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Rail Transportation

During question period, members raised the federal budget’s priorities and the Alto high-speed rail project between Toronto and Quebec City. A Conservative member asked the government to cancel the project, saying it lacks a clear business case, that fuel taxes burden rural Canadians, and that the line could take land from families in her riding. A Liberal parliamentary secretary said the project is a generational opportunity that would create about 50,000 jobs, add up to $32 billion to the economy, reduce emissions, and respond to support in Ontario and Quebec.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

2 statements

Shelby Kramp-Neuman

Conservative
“I want the government to cancel the Alto high-speed rail project and spend that money on families instead. The government taxes fuel rural Canadians need while spending billions on a rail line with no clear business case. This project could also take land from families in my riding.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yesterday’s budget raises fundamental questions about the government’s spending priorities. The government cannot claim fiscal responsibility while taxing the fuel rural Canadians rely on and committing billions to Alto high-speed rail. Families in Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga face the prospect of paying for a vanity project that could also take their land without any demonstrated business case. This is not responsible governance. It is a staggering disconnect from reality. Will the government cancel Alto and put those billions toward the priorities of Canadian families?

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Mike Kelloway

Liberal

Linked statement

“We support this high-speed rail project. It will create 50,000 jobs, add up to $32 billion to the economy, and cut pollution. People in Ontario and Quebec want it, and we are listening to them.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to high-speed rail, in particular this high-speed rail, it is a generational and transformational opportunity for Ontario and Quebec, boosting the GDP by up to $32 billion, with 50,000 jobs, and reducing our carbon footprint. The big thing, quite frankly, is that we are listening to Canadians. We are listening to Ontarians and Quebeckers with respect to high-speed rail. We have, we are and we will.

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