Mr. Speaker, I want first to congratulate the member for Brant on her hard work in promoting the needs of her area, especially the transportation needs of the people of the riding of Brant and elsewhere.
I can also say that we share a common vision with regard to the role that passenger rail service should play in the country. Some of the suggestions she put forward are obviously ones that the government and the minister are considering.
I should point out, though, with respect to her specific question that it is premature for the government to look at specific service cutbacks or service routes at this time. I believe the member alluded to the fact that VIA is currently conducting some negotiations with its workforce. Those negotiations hopefully will be fruitful so that in fact VIA can meets its fiscal requirements as mandated by the government and essentially be able to maintain a viable passenger rail network across the country.
I should also point out that not only are the workers part of the solution. We have always said in the House that passengers must be part of the solution. As well as other interested parties, municipalities and provincial governments, passengers need to be part of the solution for a new invigorated VIA.
People have to use trains. People talk about the value of trains. They want high speed trains. They want to use train services. The reality is that they jump in their cars usually by themselves and travel from point a to point b . We have to do much more to encourage people to use this mode of transportation. That is very fundamental.
Let me point out to members that there is a unique opportunity for all parties to work together toward a solution, including the municipalities and provinces, as they have between Brantford and Toronto. They have helped subsidize that particular route. That is an opportunity for everyone to work together to ensure that we can maintain a passenger rail service in the country.