Cdn. Minister of Transport welcomes appointment of new VIA HFR board member
by CM Staff
She has lived in Ontario for several years near the Québec City-Toronto passenger rail corridor, giving her an understanding of the significance of this project.
OTTAWA — High Frequency Rail has the potential to transform passenger rail service in Canada through the creation of a faster and more frequent rail service along the country’s busiest passenger rail corridor from Québec City to Toronto.
On Jun. 28, the Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra welcomed the appointment of Ms. Fiona Blondin to the VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc. (VIA HFR) Board of Directors. Ms. Blondin, a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in Northwest Territories, brings experience in power, mining, public sector, and consulting for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
Ms. Blondin attended Douglas College in British Columbia and received Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee medal in recognition of her work with First Nations.
She has lived in Ontario for several years near the Québec City-Toronto passenger rail corridor, giving her an understanding of the significance of this project as well as the communities in the region that VIA HFR will be consulting with. Mrs. Blondin’s experience working with Indigenous peoples and on infrastructure projects involving Indigenous peoples, as well as her own personal experiences will prove useful to the VIA HFR Board.
“I am thrilled to welcome Fiona Blondin to the VIA HFR Board of Directors. In this role, she brings extensive professional experience and will bring invaluable perspectives to the Board as we make Canada’s largest passenger rail project a reality. We look forward to the contribution Ms. Blondin will make in supporting VIA HFR’s efforts to build and maintain strong relationships with Indigenous Peoples and to create a more inclusive transportation system,” said Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport.
