Transport Committee on March 11th, 2026

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

You should not just look at the service offer you have right now.

[Micheline St-Onge]

No, that's right.

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

You should also look into your region's growth. Fishing and environmental issues related to fishing come to mind. This is your economic driver. The return of a passenger train could have some benefits for your region.

Can you speak to how the region can be developed further?

[Micheline St-Onge]

My original document was 15 pages long, but I had to cut it down to 2 pages. I only had 5 minutes for my opening remarks and so I had to choose what I wanted to highlight.

Indeed, we need a passenger train to promote the region's economy in every sense of the word. For example, people can come and work as consultants in specific businesses. Some people leave Gaspésie for contracts outside the region. However, they face a disadvantage because they need two days to travel to meet with their clients. The passenger train has a very big impact on the entire economy of Gaspésie.

There is a lot of talk about freight, and indeed, this is an extremely important sector. However, there are also people who work in businesses.

For example, last year, employees at the Port‑Daniel—Gascons cement factory almost went on strike because they did not have transportation to go visit their families. Gaspésie is somewhat landlocked and in the absence of train service, you must have a car because the distances are long.

I live in Baie‑des‑Chaleurs, and it takes three hours for people to travel from Gaspé to my region. The journey to Montreal takes a long time, particularly for those travelling with young children. A passenger train is essential for people across all segments of Gaspésie's population.

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

Mr. Paquette, you said that VIA Rail intends to go back to Gaspésie. Ms. St‑Onge has spoken to her region's limitations.

What specific conditions must be met to restore train service to Gaspésie? You have the opportunity to share them with us.

[Mathieu Paquette]

Thank you for that question.

First, let me say that VIA Rail's decision to discontinue service in 2013 was not taken lightly. It was taken with a heavy heart. It was done because of the state of the infrastructure in place at the time. VIA Rail has always been committed to coming back once the railway line is rebuilt. We have learned that the Quebec government has decided not to proceed with the reconstruction of the third segment between Port‑Daniel—Gascons and Gaspé, and this has forced us to go back to the drawing board.

The passenger train environment is a fairly complex ecosystem. Our passenger experience doesn't start when passengers board the train and it doesn't end when they disembark. We have to look into the quality of the infrastructure. In this case, the track has just been rebuilt. We will be visiting Gaspésie soon to see the state of platforms that passengers use to get on and off the train.

We also need to look at the state of train stations. We don't own train station infrastructure. It belongs to the Société du chemin de fer de la Gaspésie. We need agreements to use tracks and train stations. We can't disembark passengers in the middle of winter and leave them on platforms. We have to tie several factors together. As I said, we are doing some serious work at the drawing board right now to assess the potential to resume service.

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

The report has figures on train ridership from 2004 to the time the service was discontinued in 2013. There was a significant drop in passenger numbers. How do you account for that?

My question is for either Ms. St‑Onge or Mr. Paquette.

[Mathieu Paquette]

The drop in the passenger numbers is probably partially due to the poor state of infrastructure, which meant that trips took longer.

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

The experience was less positive.

[Mathieu Paquette]

The experience was less positive and the connection between the train from Gaspésie and the Ocean train made things more complicated.

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

Thank you very much.

Ms. St‑Onge, I am at your service. It would be a pleasure for me to visit your region to get a better sense of the situation. I will report my observations to the committee.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Lauzon.

Mr. Deschênes, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Good afternoon, everyone.

Mr. Chair, thank you for welcoming me to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

I would like to thank Ms. St‑Onge for joining us. She is from Baie‑des‑Chaleurs, which is in my riding. I would like to thank her for her presentation and her passionate fight for the return of a passenger train to Gaspésie.

Mr. Paquette, since January 7, trains can once again run between Matapedia and Port‑Daniel—Gascons.

Will VIA Rail resume partial service between Matapedia and Port‑Daniel—Gascons?

[Mathieu Paquette]

Thank you for your question.

As I have said from the outset, we have always wanted to return to Gaspésie. That has not changed. We are currently looking into the possibility of a gradual resumption of service to Gaspésie. We would like to do that.

That said, we have to look at the entire passenger rail ecosystem, which goes much further than simply running a train. I will be visiting Gaspésie soon to engage with concerned communities and representatives of regional county municipalities, or RCMs, to get a comprehensive picture and a better understanding of the overall situation.

When we reintroduce service, which I have no doubt we are going to do, we need to do so efficiently and safely. That is a priority.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

You don't have any doubt that you will restore service between Matapedia and Port‑Daniel—Gascons.

Is that correct?

[Mathieu Paquette]

I will say this again: I have no doubt whatsoever.

All this has yet to be determined. I am thinking in particular about where the train will make stops. However, we are evaluating everything right now. It may well be that there will be a stop at New Carlisle, for example, which has what is known as a Y configuration that allows trains to change direction. We are looking at various factors right now.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

I am pleased to hear you say that because my perspective on VIA Rail's earlier position is quite different from the way you see things. Ultimately, that's not very important, so let us talk about the future.

My understanding is that you plan to reinstate partial service. As VIA Rail's interim president, you would like to see partial service restored up to Port‑Daniel—Gascons.

Is that right?

[Mathieu Paquette]

Yes. As I said, we don't own the infrastructure. The will is there, but we need to confirm with the Quebec government that we can use the tracks, the stations and the platforms. Again, we want to offer all VIA Rail passengers door‑to‑door experience.

For example, if the train were to go to New Carlisle, we would like to have agreements with regional bus companies so that passengers who want to continue their journey to Gaspé and Percé can use these services.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

We've heard about New Carlisle, but is resumption of service up to Port‑Daniel—Gascons one of the things you are looking into?

[Mathieu Paquette]

We are looking at all possibilities. Again, as I said, we have to consider a number of factors, and so I can't make a specific commitment.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

That means that the one thing we can take away today is that you, as the head of VIA Rail, are sending a message to all of the Crown corporation's employees that VIA Rail is coming back to Gaspésie.

[Mathieu Paquette]

Yes.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

As Ms. St‑Onge clearly stated, Gaspésie has been calling for this service for a long time. I think your statement today will be very welcome news, even though there may be some lingering doubt.

What reassurance can you give the people of Gaspésie about the steps you are going to take for the resumption of train service to Gaspésie to become a reality?

[Mathieu Paquette]

First, let me say that we understand the concerns of the people of Gaspésie. At VIA Rail, we often say that it was one of the most beautiful routes. The desire to resume service is intact. Some of our employees are back to the drawing board right now. I will be visiting the region soon to meet with various regional stakeholders.

Our goal is to have ongoing dialogue with the coalition, the committee and with the people of Gaspésie to keep everyone up to speed on the progress we are making.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

That means people at VIA Rail are looking at various scenarios.

Let us now turn to the rolling stock.

Does VIA Rail currently have rolling stock that would ensure a resumption of partial service?