Premier Kathleen Wynne has announced plans to install high-speed rail between Toronto and Windsor, and Mayor Randy Hope says this is good news.
“I think this would be a great opportunity to increase the infrastructure and mobilization of people from Point A to Point B with high-speed rail. I think it may be an opportunity to look at a partnership program [between the municipality, the provincial government and the federal government]”, says Hope. “Why should the government do it all? If other people are willing to make investments, why shouldn’t we look at that?”
Phase 1 will use new and existing rails to connect Toronto and London by 2025, followed by connecting the rail to Windsor with a stop in Chatham.
Hope says having a high-speed rail line go through Chatham-Kent has many benefits.
“One of the benefits is being able to travel to larger urban centres in a quicker fashion. Business people will be able to enjoy the quality of life living in Chatham-Kent within an hour or hour and a half of downtown Toronto – you can’t even drive there [in that amount of time]. It will open doors for entrepreneurs and businesses”, says Hope.
