The Trudeau government will announce plans for a high-speed train linking Quebec City and Toronto in the coming weeks, Radio-Canada has learned.

Proponents of the project hope the train will take passengers from Montreal to Toronto in three hours. By car, it takes about five-and-a-half hours to travel between the two cities.

Sources told Radio-Canada the train will travel 300 kilometres per hour — double the speed of Via Rail's current trains.

Ottawa announced plans back in 2021 to build what it called a "high-frequency" (HFR) rail corridor with stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Laval and Quebec City. Sources told Radio-Canada the federal government has now decided the Toronto-Quebec City link will be high-speed.

The train would use a newly built, separate electrified track and run frequently. In addition to Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto, it would serve Trois-Rivières, Laval, Ottawa and Peterborough.

Sources told Radio-Canada the federal government has chosen a winning bidder out of three competing consortia and is expected to announce the news in the next few weeks.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Anita Anand wouldn't confirm the news because the contract has not been awarded. Finalizing the contract could take several more months.

"No contract has been awarded to a consortium for the rail project in the Quebec City-Toronto corridor," the spokesperson said. "Our Liberal government has an ambitious, transformative plan for Canada's future."

At an economic conference in Toronto on Oct. 16, Anand said the federal government "is going ahead with one of three bids that we have now received for high-frequency, high-speed rail.

"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."

The government selected three consortia to bid on a high-frequency rail project between Quebec City and Toronto. A source close to the file said the bidding consortia warned Ottawa that ridership would be lower with a high-frequency train than with a high-speed one, since customers are looking for the shortest possible trip.

In addition, VIA HFR Inc., the Crown corporation created in November 2022 to develop a rail corridor between Quebec City and the rest of Canada, is expected to change its name to refer to more than just high-frequency trains.

According to a government source, the consortia's work demonstrated that the high-speed rail option was "much less expensive than originally anticipated."

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Transport Canada initially estimated that the cost of a high-speed rail link between the two cities could be as high as $80 billion.

The three consortia selected by the government are: Cadence, made up of CDPQ Infra, SNC-Lavalin, Systra Canada and Keolis Canada; Intercity Rail Developers, which includes EllisDon Capital, Kilmer Transportation, First Rail Holdings, Jacobs, Hatch, CIMA+, FirstGroup, RATP Dev Canada and Renfe Operadora; and QConnexiON Rail Partners, made up of Fengate, John Laing, Bechtel, WSP Canada and German Rail.

It's not known which of the consortia won the tender. As the project office owns all the bids, it could use elements from each one in the final project. The project will be jointly developed by the federal government and the private consortium.

It's expected to take four to five years to design the future high-speed line. Funds are to be allocated at the end of that time period, so it's possible a future government could modify or cancel the project.

High-speed rail could pay for itself: expert

Pierre Barrieau, a lecturer in transportation planning at the Université de Montréal and consultant with the firm Gris Orange, said a high-speed rail link could help pay for itself by eliminating the need to build new highways and airports.

"We're building a project like this for [the next] 150 years," he said. "Canada deserved better than a high-frequency train."

Barrieau said he also believes a high-frequency — but not high-speed — train would not have brought about "a transformation in mobility" and customer demand would have been too low.

He also said he wouldn't be surprised if the project ends up costing $120 billion.

Paul Langan, founder of the advocacy group called High Speed Rail Canada, said he hopes the pending announcement means Canada is at "a turning point."

"I think it'd be like the U.S.A., where once you finally get it somewhere, another corridor all of a sudden springs up," Langan said. He suggested that a high-speed rail project between Edmonton and Calgary would likely be the next best option.

Countries with economies less developed than Canada's already have high-speed trains. Turkey has the YHT and Poland the PKP, which can reach speeds of 250 km/h. Morocco's Al Boraq peaks at 320 km/h. Indonesia has just inaugurated the Whoosh, which goes up to 350 km/h.

Brazil has a high-speed rail project underway and India is importing the Japanese Shinkansen model.

His legal expertise includes labour and construction law

By Angelica Dino

18 Oct 2024

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Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the appointment of Pierre Soucy as a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Trois-Rivières.

Justice Soucy will fill the vacancy left by Justice J. Geoffroy, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective September 3.

Soucy, a native of Trois-Rivières, earned his Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval in 1993. The following year, he was admitted to the Barreau du Québec, marking the start of his legal career.

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Since 1999, Soucy has been a partner at the law firm Lambert Therrien S.E.N.C. in Trois-Rivières, where he built a strong reputation in civil and commercial litigation. His legal expertise includes labour and construction law. He has represented clients in complex litigation cases, appearing before all levels of the Quebec judicial system.

In addition to his legal practice, Soucy has contributed to legal education. He has taught labour law, ethics, and deontology at the Université du Québec in Trois-Rivières, as well as construction law through the Chemin-du-Roy school board. His contributions to the legal community extend beyond the courtroom, with active participation in various professional organizations. In 2019, he served as Bâtonnier de la Mauricie, a key leadership role in the regional legal community.

Beyond his legal and teaching roles, Soucy has been an active community member. He has been involved in numerous charities and initiatives benefiting the citizens of Trois-Rivières. Soucy has also served on multiple boards of directors and, at the time of his appointment, was a member of the Comité d’enquête à l’éthique et à la déontologie for local school service centres.

Minister Virani expressed confidence in Soucy's ability to serve Quebecers in his new role. "I wish Justice Soucy every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Quebecers well as a member of the Superior Court of Quebec," Virani said in a statement.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment in the province of Quebec

News release

October 15, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada

The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

Pierre Soucy, Counsel at Lambert Therrien in Trois-Rivières, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Trois-Rivières. Justice Soucy replaces Justice J. Geoffroy (Trois-Rivières), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective September 3, 2024.

Quote

“I wish Justice Soucy every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Quebecers well as a member of the Superior Court of Quebec.”

—The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Biography

Justice Pierre Soucy obtained his Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval in 1993 and was admitted to the Barreau du Québec in 1994.

Justice Soucy is originally from Trois-Rivières. Since 1999, he has been a partner in the law firm Lambert Therrien s.e.n.c. in Trois-Rivières. Until his judicial appointment, he specialized in civil and commercial litigation, and was widely recognized for his skills in labour and construction law. He has also been involved in major litigation cases, pleading before all levels of the Quebec judicial system.

Justice Soucy has taught labour law, ethics, and deontology at the Université du Québec in Trois-Rivières, in addition to construction law at the Chemin-du-Roy school board. He was active in his community, participating in various charities and initiatives to benefit his fellow citizens. He was also a member of numerous boards of directors, and he served as Bâtonnier de la Mauricie in 2019. At the time of his appointment, he was also a member of the Comité d’enquête à l’éthique et à la déontologie for the school service centres in his region.

Justice Soucy is a proud Trifluvian. He and his wife, Annie Jacques, are the proud parents of three children: Juliette, Pénélope, and Philippe.

Quick facts

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Chantalle Aubertin Deputy Director, Communications Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General 613-992-6568Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca

Media Relations Department of Justice Canada 613-957-4207media@justice.gc.ca

A fire severely damaged the Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Allégresses church in Trois-Rivières, causing the collapse of a bell tower. Built in 1914, the church was set for conversion into residential homes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A fire consumed the Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Allégresses church in Trois-Rivières on Thursday afternoon, causing extensive damage to the century-old building. Firefighters were called to the scene around 3.40pm, and despite their swift efforts, the flames had already taken hold of the iconic Catholic church, built in 1914. The church, which was closed in 2018 and officially deconsecrated in 2020, had been the focus of a major revitalisation project.Georges Mouradian, the real estate developer overseeing the work, told La Presse that the first stage of the project, involving the conversion of the church into residential homes, was due to finish the next day. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been revealed. The blaze, led to the collapse of one of the church’s two bell towers, marked the end of a building that had long stood as a symbol for the local community, the city said in a post on Facebook. Firefighters from Trois-Rivières, supported by reinforcements from nearby Bécancour, battled the fire, using a ladder truck to control the flames. Despite their efforts, the structural damage was extensive.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the City of Trois-Rivières expressed its sorrow over the loss, saying: “Yesterday, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Allégresses church was ravaged by a fire. It took with it a precious part of our history. Built in 1913-1914, this neo-Romanesque church was not just a simple building. It was a true symbol for the people of Trois-Rivières.” Surrounding businesses were not affected by the blaze, but the cause of the fire remains unknown as investigators continue their work. Mouradian confirmed that all ongoing real estate projects are currently on hold as the investigation proceeds.

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