VIA Rail Canada.  It concludes that, in every key performance indicator, VIA is either stagnant or declining.  But it also concludes that VIA can be easily revived and improved to deliver major benefits to Canadians if government invests strategically in its full, long-overdue modernization.

The media release can be viewed here:   TAO-Out of Steam Media Release2014-10-09

Move the GTHA – Open Letter to Premier Wynne

By Transport Action Ontario | Press Releases and Open Letters , Urban Transit

On June 24, the Move the GTHA collaborative, including Transport Action Ontario, sent a letter to Premier Wynne congratulating her on her election victory and offering to continue to work with her government  to increase funding for public transportation and active transportation options.

The full letter can be viewed here:   MTGTHA-LettertoWynne2014-06-25