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Mr. Ignatieff also underscored the potential economic benefits of building a high-speed rail corridor between Quebec City and Windsor, a long-discussed project for which provincial and federal governments recently announced a $3-million feasibility study.

Transport Minister John Baird has indicated such a plan would not meet the "shovel-ready" criteria for stimulus dollars to flow, but Mr. Ignatieff contends that as the country heads toward deficit, the focus should shift to "big projects that tie us together."

"Of course, it's expensive, and we can't fund it all at once, but no project would do more to stimulate regional economic development along the line," he said during the magazine interview at Stornoway, the official residence of the Opposition leader. "No project would allow us to demonstrate a commitment to environment goals, no project that I can think of would be a bigger boost to some of our big competitive companies."

The high-speed line, estimated to cost about $30-billion, would be manageable if rolled out in stages, Mr. Ignatieff said. As Canada approaches its 150th anniversary in 2017, he added, government should work on promoting a country that is "more united" than it was in 1967, the year of Canada's centenary.

Mr. Ignatieff also underscored the potential economic benefits of building a high-speed rail corridor between Quebec City and Windsor, a long-discussed project for which provincial and federal governments recently announced a $3-million feasibility study.

Transport Minister John Baird has indicated such a plan would not meet the "shovel-ready" criteria for stimulus dollars to flow, but Mr. Ignatieff contends that as the country heads toward deficit, the focus should shift to "big projects that tie us together."

"Of course, it's expensive, and we can't fund it all at once, but no project would do more to stimulate regional economic development along the line," he said during the magazine interview at Stornoway, the official residence of the Opposition leader. "No project would allow us to demonstrate a commitment to environment goals, no project that I can think of would be a bigger boost to some of our big competitive companies."

The high-speed line, estimated to cost about $30-billion, would be manageable if rolled out in stages, Mr. Ignatieff said. As Canada approaches its 150th anniversary in 2017, he added, government should work on promoting a country that is "more united" than it was in 1967, the year of Canada's centenary.

Source: National Post

hree New England rail corridors are eligible to receive billion of dollars for high-speed rail under a set of preliminary guidelines the Obama administration unveiled today.

But the proposed high-speed routes, which would connect Boston to Montreal, Albany, N.Y., and Portland, Maine, will likely face stiff competition from California and a coalition of Midwestern states who want the funds for their own corridors. Both regions are further along than New England in planning for high-speed rail and are thought to be frontrunners for much of the funding.

President Obama, who touted high-speed rail's economic and environmental benefits in a speech this morning, hopes to make expanding the nation's passenger rail network one of his signature issues. The economic stimulus package he signed in February included $8 billion for upgrades to fast trains, and the administration has also asked for another $1 billion annually for the next five years.

"High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways," Obama said.