With Ottawa preparing to announce the winning bid for a new high-frequency, high-speed rail line along the Toronto–Quebec City corridor, advocates are hoping the project could shift regional travel habits toward lower-carbon alternatives.

Anticipation is building after Radio-Canada reported that plans will be revealed in the coming weeks—five years after the Canada Infrastructure Bank set a deadline for final engineering. But alongside the excitement, questions have been raised about whether the C$80- to $120-billion project is the best use of Canada’s resources.

Subscribe

Sources told Radio-Canada the train will travel 300 kilometres per hour along its 1,000 kilometre route—twice the speed of current trains. And where driving from Montreal to Toronto currently takes around six hours, high-speed rail could halve that time to just three hours.

Another selling point is the predictability of arrival and departure times, as the trains would run almost entirely on brand new, dedicated tracks, no longer needing to pause at a siding to let freight trains clatter on by.

In addition to connecting Quebec City and Toronto, the line would serve cities like Trois-Rivières, Laval, Ottawa, and Peterborough.

The project is being pitched as a socio-economic and environmental boon, drawing praise from federal Transport Minister Anita Anand.

“Rail is going to improve productivity, it’s going to improve efficiency, it’s going to lower carbon emissions, and it’s going to allow for more housing to be built on these rail lines,” Anand told an economic summit in Toronto in October.

Rail travel’s emissions-saving potential is significant. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported a few years ago that the introduction of high-speed rail as an alternative to short-haul flights in Asia and Europe led to major reductions in air travel. Highly carbon-intensive short-haul flights dropped nearly 80% in the first three years after Taiwan opened its Taipei-to-Kaohsiung line. And in the first year of the Madrid-to-Barcelona high speed train, air travel along parallel flight routes fell by more than 20%.

The extent of emissions savings also depends on how many commuters can be switched from road to rail, how much embodied carbon is involved construction projects that make heavy use of steel and concrete, and the extent to which the power mix driving the train is green, said the IEA.

Ottawa says the project may also help address housing pressures, though official details are still limited. The industry publication Railway Supply recently wrote that including a stop in Kingston—where average home prices are about half those in the Greater Toronto Area—could ease Toronto’s housing crunch. With Kingston accessible from Toronto in under an hour via high-speed rail, commuting could become feasible for GTA residents seeking more affordable homes.

The project is also proposing meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous communities. Pierre-Yves Boivin, senior vice-president of communications, public affairs, and Indigenous relations at the line’s project office VIA HFR, told investigative journalist Justin Ling that talks are under way with several First Nations to involve them as business partners.

“Given that the Canadian Pacific Railway both precipitated and enabled the removal of Indigenous people from their land, making First Nations partners in a plan to renovate the country for the next century could be a genuine act of reconciliation,” Ling wrote in a recent op-ed for the Toronto Star.

But while the feds and many local officials tout the project as an economic boon, Matti Siemiatycki, director of the Infrastructure Institute at the University of Toronto, has questioned whether the projected cost of the new rail line might be better spent.

“We have a doctor shortage, we have an affordable housing crisis, we have Indigenous communities without safe drinking water and housing, and we have local public transit systems that are really struggling with their operating and capital costs,” Siemiatycki told CBC News. “Is this really where we want to sink all of this treasure, all of this muscle to build out this project, or should the resources be spent better somewhere else?”

The Quebec government is planning to force new doctors trained in the province to work in Quebec’s public health-care system for the first few years of their practice, in a bid to slow the loss of physicians to the private sector and to other provinces.

Health Minister Christian Dubé says he will table a bill by the end of the legislative session, to be debated next spring, that would require family doctors and specialists to start their careers in Quebec’s public network.

“While too many Quebecers are still waiting to be treated, too many doctors decide, from the start of their career, to leave the Quebec public network,” he said in a statement Sunday evening. “We will take steps to ensure that the population has access to the care for which they pay.”

Dubé told a Montreal radio station on Monday morning that those who want to leave Quebec or work in the private system will face “consequences,” though he offered no details. It’s also unclear how long new doctors would be required to practise in Quebec’s public network.

Montreal doctor Michael Kalin called Dubé’s proposal an important “piece of the puzzle.”

“We have to stop the mass exodus to the private sector,” he told CityNews.

“I think that there’s a social contract and that educating physicians is costly and time-consuming. And I think young doctors have an obligation or responsibility to give back.”

The Quebec government estimates it costs between $435,000 and $790,000 to train a doctor, including during their residency.

Related:

A medical student at the Université de Montréal, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of hindering his residency applications, says the proposition is more of a political statement, and that most of his peers end up in the public system to start off anyway.

“In Quebec, we do have a great medical education and our costs do stay low,” he said. “So it is important to stay in the system and give back to the province, which gave us so much.”

#WATCH: The provincial government says it’ll force new doctors trained in Quebec to work in the public health-care system for the first years of their practice.READ: https://t.co/ZMd34z2Jn7 pic.twitter.com/CbPPxCXfT7

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) November 4, 2024

It says that 775 of Quebec’s 22,479 practicing physicians are working exclusively in the private sector – just over three per cent. Though it’s a 70 per cent increase since 2020. That trend is especially notable among new doctors, according to the province.

‘Valid reasons for leaving’

The Université de Montréal med student believes it may not be due to salary increases, but about quality of life.

“A big reality that a lot of people don’t know of is that many doctors who graduate, at least in family medicine, are forced either to work in areas that they otherwise wouldn’t work in or practise what we call PREMs, which basically force you to go into fields of interest which actually don’t stimulate you and are not your choice,” he said. “And I think that just leads to overall dissatisfaction at work and maybe patient care that isn’t ideal.

“If we all work together to find solutions to keep even that per cent of physicians in the public sector, and I think that’s the ideal solution instead of penalizing the ones who leave, who might have valid reasons for leaving.”

Dr. Kalin believes it’s the responsibility of the government to ensure there are opportunities and jobs.

“So you can’t say to a young doctor, we insist that you work here, but we’re not going to give you a licence. It has to work both ways.”

In a statement to CityNews, Dube’s office says too many doctors decide, at the beginning of their careers, to leave the Quebec public network

“We will take the means to give the population access to the care they pay for. Our government has the courage to take all necessary steps to strengthen doctors’ commitment to the population and our public network. This measure is part of a few other ways to strengthen our public network and attract our professionals to work there from the beginning of their careers.”

Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information show that just 60 per cent of family doctors who had recently graduated in Quebec were still practising in the province in 2022, while nearly 20 per cent had moved to Ontario. The number was higher for specialists, with 77 per cent of recent graduates still practising in Quebec.

In Ontario, 85 per cent of recently graduated family doctors and 80 per cent of specialists were still in the province in 2022. In Nova Scotia, however, just 42 per cent of family doctors and 38 per cent of specialists remained in the province.

Quebec’s college of physicians said it supports the government’s plan. “For us, this is a question of social responsibility,” it said in a statement. “But we will want to see the terms of this bill.”

On Monday, the college released a set of guiding principles for the role of the private sector in health care, which included a call for the expansion of the private health system to be “suspended immediately.”

Billie Eilish took full advantage of the coincidental intersection between her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour route and the campaign trail this weekend when she performed in the key swing state of Georgia.

Eilish played two shows at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, and during her first show there, on Nov. 2, she stopped the performance to address the crowd. “Times are really scary and a lot is at stake and I know that if you’re in this room and you support me, you support women,” Eilish said (via a video shared by the Democratic Party). “I hope that you will vote for Kamala Harris.”

Back in September, Eilish and her brother/collaborator, Finneas, officially endorsed Harris and Tim Walz in a video shared on Instagram. Eilish said she was backing the Democratic nominees “because they are fighting to protect reproductive freedom, our planet, and our democracy. Vote like your life depends on it, because it does.”

Finneas added: “We can’t let extremists control our lives, our freedoms, and our future. The only way to stop them and the dangerous Project 2025 agenda is to vote and elect Kamala Harris.”

On top of the endorsement, Eilish also allowed the Harris-Walz campaign to use her song, “When the Party’s Over” in a nationwide ad about reproductive rights. The “Monster” clip featured a Kentucky woman named Hadley Duvall who, at the age of 12, became pregnant after her stepfather raped her. While Duvall, as she said in the clip, “had options,” she continued: “Because Donald Trump overturned Roe v. Wade, girls and women all over the country have lost the right to choose, even for rape or incest. Donald Trump did this. He took away our freedom.”

Amidst her light stumping for Harris, Eilish has spent this fall on her Hit Me Hard and Soft trek, which launched in September. The Atlanta show’s marked the start of the final North American leg of the tour, which is set to end next month with five hometown shows in Los Angeles.

Interior design studio Perron has unveiled it’s new, colorful headquarters, Maison Perron, that is more than just an office space. Located in Quebec City at 212 Cremazie West, the newly renovated three-story building represents a dynamic blend of history, modernity, and the studio’s distinctive approach to design. With a ground floor commercial space, several offices, and two residential units, the project encapsulates the spirit of Perron, creating a unified environment that reflects the studio’s philosophy of combining functional design with aesthetic storytelling.

Bought in 2023, Maison Perron is the result of a meticulous search for a space that would embody the essence of the studio. What began as a quest for a new office location quickly transformed into a vision for a comprehensive design hub. The building, originally constructed in 1915, had housed a variety of businesses over the years – from general stores to accounting offices – but it had lost its original character after extensive modifications. The Perron team saw beyond the building’s then compartmentalized and diminished state, and set out to restore and enhance its charm while integrating their own creative flair.

Stripping away layers of outdated renovations revealed hidden gems, such as original brick walls and wooden floors, that perfectly aligned with Perron’s design ethos. This discovery catalyzed a transformative renovation that juxtaposed historic elements with contemporary design. The team incorporated modern fixtures while preserving key architectural features, creating a space that bridges the gap between old-world craftsmanship and innovative design.

The renovation was truly a collaborative effort, with Perron’s team of 12 designers and coordinators deeply involved at every stage of the project. Their collective input shaped the design, resulting in a dynamic and evolving process that responded to the building’s surprises and challenges. This hands-on approach ensured that Maison Perron was not only a reflection of the studio’s aesthetic but also a product of its shared vision and culture. “It’s always harder to make decisions when you are both the designer and the client,” says Sarah Eve Hébert, Partner and Artistic Director at Perron. “But despite the fluidity of the design and the day-to-day challenges of coordinating the project, we were always on the same page and managed to maintain a clear and unified vision.”

Maison Perron’s street-level facade is an inviting reflection of the studio’s creativity. With large storefront windows offering passersby a glimpse into the boutique space, the building serves as both a showroom and a working studio. Inside, visitors are greeted by a vibrant reception area, which seamlessly transitions into workspaces and boutique displays. The interior design strikes a balance between commercial functionality and the warmth of a home-like environment, with carefully selected furnishings and decor pieces from Perron’s international partners subtly integrated throughout the space.

The project extends beyond the commercial and office spaces, with two residential units on the upper floors designed to reflect Perron’s unique style. These spaces, now homes for key team members, continue the design language of the lower levels, integrating exposed brick, carefully chosen furnishings, and personalized touches. These residences not only provide a personal connection to the building but also serve as extensions of the studio’s creative work, blurring the lines between living space and design showroom.

For more information on Perron, visit perrondesign.ca.

Photography by Paul Dussault.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

You can follow Caroline Williamson on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Linkedin. Read all of Caroline Williamson's posts.

Quebec's health minister is planning to table a bill that would force new family doctors and medical specialists trained in the province to devote the first few years of their careers to the public system.

In a statement, Health Minister Christian Dubé said "too many doctors decide, as soon as their careers begin, to leave Quebec's public system."

"We will take steps to ensure that the population has access to the care for which it pays," Dubé said in the statement.

It's not clear how many years those physicians would need to spend in the public system at the start of their careers. It's also not clear if they would need to work exclusively in that system during that time.

The health minister was asked those questions during an interview with Radio-Canada's Tout un Matin, but said he needed to be careful with providing details and let the legislative process play out.

"Just know that the objective behind this, like other measures we've put forth in the last two years, is to strengthen the public system," he told Radio-Canada.

According to the Health Ministry, 775 out of the 22,479 physicians that practise in Quebec work exclusively in the private sector — a 70 per cent increase since 2020. The ministry says this trend is even more noticeable among new physicians.

"That may not seem huge but those could be the doctors we're missing to give people appointments within 36 hours," Dubé said.

The Health Ministry also says taxpayers spend between $435,000 and $790,000 to train a physician.

Earlier this month, Radio-Canada reported that the province was considering taking family doctors away from healthier people to make sure they took on the most vulnerable patients.

The idea — which Dubé stressed was far from becoming a reality — was heavily criticized by opposition parties.

WATCH | Exploring the idea of only giving family doctors to vulnerable patients:

Why Quebec is considering taking family doctors away from healthy people

24 days ago

Duration 2:30

According to Radio-Canada sources, the Legault government is considering changing how family doctors are assigned based on Quebecers' health to ensure that the most vulnerable have access.

Good idea, but not enough, says Québec Solidaire

On Monday, Quebec's College of Physicians published a set of "guiding principles" regarding private health-care and called for that sector's expansion to be "suspended immediately."

The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ), which represents medical specialists in the province, said it wants to see Dubé's bill before weighing in on the plan.

"With that being said, we want to remind the government that the best way to keep medical specialists in the public health system is to give them the tools to provide care," the federation said, citing a lack of equipment and staff.

"And if this type of obligation applies to physicians, it should also be applied to other health professionals, many of whom are leaving the public sector for the private sector."

The Médecins québécois pour le régime public (MQRP), a group that advocates to preserve the province's public health system, said it was happy that Dubé "finally recognized that the exodus of physicians towards the private sector is an issue that negatively affects access to care and the public system."

According to Québec Solidaire (QS), an opposition party that has often accused the CAQ of either facilitating or failing to slow down the growth of the province's private health sector, Dubé's idea doesn't go far enough.

"It won't bring back the 800 physicians that already left the public sector," said Vincent Marissal an MNA and health-care critic for QS.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Journalist

Antoni Nerestant has been with CBC Montreal since 2015. He's worked as a video journalist, a sports reporter and a web writer, covering everything from Quebec provincial politics to the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

With files from Radio-Canada's Tout un Matin

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News

Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|