2021 Completed Access to Information Requests
The following list contains summaries of completed requests. Requests focusing on personal information are not included.
Year
Month
Request number
Summary of Request
Disposition
Number of pages disclosed
Year: 2021
Month: January
Request number: 20-2029
Summary of Request: Provide any briefing notes, memos or policy briefs that mention or discuss when the VIA Rail passenger service will resume in Alberta from March 1 2020 to the day this request is received. (Closed 2021-01-13)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 11
Year: 2021
Month: January
Request number: 20-2030
Summary of Request: Provide all correspondence/communications sent and received by Cynthia Garneau, Dominique Lemay, Mario Bergeron, Sonia Corriveau, Ben Marc Diendéré, Patricia Jasmin, Martin Landry and Jean-François Legault from January 2020 to the day this request is received measures taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Closed 2021-01-13)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 45
Year: 2021
Month: January
Request number: 20-2032
Summary of Request: Provide all memos, policy briefs and briefing notes provided to Cynthia Garneau that discuss or mention the implementation of security procedures for rail passengers from March 1 2020 to the day this request is received. (Closed 2021-01-13)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 45
Year: 2021
Month: January
Request number: 20-2033
Summary of Request: Provide memos or policy briefs that discuss cost-saving initiatives at VIA Rail created since March 1, 2020 to the day this request is received. (Closed 2021-01-13)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 13
Year: 2021
Month: January
Request number: 20-2035
Summary of Request: Provide all correspondence/communications sent and received by Cynthia Garneau, Dominique Lemay, Mario Bergeron, Sonia Corriveau, Ben Marc Diendéré, Patricia Jasmin, Martin Landry and Jean-François Legault from January 1 2020 to the day this request is received regarding negotiations with CN Rail over joint use of the railway across Canada (Closed 2021-01-13)
Disposition: No records exist
Number of pages disclosed: 0
Year: 2021
Month: January
Request number: 20-2036
Summary of Request: Provide all correspondence/communications sent and received by Cynthia Garneau, Dominique Lemay, Mario Bergeron, Sonia Corriveau, Ben Marc Diendéré, Patricia Jasmin, Martin Landry and Jean-François Legault from March 2020 to the day this request is received that mention or discuss when the VIA Rail passenger service will resume in Alberta. (Closed 2021-01-13)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 11
Year: 2021
Month: January
Request number: 20-2031
Summary of Request: Provide all records that discuss or maintain joint ventures with the Canada Infrastructure Bank to develop rail infrastructure from January 1, 2019 to the day this request is received. (Closed 2021-01-19)
Disposition: Disclosed in part
Number of pages disclosed: 18
Year: 2021
Month: January
Request number: 20-2034
Summary of Request: Provide all briefing notes, memos or policy briefs that mention the implementation of high-speed services across Canada from July 1 2019 to the day this request is received. Include, but do not limit the scope of the request to, budget projections and cost benefit analyses of any such proposals. (Closed 2021-01-22)
Disposition: No records exist
Number of pages disclosed: 0
Year: 2021
Month: January
Request number: 20-2041
Summary of Request: Requesting all communications between VIA Rail and the Ministry of Transportation, the mayors, town councils, indigenous leaders and any other affected parties regarding the High Frequency Rail proposal. Between Toronto and Ottawa from 2017-2020. In particular, discussions regarding the environmental impact, land expropriation, rail bed, bridge causeway construction of the HFR on the towns of Tweed and Sharbot Lake Ontario. Proposed station stops and construction timeline. (Closed 2021-01-22)
Disposition: No records exist
Number of pages disclosed: 0
Year: 2021
Month: February
Request number: 20-2040
Summary of Request: The data we are requesting on VIA Rail’s stations and the routes on which VIA Rail provides services (…) provide the following information: Railway station code, English name, French name, street address, city, province, postal code, station level, station type, longitude, latitude, active indicator. For each route: start and end station, railway stop over indicator and active indicator. (Closed 2021-02-15)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 8
Year: 2021
Month: March
Request number: 20-2049
Summary of Request: From 2015 to 2020 (inclusive), please provide a list of all trains (number, model, year of purchase) that were retired from service. (Closed 2021-03-25)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 1
Year: 2021
Month: March
Request number: 20-2051
Summary of Request: From 2015 to 2020 (inclusive), how many times was a passenger denied boarding to a train due to prohibited possession of a weapon or firearm (Closed 2021-03-25)
Disposition: No records exist
Number of pages disclosed: N/A
Year: 2021
Month: April
Request number: 20-2045
Summary of Request: 1. As of January 2020, how many persons occupy a management position at the Halifax station who are part of the four following categories: (i) women, (ii) visible minorities, (iii) person with a disability or (iv) identify as aboriginal. Please provide their position and title; 2. As of January 2020, how many persons occupy a management position at the Halifax station who are not part of the four categories mentioned in question 1; 3. Please indicate how long each employee occupying a management position at the Halifax station has been in their role; 4. In the event that an employee in a managerial role was required to conduct an investigation at the Halifax station, was such role ever occupied by a visible minority and in the event that an employee in a managerial role was required to conduct an investigation at the Halifax station, have they received a training related to visible minorities/sensitivity training; 5. For employees employed at the Halifax station subject to Unifor Collective Agreement #1, please provide the number (in total) of demerit points that have been deducted as of January 2008. If possible, please differentiate between the following categories: (i) women, (ii) visible minorities, (iii) person with a disability, (iv) identify as aboriginal and (v) Caucasian; 6. Please provide documentation regarding action VIA Rail has taken to cultivate diversity, equity and inclusion training in the workplace at the Halifax station; 7. Please provide documentation regarding the opportunities given to women, visible minorities, those with a disability and those who identify as aboriginal to achieve management position roles at VIA Rail and more specifically the Halifax station (regards to implementing, reviewing, monitoring and revising and employment equity plan that includes short term and long term goals to close gaps in representation); 8. For each employee currently occupying a management role at the Halifax station, please provide copy of their respective job posting; 9. In the event of any external contractor hired by VIA Rail in 2019 to conduct investigations with employees in Agreement #1, what was the cost for each contractor; 10. Please provide the calendar date(s) for each of the 11 witnesses interviewed for the report prepared for VIA Rail on September 27, 2019. (Closed 2021-04-12)
Disposition: Disclosed in part
Number of pages disclosed: 21
Year: 2021
Month: April
Request number: 20-2050
Summary of Request: I am looking for copies of VIA Rail’s brand/corporate identity guidelines and rolling stock livery guidelines used throughout VIA Rail’s history. The brand/corporate identity guidelines contain information on the correct usage of VIA Rail’s logo as well as the specific colours used as part of the company’s corporate identity. (Closed 2021-04-15)
Disposition: Disclosed in part
Number of pages disclosed: 63
Year: 2021
Month: April
Request number: 20-2052
Summary of Request: Obtain a copy of any document held by VIA Rail that allows me to see the total amounts spent in relation to COVID-19 and/or the pandemic between February 28, 2020 and February 28, 2021 (including all forms of expenses): a. tell me the number of contracts awarded solely related to the pandemic/COVID-19, vaccines, etc. and the total values of all such contracts; b. tell me the number of hours and total amount of overtime you paid to employees/officials; c. tell me all equipment/materials purchased by VIA Rail related to the pandemic/COVID-19 including telework, iPad/tablet/laptops etc. masks, gloves, plexiglass, etc.; d. I absolutely want a clear answer: the total amount encompassing all the expenses made by VIA Rail related to this pandemic/COVID-19 from February 28, 2020 to February 28, 2021. (Closed 2021-04-16)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 3
Year: 2021
Month: May
Request number: 20-2101
Summary of Request: I am requesting that I am provided with the year for 2019 and 2020. The forms are 2, 2A and 2B of the Legislated Employment Equity Program (LEEP). As well, I would ask that if you have any other information related to the LEEP initiatives that pertains to VIA Rail Canada Inc. is included with your response to my request. (Closed 2021-05-18)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 2
Year: 2021
Month: June
Request number: 21-2105
Summary of Request: Food sales/costs and passenger counts by region, class and year 2019 – 2021 (i) what is VIA Rail’s projected annual number of passengers; (ii) please confirm that all onboard dining and sandwich/beverage services are still operated by contract catering services; (iii) what are VIA Rail’s total gross annual food services sales (excluding Business and Sleeper class); (iv) what are VIA Rail’s total gross annual foodservices costs (total mount paid to food service providers including Business and Sleeper class); (v) what trends do you anticipate and/or what direction do you see train food service going in the next few years; (vi) what share of total annual food service sales excluding Business and Sleeper class is represented by the self-operated meals on The Canadian; (vii) what share of total food costs is represented by the self-operated meals on The Canadian. (Closed 2021-06-11)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 2
Year: 2021
Month: July
Request number:
Summary of Request: Nothing to report.
Disposition:
Number of pages disclosed:
Year: 2021
Month: August
Request number: 21-2112
Summary of Request: I am looking to confirm which rail corridor will be used for the HFR between the Ottawa, Fallowfield and Smith Falls stations (…). Please confirm whether the HFR will indeed use the rail corridors notes in orange on the enclosed map and please confirm that this is in fact the Smith Falls rails corridor that runs between the Ottawa train station and the Town of Smith Falls. (Closed 2021-08-23)
Disposition: No records exist
Number of pages disclosed: 0
Year: 2021
Month: September
Request number:
Summary of Request: Nothing to report.
Disposition:
Number of pages disclosed:
Year: 2021
Month: October
Request number: 21-2103
Summary of Request: Hazard Investigation, Northern Spirit Rail Cars (2448, 2449, 2455, 2462, 2463), Pinchin Report No. W14852, March 13, 2001. Appendix II Bulk Asbestos Samples (Bound Separately). (Closed 2021-10-22)
Disposition: Disclosed in part
Number of pages disclosed: 66
Year: 2021
Month: October
Request number: 21-2123
Summary of Request: Number of boarding’s per station, for all stations in the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor, in the shortest-available intervals, from 2014-2021; Speed limit and speed restrictions along the (i) Windsor – Toronto and (ii) Sarnia – Toronto subdivision routes; Total number of tickets sold for each type of fare for the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor from 2014-2021; Total number of tickets sold for all destination/origin pairings for the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor from 2014-2021; and Copy of the TSA between VIA Rail and CN. (Closed 2021-10-28)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 61
Year: 2021
Month: November
Request number:
Summary of Request: Nothing to report.
Disposition:
Number of pages disclosed:
Year: 2021
Month: December
Request number: 21-2110
Summary of Request: Provide a copy of any letters, emails and correspondence between the President and CEO of VIA Rail and Transport Canada regarding the HFR project between June 25, 2021 and July 12, 2021. (Closed 2021-12-06)
Disposition: Disclosed in part
Number of pages disclosed: 8
Year: 2021
Month: December
Request number: 21-2124
Summary of Request: Number of passengers carried by VIA Rail on the Montreal-Senneterre route between March 1, 2020 and October 13, 2021; 2. Any internal exchanges regarding changes to VIA Rail’s service schedules on the Montreal-Senneterre route between March 1, 2020 and October 13, 2021; and 3. Any written correspondence between VIA Rail and the elected officials/representatives of the municipality of La Tuque, La Bostonnais and Lac Édouard regarding the status of the resumption of the Montreal-Senneterre line between March 1, 2020 and October 13, 2021. (Closed 2021-12-15)
Disposition: Disclosed in part
Number of pages disclosed: 10
Year: 2021
Month: December
Request number: 21-2126
Summary of Request: I am requesting copy of VIA Rail’s organizational chart for the years 2010-2021 inclusively; I would like to know the base salary of the analysts in the accounting operations department. (Closed 2021-12-15)
Disposition: All disclosed
Number of pages disclosed: 1448
Year: 2021
Month: December
Request number: 21-2111
Summary of Request: Requesting any and all copies of contracts, service agreements, or any other document (i.e. MOU’s, MOA’s) between VIA Rail and Siemens Canada or any other third party vendors, as it relates to providing maintenance, servicing or repairs on the new Siemens Canada passenger trainsets. (Closed 2021-12-21)
Disposition: All exempt
Number of pages disclosed: 0