Canada-U.S. Relations  Mr. Speaker, I would only point out that a customs plaza or toll plaza should be located on the Canadian side. As a basis of the inter-country agreement, we are the ones who are going to be repaid for that. It only makes absolute sense. However, it is the inspection plaza that is the one that has not been accounted for in terms of the funding.

Canada-U.S. Relations  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today. I want to note that the member for Thunder Bay—Superior North will be up for a question very shortly and I hope he takes the opportunity to apologize on the record at his first opportunity for the smear that he perpetrated against Conservative members from our New Brunswick caucus.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, never mind the illogic for all the brokenness, I have just spent four minutes talking about fixes. I want to take this moment to raise something with the House about the fact that the Minister of Transport recently worked with the member opposite to hold an information event with Transport Canada officials.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to safety and security for Canadians. In fact, just last week the Minister of Transport directed her department to take immediate action to improve rail safety and the transportation of dangerous goods. These actions were to specifically address the Transportation Safety Board recommendations related to the tragic incident at Lac-Mégantic.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, I know that the minister will be pleased to hear the commendation. In light of the announcements last week as well, we know that there have been positive things that have been said from important stakeholder groups in this regard. The president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Claude Dauphin, has spoken very highly of it.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking the hon. member opposite for her intervention in this proceeding tonight. As was noted, there have been a number of actions taken by this government with respect to rail safety. I have been on the transport committee since 2007, prior to my appointment as a parliamentary secretary last year, and a number of important safety remedies have been undertaken.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the intervention of the member for Burlington in explaining the process of allocating days with respect to debate and how that is used as a management tool for keeping the House efficient in terms of all the matters it has to consider at every stage of reading.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, that is nonsense. The government has invested over a billion dollars in capital investments for VIA Rail. We invest millions every year in its overall network. I am reminded, though, that the member over there is the one who continually and consistently votes against that support for VIA Rail.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada advised CN that effective March 31, 2014, the Government of Canada will no longer provide CN with funding through the regional and remote passenger rail services class contribution program. The decision by CN to discontinue the passenger rail service between Sault Ste.

Canada Post  Mr. Speaker, the minister is doing no such thing. The member should know that Canada Post is an independent arm's-length crown corporation. It is responsible for its own operational decisions. It has, in response to the plummeting levels of letter mail volumes in this country, responded with a five-point plan.

Canada Post  Mr. Speaker, the New Democrats and the Liberals are the only ones in this House who think that Canada Post is not facing a crisis. They have said that on the record, and it cannot be more wrong. In fact, in 2012, Canada Post delivered one billion fewer addressed letter mail pieces than it did in 2006.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, the member actually was not at the committee yesterday, but let me say what is happening here. We have not only made these rules permanent with respect to two-man crews for trains carrying dangerous goods. The Conservative government has taken a number of very important actions.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the member will know that the minister issued a protective direction after the tragedy in Lac-Mégantic, which is doing exactly that, ensuring that there are two-person crews for trains carrying transportation of dangerous goods. Those rules are now permanent.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, obviously we commend CN and CP for taking action on, I think, about 300 of the DOT-111 cars. As for the remaining 90,000 or so that are out there, newer DOT-111s, the member will know, are already being built to higher standards. On the phase-out of the older DOT-111s, we are working not only with stakeholders here in Canada but with our U.S. counterparts to ensure that we have a comprehensive solution.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, it would seem apparent that the rules were not followed. Rail safety regulations exist to ensure the safety and protection of the public. If these regulations are not followed, we will not hesitate to take whatever course of action is available to us. We will await the results of the investigation into this tragedy.