Mr. Speaker, we learned this morning that the Minister of Transport intends to make major cuts in the subsidies to VIA Rail for the transportation of passengers. In light of the economic hardship experienced by this crown corporation, the government has decided to abandon public transportation instead of taking the necessary
measures to help VIA Rail, at a time when the corporation has already begun to reduce its operating costs.
Whether it is passenger or freight transportation, the Liberal government is promoting the slow death of railway transport, particularly in eastern Quebec. The government seems quite remote from the concern of Canadians who want a public transportation system which is fair and respectful of the environment. In this difficult economic context, when employment is scarce, the Liberal government is losing interest in VIA Rail, a crown corporation which generates more than 23,000 permanent jobs.