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Rail Transportation

Question period touched on Alto, the government’s planned high-speed rail project. Michael Barrett of the Conservatives asked why the finance minister took part in discussions and decisions about Alto despite having said in a letter that he would be in a conflict of interest if he did, and noted his department hired an Alto executive to help write his budget speech. He also said the project costs over $90 billion, involves expropriating farms, homes and businesses, harms environmentally sensitive land, and asked why the government is not investing in Via Rail instead. Steven MacKinnon, for the Liberals, called Alto a nation-building project, said the finance minister follows rules set by the ethics commissioner, and said Via Rail will remain an important part of the transportation network as the project is built while protecting farmland and the environment.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Michael Barrett

Conservative
“The finance minister said he would not take part in decisions about Alto because of a conflict of interest. He took part anyway, and his department even hired an Alto executive to write his budget speech. I want to know why.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in a September letter to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance said that he would be in a conflict of interest if he participated in discussions, decisions, debates or votes related to Alto. We now know he went on to do those things anyway. What we have learned this week is that the minister’s department hired an executive from Alto to write his budget speech and budget presentation. Why?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We support the Alto project because it helps build our country, and the Conservatives are wrong to oppose it. The finance minister follows strict rules approved by the ethics commissioner and always acts honestly.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 58 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “my friend, the Death Valley well driller over there”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Alto is a nation-transforming project. We are pleased and proud to support it. Conservatives should be ashamed of their opposition to this nation-building project. With respect to how the conduct of the finance minister and the government is going, I will respond to my friend, the Death Valley well driller over there. The minister has put in place a rigid and approved set of measures from the Commissioner of Ethics and he will always act with integrity.

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Michael Barrett

Conservative
“The government is spending over $90 billion on a train project that takes land from farms, homes, and businesses. It also hurts the environment and ignores Via Rail. I want to know why the government will not invest in our existing services instead.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as a surprise to no one, the government House leader is lowering the decorum in the House at the same time that he is also unleashing devastation on communities across Ontario and Quebec, as well as the expropriation of farms, homes, businesses and the destruction of environmentally sensitive land like the Frontenac Arch Biosphere, with a program that will cost more than $90 billion, while they let atrophy Canadian infrastructure and services like Via Rail, which services the same communities that Alto will pass by while destroying. Why will they not invest in Canada instead of destroying it?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“Via Rail will stay an important part of our travel network. We will protect the environment and farm land as we build this new high-speed rail project.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 0 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Via Rail will always be a prominent feature of our transportation network. Via Rail will continue to be a source of pride and, obviously, utility for Canadians. I will note that this is the first time, I think, in the history of the chamber that we have heard the Conservatives utter the word “biosphere”. I can assure him that the environment, farms and agriculture will be treated with the utmost sensitivity as we build this very popular, very important high-speed rail project in Canada.

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