Transport Committee on Feb. 23rd, 2026

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Mr. Chair, as you know, we've heard from witnesses from Nanaimo, Hamilton and Quebec City. We've had many other people here.

I was also fortunate to be the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development. So I know that small and medium-sized businesses across Canada often depend on supply and ports, among other things. However, we're still talking about the major centres. We talked about Hamilton and Nanaimo. I had the opportunity to visit the Port of Nanaimo and the Port of Québec.

Can you tell us about the importance of the supply chain for rural communities and existing small businesses that we want to keep or maintain? Can you tell us a bit about that?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Absolutely, but let's talk about critical minerals and communities with sawmills that need these services.

In my region, there is a newsprint mill. You also have a major facility in your area, White Birch Paper, that doesn't rely on a class 1 railway, but on a railway that connects my area to the class 1 railway. When the service is not reliable, the predictability is not there and these industries suffer. You can't store newsprint outside, but the mill has to keep producing. So we absolutely have to offer, particularly in the case of the Outaouais, reliable services along supply chains and railways, big and small, and connect as many communities as possible.

It's not always going to be done by rail. That's also why we absolutely have to look at the issue of having more intermodal terminals linking the trucking sector, the marine sector where possible, and the rail sector. These facilities themselves create economic activity and jobs.

I want to grow that intermodal terminal business.

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Thank you, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Lauzon.

Thank you, Minister, for at least once including intermodal in our conversation today. I'm sure our former colleague Mr. Badawey will be very grateful for that, sir.

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

I'm surprised it took that long to get there, Mr. Chair.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

On behalf of all members of this committee, I want to thank you, Minister, as well as your department officials, for your generous time today.

With that, colleagues, the meeting is adjourned. I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday.