MacKinnon pushes back on Conservatives’ criticism of high-speed rail

Canada's Transportation Minister, Steven MacKinnon, discusses the growing divide over a multi-billion-dollar high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec.

Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon is pushing back on the Conservatives’ calls to cancel the proposed high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City.

Construction on the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project, overseen by the Crown corporation Alto, is set to begin in 2029 or 2030.

But, speaking to reporters this week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the project a “boondoggle” and a “waste of money.”

“In terms of the Conservatives, they used to think big,” MacKinnon told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday, when asked about the Opposition’s criticisms of the project.

“You know, (former prime minister) Brian Mulroney used to think big,” MacKinnon added. “Heavens. (Former prime minister) John A. Macdonald used to think in terms of building an intercontinental railroad.”

MacKinnon also pointed to the Conservative party membership voting during its 2023 convention in support of high-speed passenger rail.

When pressed by Kapelos on concern about a lack of consultation around the Alto project not coming solely from the Conservatives, but also from the Bloc Québécois and rural communities along the route, MacKinnon insisted the federal government will “obviously follow a lot of common sense” when it comes to the route chosen for the rail line.

Kapelos also pushed MacKinnon on which companies are included in the consortium tasked with implementing and operating the rail line, as well as the project’s inclusion in the Liberals’ omnibus budget implementation bill.

“Growing up, this was a dream, high-speed rail,” MacKinnon said. “What we’re saying to Canadians now is it can be real.”

He added the project will be “transformational” for the economy, and said it’s up to the federal government to explain the “considerable” benefits of it to Canadians.

When asked about the price point for people who will eventually use the high-speed rail — taking into consideration that the existing Via Rail system can already be too expensive for some — MacKinnon didn’t directly answer.

He said operation of the line will go to tender, as at this point there’s no arrangement for who will operate the service.

You can watch Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon’s full interview on CTV Question Period Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.