VIA Rail Cuts: Minister too Afraid to Defend Himself
Conservative Government Takes $20 Million per Year Away from VIA Rail, But Woudn’t Appear at Committee
May 31, 2012
OTTAWA – Do you use the train? Maybe VIA Rail? Then get used to less trains – or none at all. Because the Conservatives are recklessly slashing $20 million from VIA Rail’s annual funding.
The sabotaging of Canada’s rail passenger network is already having its effects. VIA Rail is thinning out services across the country – from the Maritimes over Ontario to British Columbia. But the minister behind all this is lacking the guts to defend the budget cut in front of the Transport Committee.
Despite repeated attempts by NDP Transport Critic Olivia Chow and her New Democrat colleagues to get Denis Lebel in front of the committee, there has been no discussion of the VIA Rail cuts. Why? Because the Conservative majority on the committee are stopping any invitation from being extended. So why is the minister hiding?
Transcript:
Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that the Minister of Transport will not come to the committee to defend his budget. Why? It is because he is afraid he will have to defend the cutting of $20 million a year from VIA Rail services.
The service plans to cut routes from Halifax to Vancouver, including Toronto, Montreal, London, Kitchener and Niagara Falls. This will start a downward spiral.
Why are the Conservatives cutting the train services that link Canadians from coast to coast to coast?
Hon. Steven Fletcher (Minister of State (Transport), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail is an important part of the fabric of Canada. This government has invested almost $1 billion in VIA Rail. In the last budget we provided $105 million. This government has invested in VIA Rail.
VIA Rail needs to be nimble enough to be able to deal with different market demands and so on, but when it comes down to it, this government supports VIA and it is going well. VIA is a great company that helps bring Canadians together. Come and support us.
M. Robert Aubin (Trois-Rivières, NPD):
Monsieur le Président, on le sait maintenant, avec les conservateurs, la réalité se trouve toujours dans les non-dits. Ainsi, les conservateurs n’ont jamais dit qu’ils allaient réduire les services à Via Rail. Ces réductions de service touchent entre autres des corridors comme celui de Gaspé—Moncton, Montréal—Halifax et de nombreuses autres lignes dans l’Ouest canadien.
Au lieu d’investir dans une stratégie pancanadienne de transports en commun porteuse d’avenir, pourquoi l’approche économique du gouvernement se résume-t-elle à déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul?
Hon. Steven Fletcher (Minister of State (Transport), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, again, our government is committed to safe, economic and efficient passenger rail systems in Canada. We have invested in VIA Rail to build vital infrastructure, create jobs and improve passenger service. VIA regularly reviews it operations and if there are changes that need to be made, they will make the changes. That is up to VIA.
We will continue to work with VIA to ensure that we have very good passenger rail. I encourage everyone in this chamber to take the train this summer.
