I can't agree to this bit (Above). He's held a very large number of pressers, and milked them thoroughly,
Minor progress on HFR or new Rolling stock had had 4+ press events, one in Quebec, one in Ottawa, one in Toronto and another South-Western Ontario; and maybe one in Ptbo for good measure.
I don't think he's announced any Tim's Kiosks for VIA stations, but he's certainly attended some pretty minor non-events.
In quantity, I agree.... but somehow his pressers seem to slip beneath the radar screen where others have gotten more play. Timing, maybe, or lack of partnership, or no real action initiated..... the arrival of the new Siemens trainsets could have been promoted much more effectively. The whole lack of profile on HFR - somehow he's been overseeing the process without ever being seen as championing it. He gives the impression that if Cabinet decides in the end to do nothing, he's OK with that.... notwithstanding team playership, I would hope that a Minister would at least have a hissy fit if their lead project gets dumped.
This may be the case, though in the most recent RFP announcement there was actually a slippage in the projected timeline for delivering a new service by several years.
We have a somewhat credible RFQ process, at least, that will lead to concrete proposals on a level that slopes towards a decision. The changes in timing are because a) that process was imposed rather than just giving VIa a mandate to do something and b) when they opened the door to grander proposals, they had to accommodate more time to build. Again, not much sense of urgency, and really a downplaying of the need for results.
I would credit him for adding Southwest Ontario to the HFR vision and there are signs that Ontario and Ottawa agree on a need and are at least open to planning jointly. The need to replace the Long Distance fleet is on the table. And the Siemens contract is delivering trains, perhaps a bit slowly.
I'm not praising the guy, but he has tended the fire, and I don't see him doing so primarily for his own agrandissement, as Del Duca certainly did.
That much is certainly true. Though, given a file to which 12B or more may be allocated, I expect this file is likely managed by the PMO, or a senior cabinet committee, likely chaired by Freeland. That kind of money is rarely managed directly by a Minister.
Freeland, and Anand might be among the few who would get that kind of rope.
Well, there is no real proposal to spend yet, but certainly when the bids come in I would expect a Cabinet level management of that decision.
- Paul
