VIA Rail's Ocean Line is being used by Green Party co‐leader Elizabeth May for her 'Whistle Stop Tour' as part of the 2025 federal election campaign, highlighting the company’s role in providing sustainable transportation that supports inclusive political participation.

VIA Rail published its 2023 report in accordance with the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, detailing its robust procurement policies, risk assessments, and ethical guidelines aimed at preventing forced and child labour in its supply chain.

A June 1, 2023 article from National Observer details the federal government’s push for a public-private partnership model for VIA Rail’s proposed high‐frequency rail corridor. Critics, including NDP MPs and Unifor representatives, warn that involving private investors could erode public control of a historically Crown-owned service, reduce revenue retention for VIA Rail, and undermine worker and public interests.

VIA Rail finds itself at the center of political debates as questions over its leadership arise amid the government's plan for a high-frequency rail service between Quebec and Toronto, placing the crown corporation in political hot water.

In 2023, VIA Rail conducted a comprehensive social risk assessment of its procurement activities in preparation for the new Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, reinforcing responsible sourcing practices and mitigating risks of modern slavery in its supply chain.

In 2023, VIA Rail conducted a social risk assessment of its procurement activities in preparation for the new Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act. The assessment was designed to identify and mitigate risks of modern slavery and child labour in its supply chain, reinforcing its commitment to ethical sourcing and protection of labor rights.

VIA Rail ratified collective agreements for approximately 2,400 unionized employees. The agreements, retroactive to January 1, 2022 and in effect through December 31, 2024, secure multi-year wage increases, revisions to work rules, and initiatives to strengthen diversity and inclusion, providing stability during the post-pandemic recovery.

VIA Rail has published a Policy on Supplier Conduct and Responsible Sourcing effective April 25, 2022, reinforcing ethical labor standards and responsible supply chain practices. The policy requires suppliers to adhere to strict guidelines on forced labor, child labor, discrimination, and environmental responsibility, aligning with international labor standards and sustainable sourcing ambitions.

VIA Rail released a comprehensive Policy on Supplier Conduct and Responsible Sourcing on April 25, 2022. The policy mandates strict ethical guidelines for suppliers, covering labor rights, human rights, and environmental protocols, reinforcing sustainability and inclusivity across its supply chain.

The federal government plans to privatize VIA Rail's most profitable passenger rail corridor between Windsor and Quebec City. This move, announced on March 9, 2022, has sparked strong protests from unions and transportation advocates, who warn that transferring control to private investors could undermine public accountability, diminish worker rights, and compromise the quality and sustainability of rail service across Canada.