Mr. Speaker, over the years billions—that is right, billions—of taxpayers' dollars have been wasted subsidizing VIA Rail.
Given these billions squandered by VIA, let me ask this not of the minister but of the taxpayers: What benefit have they, their families, their towns or their regions ever received from these billions of dollars in spending, or more important, how could this money have been better spent?
The minister claims that the private sector is not interested in VIA so the subsidies are necessary. I believe the private sector is interested and I offer this challenge to the minister. If I can get expressions of interest from the private sector operators to take over VIA Rail without taxpayer subsidies, will he commit to direct the transport committee to review the potential of their interest?
Millions of Canadians who have just sent in their tax returns want to know if the government is spending their money responsibly.
If the minister continues to subsidize VIA by almost $750,000 a day when it can be run by the private sector without cost to the taxpayer, Canadians will have their answer.