Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me. I'm honoured to appear before you today.

I'm a huge fan of rail and an expert on energy policy. I'm not an expert on trains. That said, I'm interested in energy consumption and Canada's energy policies. Unfortunately, I find that the use of oil products in the transportation sector is enormous, and it is not declining over the years, partly because Canadians don't have enough alternatives to using their cars.

Trains are essential. Canada was built on the strength of rail. We think of rail as part of our glorious, proud past, but, in fact, trains must become the backbone of transportation for Canada's future. Trains will enable us to live in Canada and all its regions in an environmentally friendly way, by helping us reduce our use of energy, and economically, because trains costs less.

I personally don't own a car, but let's suppose I had driven to Ottawa to appear in committee. I could have been reimbursed for the number of kilometres travelled, based on car expense rates of 70¢ per kilometre. With 200 kilometres between Montreal and Ottawa, the round trip would have cost my employer $280. The round trip by train would have cost only $120. This shows just how expensive the car is compared to the train. Of course, rail pays for its tracks, but when people use a car, the $280 I mentioned doesn't include the cost of road maintenance. The construction of the road was paid for with funds other than the money individuals have to shell out when they take their car.

Obviously, if I had flown, the trip would have cost even more. We also have to think about the environment: Greenhouse gas emissions are much higher when we travel by plane or car and lower when we use the train. Canada has set priorities for reducing GHG emissions. Travelling by rail combines cutting costs with reducing emissions and increasing productivity. It goes without saying that if I had travelled to Ottawa by car, I would have had to drive. I would have lost four hours of my life, or two hours each way. By taking the train, I could have worked, slept or enjoyed some leisure time. Of course, the same applies if people go to Toronto via this high-frequency rail corridor or travel between Calgary and Edmonton. Instead of wasting time in a car and not being productive, Canadians will be able to be productive, enjoy leisure activities or rest on the train. It's an essential factor for enhancing quality of life, as well as saving us money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The last point I would like to mention is that trains can be electrified much more easily than planes or cars. In the medium term, when we are able to electrify modes of transportation, it will be infinitely easier to electrify trains than cars or planes. This will not only save Canadian society money, but also make life easier and promote well-being and a better environment. I'm happy with the idea of having a high-frequency train, but I'm dismayed that we're still having this discussion in 2024. We should have had high-frequency rail many years ago, but, of course, it's never too late to do the right thing. I hope to see high-frequency rail soon, and I give this project my full support.