Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I find it unusual that there are no CN representatives here today to answer our questions. The tracks do belong to CN, after all. It is very frustrating not to get any answers to our questions. In my opinion, and other people have said this as well, this shows a huge lack of respect on the part of CN.
I hope some CN representatives will appear before the committee as soon as possible. It is as though the passengers were taken hostage, since it took so long to clear the track during these incidents.
I wonder if the response would have been a quicker if VIA Rail owned the tracks rather than CN. Let me explain: CN transports freight. A blocked rail car carrying grain or scrap metal might not be as problematic as a blocked passenger car.
Mr. Landry, are VIA Rail and CN discussing this?
Do you think VIA Rail might have responded more quickly if it owned the tracks itself?