Lisa Raitt

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, since 2006, our government has actually given VIA almost $1 billion in capital funding, which is significant. We have invested heavily in VIA Rail in the past number of years, but VIA has to ensure it works to not be a burden on taxpayers.

The being said, with the discontinuance proceedings that are happening with this piece of rail, as the government, we have encouraged VIA to have the conversation with CN about this portion of track, give due consideration to what the member has said, and what my colleagues from New Brunswick also have said.

My role is to meet with the mayors, which I have done, to open up the chain of dialogue to ensure that we get to the right place in our decision-making and also accept whatever the decisions are made.

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, I have indicated what the estimates are this year. There are approximately $183 million, which is consistent with what we had sought in previous years.

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, in contemplation of the work that CN had done with the province of New Brunswick, and already in consultation with the MPs that I work with on this side of the House from New Brunswick, it is important to ensure that a conversation between VIA and CN happens with respect to the possibility of this rail line coming into VIA's operation.

That matter is being discussed by VIA and CN. I am here and not at the table with them tonight.

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, VIA Rail does own some parts of rail. Mostly notably in Ottawa, it does own a stretch of rail on its own. It is VIA's own business decision to purchase that rail line.

With respect to the area, as the hon. member knows, I have met, through his invitation, with the mayors of the Richibucto and Petit-Rocher, and representatives from the Union of Quebec Municipalities to discuss this rail line.

I am happy to say that I have encouraged VIA and CN to talk with each other with respect to this rail line. Those conversations are happening.

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, VIA makes its own decisions with respect to its service.

It has indicated to us the service levels it is providing with respect to the appropriations it receives from Parliament. There is the Ocean line, that the member refers to, that goes from Montreal to Halifax. There are various other lines in the country that operate as well within the envelope of funding that we provide.

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, in accordance with the Canadian Transportation Act, should a railway want to discontinue a line, like CN has indicated, in that part of the world, it has to give notice to all the parties. It did so in February of this year.

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, I do not have the information with respect to the VIA decisions operationally.

As I already indicated, it is an independent organization that takes its own administration and management of its services in accordance with what we set out as major transportation policy in the country.

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, with respect to the number of federally regulated tier one railways that are non-passenger, it is two freight, which is CN and CP, as the hon. member probably knows.

With respect to other types of rail, it depends upon whether they are just provincially regulated or federally regulated. I think there is about 20 short line rail that may be federally regulated as well.

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, VIA Rail is an independent agency that has and maintains passenger rail service and some tourism services in Canada. It has its own operation, management and administration and does so at arm's-length from the government.

[Business of Supply, May 7th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, the question I am hearing is how many railways are there for the intended transfer of VIA Rail passengers?

VIA Rail is the passenger train, the commuter train, that is a Canadian independent agency. There are other trains that provide passenger services. They are private I guess. One that comes to mind is Rocky Mountaineer on the west coast.