Air Canada part of group bid on Via Rail project

Consumer advocacy group fears possible conflict of interest

- MARISA COULTON

Air Canada says its partnerships with other modes of transit, like rail and bus, are part of the company's goal to offer "the most relevant mobility option, responding in a sustainable way to the specific needs of each of its customers."

For decades, Canada has talked about building a high-speed rail link between Toronto and Quebec City. For just as long, the project has gone nowhere.

But finally, things seem to be moving forward.

Via Rail has appointed Martin Imbleau to oversee a high-frequency rail project that is currently evaluating three proposals submitted last month to design, build and operate a 1,000-kilometre line that could reduce travel times between Toronto and Montreal by as much as a third. The goal is to launch segments of the new service by the mid-2030s.

Most of the members of the three groups bidding on the project are companies you’d expect, such as engineering firms, infrastructure companies, asset managers and railway companies.

But one consortium, called Cadence, includes an unlikely member: Air Canada, the country’s largest airline.

Which begs the question: Why would an airline that has a profitable business flying people between Toronto and Montreal want to help build a rail line that might entice travellers to take the train instead?

Consumer advocacy group Transport Action Canada thinks there’s more to Air Canada’s involvement than meets the eye.

Terry Johnson, president of the group, thinks that part of the reason Air Canada wants to be involved is so it can access valuable, high-quality data about consumer travel habits along the Toronto-Quebec City corridor.

“We are concerned that one, and only one, of Canada’s domestic airlines may have been provided with data on passenger demand and consumer habits,” said Johnson.