[MonctonRad]

VIA needs to be a national rail passenger service - i.e., transcontinental and interconnected.

If it is neither of these two things, then, in my mind, the need for a federally operated rail passenger service ceases to exist. Montreal to Toronto is not Canada - Halifax to Vancouver is (I would include St. John's, but there is no longer a railway on the island of Newfoundland).

If VIA is not going to offer services in eight provinces, then why should taxpayers in those provinces want to continue to hand over their dollars to fund what is essentially a Toronto/Montreal intercity service!

If the Canadian and the Ocean are eliminated, then eliminate VIA too. Let Ontario and Quebec fight over how to fund the Toronto/Montreal service (or not)………..