Carney Defends High-Speed Rail, Faces Criticism

0:00Prime Minister Mark Carney is pushing back hard on critics of Canada's high-speed rail line from Toronto to Quebec City. The massive project aims to link major cities with blazing fast trains, but it's facing real heat right now. First phase connects Montreal and Ottawa, with shovels hitting dirt in 2029 or 2030, and the whole thing could run 60. Billion to 90 billion dollars. Carney argues it'll spark a ton of direct jobs and give the economy a serious lift for years to come. He sees it as a game-changer for growth in the corridor. Conservative leader Pierre Poïev jumped in last week, urging the government to kill the plan outright. World communities and Ontario and Quebec are piling on too. Worried about the impacts on their backyards? Meanwhile, Carney cleared the air on Finance Minister Francois, Philippe Champagne, who's recused himself from project calls to follow ethics rules. No issues there, according to the PM. With jobs on one side and costs on the other, this rail debate's just getting started. Keep an ear out for the next moves.

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