Chrystia Freeland

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, I understand the question perfectly. I am new to the role of Minister of Transport. I am familiar with this issue, and I know that it is important. We will work on this file with Via Rail. It is also important to keep in mind that Via Rail has management that works with me—

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, I believe I have already answered the question. I understand the importance of this issue and I am looking at it closely. Canada is a country governed by the rule of law, one that respects its institutions. It is important to respect—

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, as Minister of Transport, I recognize the importance of a respectful working relationship with Via Rail. Via Rail has its own management. We respect that.

I also want to note that it is very important now more than ever to ensure a rail service that is accessible to all Canadians, including in the regions.

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, I would first like to congratulate the member for Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj.

I would also like to thank my dear colleague Diane Lebouthillier for her hard work on behalf of Canadians and the people of the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands. She was the one who first brought this issue to my attention. I know this is a very important issue for the people of Gaspé, so I thank the member for his question.

As we know, Via Rail is an independent company with its own management. We work closely with the people at Via Rail, and I will certainly discuss this issue with them. I will also work closely with the municipalities and the province of Quebec. I understand the importance of this issue. I understand the importance of Gaspé, of a connection and of safe transportation.

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, travellers' rights are very imporant to us.

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, we will move quickly on this issue because we understand how important it is to Canadians and to travellers.

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, I agree that this is an important issue, but I must insist on the fact that I am a new Minister of Transport. My colleague is talking about October 2024, but, as he knows full well, I made decisions between October and now that did not allow me to make decisions within the government.

However, today, as Minister of Transport, it is true that this is a very important issue to me. We have worked within the departments. We have worked with the key players. We will resolve the problem.

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, I have already raised that issue with all parties concerned. Via Rail is a very important carrier for Canadians.

I have been the minister for just a few weeks, but we are working with everyone involved in this issue to resolve it.

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, in connection with projects of national significance, we certainly are. We have already talked about high-speed rail. That is a very important project. It will decarbonize Canada. It will increase our GDP by 1.1%, which is a $35-billion increase. It is a truly ambitious project that our government strongly supports. I have to say that one of the reasons I am so pleased to be the Minister of Transport is—

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2025]

Mr. Chair, those are different issues. I believe that my first responsibility is to resolve the situation and reimburse those who are entitled to be reimbursed. I want to assure everyone here tonight that we will do that. We are now finalizing the plan to do so.

As for the plan going forward, that is obviously a question for me, the Minister of Transport, but it is also a question for the Prime Minister. It is a question that concerns future financial plans. However, I believe that it is really useful and important to hear from the members and to determine whether there is support in the House for such a program. Perhaps this means that the Bloc Québécois will vote in favour of a budget that includes something like that.