The federal NDP's transport critic is worried a new high-speed rail project in Ontario and Quebec will kill off publicly-subsidized passenger service in western Canada, the Prairies and the Maritimes.

The rail line is projected to cost between $60 billion and $90 billion, another early-stage estimate subject to change, Imbleau said. But with projections of 24 million round trips per year and a $24.5-billion boost to the annual GDP, Imbleau said the project was well worth the price tag.