Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport announced a major injection of funds into VIA Rail and has initiated a study into the business case for VIA service between Peterborough and Toronto.
All the evidence suggests that we should get people off our roads. Passenger rail service reduces pollution, dependence on gasoline and highway accidents. It provides a predictable rush hour commute.
The rail track between Peterborough and Toronto is in a reasonable state and there is now a local freight rail company that has great experience of it.
The time has come to provide the people in Peterborough and those along this rail line with good commuter service and good tourist season service.
I urge the government to move quickly on this. I have the full support of the members for Haliburton—Victoria—Brock, Durham and Whitby—Ajax.