Thank you for these details. That is in fact a good argument. You feel that the priority is the time it would take to get from one city centre to another. For example, Montreal to Quebec City might be a very short trip, but unless their downtowns are linked, it might prove to be difficult. So the idea is to link them with due regard to the time it takes, even with a modal transfer.
You also raised the issue of local benefits.
That truly interest me, but it doesn't appear to be a priority yet in the government's plans. From your standpoint, how can we factor in economic benefits for businesses while complying with international agreements?