Via Rail CEO to testify on 10-hour delay where passengers felt ‘in prison’
Global News
Passengers were stranded on a Via Rail train for about 10 hours after two mechanical breakdowns between Montreal and Quebec City at the end of August.
The chief executive officer of Via Rail is set to testify before MPs on Thursday about a train trip in August that saw passengers stranded onboard for about 10 hours in the “middle of nowhere” in Quebec following two breakdowns.
The House of Commons transportation committee has scheduled a meeting to hear from president and CEO Mario Peloquin, chief service delivery officer Rita Toporowski and the company’s general counsel, Denis Lavoie.
On Aug. 31, a train broke down between Montreal and Quebec City after experiencing two consecutive mechanical issues.
At the time, the company said no buses were available in the region to offer alternative transportation, and to allow for repairs and coupling with another train, electricity, air conditioning and washrooms were shut down at times.
One passenger, Chip Malt, told Global News and The Canadian Press earlier this month that after a certain amount of time, passengers began worrying about access to food and water.
“I think the most eye-opening was the staff member coming down the aisle and they had a pitcher of water and there was probably about an inch or two left at the bottom and they were just saying, ‘Does anybody feel dehydrated? This is the last of our water,'” he said.
“It was like being in prison.”
The company insisted passengers were offered snacks and beverages, and that a meal was delivered on board with additional water in the evening.
Tom Himmelman was walking with his four-year-old son and dog. He's now speaking out and hoping to advance training in the municipality for drivers in order to create safer roads.
After multiple surgeries and an outpouring of community support, Darren Stevenson is finally on the mend. But he has had a challenging year learning to walk and eat again.
Canada posted a merchandise trade deficit of $2.2 billion for November as exports of gold as well as motor vehicles and parts fell in the month, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
Millions of paper cheques from the government valued at more than $2 billion dollars since 2022 that have been sent out to Canadians -- and have not been cashed.
Chief Ross Perley says the community is hurting and feeling anxious following Bronson Paul's death.
The online attacks are designed by cyber criminals to lock private data from Canadian businesses and individuals until payment demands are met.
The company said the incident is currently under investigation and information is limited, but it confirms that local authorities have been notified.
A crowd of Ubisoft workers and supporters held a rally, urging the video game developer to reopen the studio that was closed earlier this month after a successful union drive.
American Olympian Katie Uhlaender was hoping to be the first woman to compete in the Winter Games six times for the U.S., but fell just short of qualifying.
The U.S. currently has multiple rounds of tariffs on key sectors of the Canadian economy, including steel, aluminum, autos and lumber.
Cree Nation of Mistissini Chief Michael Petawabano is urging members of the community to stay in their homes and lock their doors as police investigate.
Exceptions under the trade deal, known as USMCA in the U.S. and CUSMA in Canada, protect Canada from the heaviest impacts of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured when a truck driver went through a stop sign and into the path of the junior hockey team's bus at a rural intersection.