Bill C-203 (Historical)

VIA Rail Commercialization Act

An Act respecting the commercialization of VIA Rail Canada Inc.

This bill was last introduced in the 38th Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in November 2005.

Sponsor

Jim Gouk  Conservative

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Not active, as of Oct. 13, 2004
(This bill did not become law.)

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

VIA Rail Commercialization ActRoutine Proceedings

October 13th, 2004 / 3:05 p.m.
See context

Conservative

Jim Gouk Conservative Southern Interior, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-203, an act respecting the commercialization of VIA Rail Canada Inc..

Mr. Speaker, there are only three viable reasons for rail: commuter rail wholly provided by the private sector far more cost effectively than VIA Rail; rail tourism provided without subsidy at all by the private sector; and in remote regions for transportation that can be provided far more effectively and studies have proved that.

My bill would move VIA Rail toward commercialization instead of continuing to get half a million dollars a day subsidy, which it has been getting ever since we came to this place in 1993.

If the government is serious about cutting wasteful programs, this would be a great place for it to start.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)