Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the member for Brant for her question and her great interest in this matter.
As the Minister of Transport stated in the House, VIA Rail is another entity for which our department is responsible and which faces a very troubled future.
Members of the House know that VIA has known of its budgetary parameters and responsibilities for quite some time. VIA has made some efficiency gains but is a long way from achieving what it must.
VIA Corporation, its 3.7 million passengers and especially its workers all must be part of the solution if we are to achieve a national, sustainable, efficient and affordable passenger rail system. Taxpayers not only expect this but demand it of government.