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Though if the province wishes to take that strategy themselves, they could certainly choose to use a Minister's Zoning Order to create a new town.
There are 2 stations between Ottawa and Montreal that are in ON; Casselman and Alexandria. Why not just build on the edge of those towns? It sounds like it would be easier than a greenfield build.
Then you have to deal with local politics and NIMBYs. I doubt that those towns would appreciate Mattamy putting up a few thousand homes nearby. Transportation amenities have a very large positive externality (basically the option value of being able to take the train/plane/bus or ship with it), but you need to be close for those amenities to matter. The Station itself is the most valuable real estate.
Not that I believe this government cares about or has even read the document, a part of the reason for that position is in relation to resource-based or single industry areas, particularly in the north. In the past, a town would spring up around a mine or mill, then the industry would close and the province is left servicing what and who remains behind. Now, when a new mine opens, they will be permitted to have a temporary or transient camp, but it has to go when it inevitably shuts down and the area remediated per the terms of the mine licence.
Many would argue that "local politics" - the people who actually live there - should be the final arbiter in land use planning, so long as it within provincial guidelines. Otherwise, who should make these decisions? Queen's Park? Ottawa? "NIMBY" can either be viewed as a derogatory epithet or a desire to ensure the character and economic foundation of a community is respected as circumstances evolve.
NIMBYism is one of the worst thing that has ever come out of politics. Ask someone if they want a homeless shelter, and they are for it. Ask if they want it in their neighbourhood and they will fight tooth and nail to stop it.
www.thestar.com
CN is still the problem:
Why Via Rail wants an overhaul of the conditions for using CN’s rail tracks
In a submission to the Canadian Transportation Agency, Via proposed changes that would help boost the number of trains on its key Quebec City-to-Windsor corridor, improve its poor on-time performance
You are assuming that CPKC would be any better to deal with. Via 185/1186 runs only on CPKC tracks and it is just as late as any other train. If your assumption were correct, it would not be late. This is a case of whoever is in charge does what is best for them.
CP24 link. No paywall.Why Via Rail wants an overhaul of the conditions for using CN’s rail tracks
In a submission to the Canadian Transportation Agency, Via proposed changes that would help boost the number of trains on its key Quebec City-to-Windsor corridor, improve its poor on-time performance
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"The vast majority of Via trains run on CN-owned tracks, which the Crown corporation pays to access. Via warns that its “captive client” status and CN’s “quasi-monopolistic position” mean the country’s largest railway can prioritize its own locomotives over passenger trains."CP24 link. No paywall.
Why Via Rail wants an overhaul of the conditions for using CN's rail tracks
Documents supporting Via Rail’s ongoing attempt to secure better access to tracks owned by Canadian National Railway Co. shed new light on an increasingly strained relationship between the carriers.
