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Rail Transportation

During Question Period, members discussed the government’s Alto high-speed rail project for the Quebec City–Toronto corridor. Sandra Cobena of the Conservatives said the project is expected to cost about $90 billion while serving only a small share of daily passengers, and argued it should be cancelled in favour of the Conservative economic plan. Liberal minister Steven MacKinnon said Alto would serve a large share of Canada’s population, create about 51,000 jobs, reduce truck traffic on Ontario and Quebec highways, and add to GDP, and said only the Conservatives oppose it.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

2 statements

Sandra Cobena

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Alto rail project will cost $90 billion and carry very few passengers. That is three times the cost of earlier transit plans for far fewer riders. The government should cancel this project and use our economic plan instead.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is spending more than any government in Canadian history. That is what Canadians will remember. Alto, for example, is three times the cost for 2% of the daily passengers. The Liberals want to spend $90 billion on the Alto project, which, in 30 years, will maybe carry 66,000 passengers a year. Compare that to the last decade. Ottawa committed $30 billion to serve millions every day. This is three times the cost and 2% of the daily users. Will the government cancel the wasteful project, save Canadians money and adopt the Conservative economic action plan?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We should build the Alto train project. It helps 40 percent of Canadians, creates 51,000 jobs, takes trucks off the highway, and grows the economy. Only the Conservatives oppose it.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, only Conservatives could be against a project that covers 40% of the population of Canada, will create 51,000 jobs, will remove trucks from the 401 so that we can get fluidity back on Ontario and Quebec highways, and will add significant points to our gross domestic product. Alto is a transformational project that will serve the entirety of Canada, and we look forward to building it.

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