(as of August 28, 2026 - subject to change)
7:15
8:15
8:30
Public opinion polls help government, media and others gain insights into a range of important policies. However, in the case of complex transportation infrastructure issues, the questions that are posed tend to be very simple, usually only asking respondents whether they support a certain government decision or not. In this exclusive session, Mainstreet Research will present results from a comprehensive intercity travel survey based on 20 economic, social and environmental questions posed to more than 1,000 citizens living and working in the Windsor-Toronto-Ottawa (WTO) corridor.
8:50
All levels of government partner with the private sector to plan, finance, build and operate transportation networks that aim to meet the mobility needs of citizens, business and tourists. But WTO corridor investments have mainly focused on road building and expansion that has led to a 90% modal share for driving, which leaves rail, bus and aviation services to make up the balance. This session will take a deep dive into how this came to be for each mode — and what can be done to improve the current system in the short and medium term.
10:30
10:50
Since VIA Rail’s TurboTrain was terminated in 1982, more than 20 high-speed rail (HSR) feasibility plans and route studies have been conducted in the WTO corridor – but none moved forward. In 2025, the federal government approved a public-private partnership model with Alto, a new crown agency, working with Cadence, a private consortium comprised of CDPQ Infra, AtkinsRéalis, SYSTRA Canada, Keolis Canada, SNCF Voyageurs and Air Canada. They have a $3.9 billion down payment for project development and pre-construction planning. Session speakers will discuss how international HSR experience is being applied to the Canadian context and provide a detailed update on progress towards alignment decisions expected by early 2027 and when construction might begin – if the government approves their $60-$90 billion plan in 2029.
12:00
13:15
Intercity transportation infrastructure and technology must be planned, built and operated according to legislation and regulations – some decades old and some brand new. After an overview of Canada’s HSR Act and related legal statutes, this session will offer differing perspectives on Alto transportation policy, finance and consultations – especially in terms of WTO corridor economic, environmental and social impacts. Panelists will also discuss the trade-offs between building new infrastructure, asset management and improved multi-modal services.
14:40
15:00
While many transportation professionals support Canada’s investment of $60-$90 billion in Alto HSR, there are those who would like to see this unprecedented funding allocated differently. This session will discuss costs and benefits along with alternative intercity alignments, multi-modal investments, delivery standards and mobility pricing within the WTO corridor and across the country. Speakers and delegates will then evaluate a few integrated transportation plan scenarios that could meet the demands of current and future generations.
17:00
17:15 – 18:30