Kevin Lamoureux: Mr. Speaker, a national transportation strategy is not new. One could probably trace it back through the last decade as one of those issues that needs to be dealt with. The Liberal Party has been advocating for it for a number of years. At the end of the day, I suspect that it is in all of our best interests.

There are opportunities in terms of passenger transportation. I would love to be able to hop on a train, for example, to go from Winnipeg to Regina. I cannot do that. Yet those are two very important communities, not only in my life but in the lives of millions, I would argue. The transportation corridor from the 905 belt to Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa all the way down to Hamilton and Windsor is a wonderful opportunity.

There needs to be that overall transportation strategy. I suspect that at least three of the four political parties are going to have a detailed strategy going into the 2015 election.

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I would like to ask my friend from Newton—North Delta if she does not agree. The committee might not be able to get at it because it exceeds the scope of the bill. However, this legislation could be used to leverage and push for more of a national transportation strategy that would take into account the need to move goods and people efficiently by rail.

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I want to raise one issue with my colleague that has troubled me for a long time as an advocate for passenger rail. The member pointed out quite rightly that VIA Rail does not own its own tracks. It must get permission and lease them from freight. The increasing problem is that freight trains are getting increasingly longer, which means they can no longer use the sidings that are available. That means that passenger rail always has to go to a siding, because of shorter trains, and wait there while freight goes by. That is undermining the efficiency of passenger rail through freight.

I wonder if my colleague would have any comments.

Matthew Kellway: Mr. Speaker, the future of transit in this country should be focused on making passenger transit more efficient. The environmental impact of that would be tremendous for Canadians. I would note too that the emission intensity of passenger rail over the last 20 years or so has improved by about 26% and there is lots of room for greater improvement for passenger rail.

It would be wonderful if there were a way to give passenger rail greater priority on the tracks, to work out some system, so that freight travel could also continue in a competitive and efficient way as well.

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“As a Member of Parliament, I’m committed to working toward policies that help our society make the shift away from dependency on cars toward better options like public transit and high speed rail. This is why I was a joint-seconder on Bill C-305, the National Transit Strategy Act, a Bill that was rejected this week in Parliament by Harper’s Conservatives. Not a single Conservative MP had the courage to support this bill. What will it take for Stephen Harper to finally recognize the threat posed by climate change?” asked Canadian Greens’ Leader Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands.

“A well-run public transportation system can make getting places easier and more efficient, saving time and money,” added May.

“Cars are responsible for well over half of the carbon emissions of the average Canadian household, and vehicle emissions are rising twice as fast as the population. So spending a day thinking about how we can reduce our dependence on the car is one of the most significant things we can do to safeguard the climate for our children,”added Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu, Green Party Shadow Cabinet Member for Climate Change.

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“I urge all MPs to vote in favour of C-305. I especially hope those of my colleagues from the Conservative Party who approve the bill will be allowed to support it,” said May.

“Canada’s population is aging and an effective public transportation system is key for seniors to be able to take advantage of all the resources in their community,” added May.

“Bill C-305 is exactly what Canada’s fast-growing, dynamic cities need to thrive. Lasting prosperity in the twenty-first century will belong to those cities that make strategic investments in sustainable urban infrastructure now,” added Chris Turner, sustainability author and Green Party candidate for Calgary Centre”.

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I want to point out that Canada is the only country in the OECD without a national transit policy.

There is one segment of society that I am particularly concerned about that I do not think the member mentioned in her speech, and that is seniors. We have a growing demographic of seniors for whom independence means being able to get around on their own, both safely and securely. For a number of safety reasons, we should not be driving in our senior years.

Would the member like to comment on that aspect of seniors and mass transit?

Ms. Olivia Chow: Mr. Speaker, I was in Whitehorse, Yukon, and met with the mayor there. She started a bus service in Whitehorse, and ridership jumped by 30% or 40% within a few months. She told me that there is a growing need for this service, because as the population ages, fewer people are able to drive.

Whitehorse is a small town, and people coming from other cities cannot reach it because there is just no bus service going into town. As well, parts of Whitehorse are not served by the bus service, because there is just not enough support from the federal government. She would welcome a national public transit strategy.

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The strategy would secure a permanent federal investment plan in innovation research. It would provide federal leadership in working with all levels of government to coordinate planning. This strategy would get Canada moving in line with other G8 nations by helping to provide public transit that is fast, accessible and affordable to all Canadians.

This would help move Canada forward.

Seconded by Elizabeth May October 24, 2011.

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Interventions in the House of Commons: October 26, 2011

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