Ottawa -

 

Much like a meandering, delay-plagued VIA trip, the Federal government took time out from panicking and announced plans to eventually build a high speed rail service between Toronto and Quebec City. The line will called “Alto” and most likely will be some kind of old-timey novelty adventure by the time it is completed. First, a study to develop the plan, which will take a minimum of five years, (so add another seven because, government) will be followed by negotiations to build on some first-nations land (so that’ll be speedy) and eventually, bids from contractors will begin. By that time, self-driving cars will have a dedicated pan-Canadian route, but there remains the lucrative, “When I was a kid this is how we travelled market.”