Mr. Speaker, Cynthia Garneau, the president and CEO of VIA Rail, said that in 42 years of existence, this is the first time that VIA Rail, a public intercity passenger rail service, has had to interrupt most of its services across the country.
More than 1,500 jobs have been cut at VIA Rail and CN. All sectors of Canada's economy, especially the tourism industry, are feeling other effects from the rail blockades.
Can the Minister of Tourism tell us what economic impact the blockades are having on this industry?