OTTAWA — Canada’s Transport Minister, Steven MacKinnon, has announced the resignation of Via Rail President and CEO, Mario Peloquin, who is set to leave his position next month. This decision coincides with the federal government's initiative to advance plans for high-speed rail projects across the country.

Peloquin's retirement takes effect in mid-January, after he has dedicated 41 years to the rail industry, with nearly three of those years serving as the head of Canada’s national passenger rail service. MacKinnon expressed gratitude for Peloquin's contributions, stating, "I wish him continued success in his future endeavours,” in an official statement released on Tuesday.

Mario Peloquin succeeded to the role of President and CEO in June 2023, with an expectation to fulfill a five-year term. Prior to this position, he held significant roles as the Chief Operating Officer for New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and as Senior Vice President at the former SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. His departure comes at a pivotal moment for the federal government as it embarks on developing the country’s inaugural high-speed rail network, with construction anticipated to commence in 2029.

While the government is moving forward with high-speed rail plans, it has yet to authorize funding for the entire rail line, indicating that financial commitments remain to be finalized. Meanwhile, Via Rail has faced scrutiny for recent operational issues, most notably when hundreds of passengers were stranded for hours due to a train breakdown near Brockville, Ontario. This incident has prompted criticism regarding the company's response to the situation.

In response to the criticism, Transport Minister MacKinnon conveyed his dissatisfaction with Via Rail's handling of the incident and has promised to engage with the company’s officials to facilitate improvements. He stated, "We have a public transportation system, Via Rail, that operates in a Canadian winter. There are going to be issues… It’s how you deal with those issues when they arise… and I want to make sure Via is on a path of continuous improvement."

This news highlights the ongoing efforts and challenges faced by Canada’s national passenger rail service amidst the backdrop of a significant transition in leadership and ambitious infrastructure projects aimed at modernizing the country’s transportation network. The federal government's high-speed rail initiative represents a key step towards enhancing travel efficiency and connectivity across Canada, while also addressing current service challenges faced by Via Rail.