David Collenette to chair Ontario’s HSR advisory board

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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David Collenette speaks at an event announcing his appointment as chair of Ontario’s high-speed advisory committee.
Berry Vrbanovic/Twitter

Ontario has named David Collenette as the leader of its High Speed Rail (HSR) Planning Advisory Board, officials said.  

 

The appointment comes as Ontario is working to bring high-speed rail service to the province and cut travel times between Windsor and Toronto.

Ontario Minister of Transportation Kathryn McGarry and Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre, announced Collenette’s appointment in Waterloo Feb. 13.

“I am pleased to announce Mr. Collenette’s appointment as Chair of Ontario’s HSR Planning Advisory Board and I look forward to working with him as we move forward to build Canada’s first high speed rail line,” McGarry said. “High speed rail will connect communities in our province as never before, creating new opportunities and increasing transportation choices for people across Southwestern Ontario.”
Collenette is a former federal minister of Transport, officials noted, adding that he also served as province’s special advisor for high speed rail.

In his role as chair of the HSR Planning Advisory Board, Collenette will continue to advise government officials on the high-speed rail project.

The HSR project is set to be the first such program in Canada, and is intended to connect communities from Toronto to Windsor as part of Ontario’s Innovation SuperCorridor, officials said.

The new high-speed line would serve a region with a population of more than seven million residents. The proposed stops currently include Windsor, Chatham, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and Toronto Union Station, with a connection to Pearson International Airport.

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