As if it wasn’t hard enough for Canada’s preeminent air carrier to make its planes arrive on time. Now it wants to bid on a high speed rail concession in Ontario and Quebec.If successful in its bid for a multi-decade operating concession, Air Canada and its partners would effectively be in the railroad business and operate all of VIA Rail’s train services in the lucrative Quebec-Windsor rail corridor.Though it has similar operating agreements with rail carriers in Europe to link its various airports of call with final destinations, the bid is raising the eyebrows of citizen transportation advocacy groups who worry it will stifle competition and create a de facto-monopoly in one of the country’s busiest transportation hubs..On Wednesday, Transport Action Canada submitted a breakfast to Public Procurement and Services Canada outlining those concerns.Specifically it said safeguards would be needed to ensure fairness in providing rail-air codes equally to all airlines flying into Canada’s international airports — especially if it owns the rail service.In addition, it would have access to taxpayer-funded subsidies, studies and other information that had previously been withheld on the grounds of commercial sensitivity. Those include management fees payable to the selected consortium. Transport Action worries that the process isn’t fully transparent or fair even before the high-speed rail has even been built..“The response we received only partially addressed our concerns about future competition and didn't address our concerns about lack of transparency nor about access to competitive information,” he said. “Air Canada and Cadence were unable to offer further clarification, citing procurement rules.”“It is crucial that PSPC ensure that the process is fully transparent and fair, especially for a project of this scale that is vitally important to Canada's future productivity and sustainable prosperity..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
As if it wasn’t hard enough for Canada’s preeminent air carrier to make its planes arrive on time. Now it wants to bid on a high speed rail concession in Ontario and Quebec.If successful in its bid for a multi-decade operating concession, Air Canada and its partners would effectively be in the railroad business and operate all of VIA Rail’s train services in the lucrative Quebec-Windsor rail corridor.Though it has similar operating agreements with rail carriers in Europe to link its various airports of call with final destinations, the bid is raising the eyebrows of citizen transportation advocacy groups who worry it will stifle competition and create a de facto-monopoly in one of the country’s busiest transportation hubs..On Wednesday, Transport Action Canada submitted a breakfast to Public Procurement and Services Canada outlining those concerns.Specifically it said safeguards would be needed to ensure fairness in providing rail-air codes equally to all airlines flying into Canada’s international airports — especially if it owns the rail service.In addition, it would have access to taxpayer-funded subsidies, studies and other information that had previously been withheld on the grounds of commercial sensitivity. Those include management fees payable to the selected consortium. Transport Action worries that the process isn’t fully transparent or fair even before the high-speed rail has even been built..“The response we received only partially addressed our concerns about future competition and didn't address our concerns about lack of transparency nor about access to competitive information,” he said. “Air Canada and Cadence were unable to offer further clarification, citing procurement rules.”“It is crucial that PSPC ensure that the process is fully transparent and fair, especially for a project of this scale that is vitally important to Canada's future productivity and sustainable prosperity..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
