Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Transport.
The government's net spending on Crown corporations in the transportation sector will total $528 million this year. Other major cuts planned for the next few years will almost exclusively affect VIA Rail, which serves all Canadians.
What explanation does the minister have for the fact that Marine Atlantic, which will cost $131 million this year and operates only in the Maritimes, will hardly be affected and that most of the cuts will be borne by VIA Rail?