Ontario is a province on the move, but our infrastructure is stuck in yesterday. In an era of climate urgency, housing unaffordability, and economic transition, high-speed rail is no longer a luxury project—it’s an essential solution. The question isn’t if Ontario should build it. The question is why haven’t we already?
As the editorial board of GTA Weekly, we are launching a new series: Fast Track: Ontario’s High Speed Rail Future. Each Saturday, we will explore a different facet of this transformative vision. This week, we begin with the most pressing argument of all: the province simply can’t afford to wait.
A Province at Capacity
Ontario’s roads and highways are clogged. Our regional transit systems are underbuilt. Commuters face long, expensive drives that pollute the air and drain time from families. Meanwhile, the pressure on Toronto’s housing market has pushed affordability out of reach for many. Building new highways won’t solve it. More sprawl won’t fix it.
High-speed rail offers a smarter path forward. It would connect distant cities like Windsor, Sudbury, and Ottawa to Toronto in a matter of hours. It would allow workers to live in places where housing is affordable and still commute to major urban centres. It would open up new growth corridors without choking the 401.
A National Imperative
The federal government must come to the table. We are calling on all federal parties to commit to funding at least one-third of the cost of an Ontario-wide high-speed rail network. This isn’t just an Ontario story—it’s a national opportunity. It connects economic clusters, helps Canada meet its climate targets, and unlocks vital infrastructure like the Ring of Fire.
A Vision for All of Ontario
We believe high-speed rail must serve the entire province, not just a single corridor. That means a network that connects:
- Niagara Falls to Ottawa via Hamilton, Toronto, Belleville, and Kingston
- Windsor to Ottawa via Chatham, London, Kitchener/Waterloo, Guelph, Toronto and Peterborough
- Toronto to Sudbury via Barrie and Parry Sound
- Toronto to North Bay via Barrie and Huntsville
- Ottawa to Sudbury via Pembroke and North Bay
This isn’t fantasy. It’s a blueprint for a modern, connected province. And with every year we wait, the costs of delay grow larger.
Let’s Build the Future
The Ontario government must lead. The federal government must step up. And we, the people of this province, must demand it.
The time for studies and half-measures is over. We need a bold commitment to build high-speed rail now—not in 20 years, but in the next decade.
Next week, we’ll break down each proposed line and what it means for the communities it will connect. Until then, we invite readers to imagine what Ontario could be if we stop settling for gridlock and start moving forward, fast.
🚄 Fast Track is GTA Weekly’s weekly call to action for building Ontario’s high-speed rail future—because bold infrastructure moves us all.
Follow the series every Saturday in print and online at gtaweekly.ca. #FastTrackOntario #GTAWeekly
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