Effective August 16, 2025, Nick Simone, President and CEO of Pace Law Firm, has been reappointed to the Metrolinx Board of Directors and designated as Chair of the Board. The Order in Council confirms a one-year term. The timing aligns with an intensive phase of transit delivery in Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe, where multiple projects are advancing in parallel and public expectations remain high. 

Metrolinx is Ontario’s regional transit agency. Its mandate covers planning, financing, and delivery of projects that connect communities across a large and growing region. In recent years, that work has accelerated. The Ontario Line is underway, GO Expansion is progressing across several corridors, and major subway extensions are moving through construction and procurement milestones. These programs interact with municipal planning, utility relocations, property work, and long construction windows that affect streets, businesses, and neighbourhood life. Governance matters in this environment because it sets the guardrails for decisions that carry significant cost, schedule, and public impact. 

The Chair’s role sits within that framework. The Board is responsible for strategy, stewardship, and oversight of risk and performance. The Chair helps the Board function effectively and supports accountability to the public through the Minister of Transportation. That includes ensuring the Board focuses on material matters, that management has clear direction, and that engagement with stakeholders is constructive and transparent. When programs stretch across many years and touch multiple jurisdictions, that steadiness is not academic. It is the foundation for day-to-day progress. 

Nick’s renewed mandate reflects confidence that this steadiness will continue. Colleagues in our firm have seen the habits he brings to public service. Preparation is careful. Decisions are explained plainly. Commitments are followed through. Those qualities serve the Board’s work when project scopes evolve, when contracts require disciplined review, and when coordination with municipal partners, community groups, and private participants must remain practical and respectful. The objective is consistent oversight that keeps attention on safety, accessibility, and the rider experience while maintaining a clear line of sight to long-term outcomes. 

This is a consequential period for transit in Ontario. Construction sites are visible across the region, and each milestone is tied to a broader network outcome. Stations will shape how people move and how neighbourhoods grow. Service improvements depend on corridor upgrades, new systems, and reliable operations. The Board’s role is to support that integrated picture, ask the right questions at the right time, and ensure that decisions are framed by the public interest. Designating a Chair at this moment underscores the value of continuity and a measured approach to problem solving. 

We extend our congratulations to Nick on his designation as Chair following reappointment to the Board. The work before Metrolinx is demanding and important. It calls for clarity, accountability, and consistent engagement with communities and partners. This appointment reflects those priorities and the confidence placed in the Board to uphold them as projects continue.