The impact of VIA's operations on the national economy

From the Conference Board of Canada, 1992

 

In 1992, VIA's expenditures amounted to $533 million * (government funding

of $377 million * and passenger and other revenues of $156 million). This

contributed $693 million to the gross domestic product (GDP). Also, our

passengers spent $358 million off of the trains (on hotel accommodations,

restaurant meals, etc.), contributing $434 million to the GDP. The total

contribution to the GDP of VIA generated activity was $1,127 million.

Consequently, every dollar of government funding generated $2.99 in GDP.



There were 23,542 full-year jobs dependent on VIA's operations and related

off-train passenger spending with wages and salaries of $651 million.

Total economic activity generated by VIA related activities was $1,785 million

and the multiplier on government funding was 4.73. Taxes collected by the

federal government as a result of these activities were $164 million.

Provincial governments collected $139 million and municipal governments

collected $62 million; for a total of $365 million paid to the three

levels of government in 1992. Also, owing primarily to the foreign tourists

who rode VIA's trains, VIA made a positive contribution of $97 million to

Canada's international trade balance in 1992.

*These exclude funding and expenditures for special agreement benefits

stemming largely from the network reduction of 1990.



The impact of VIA's operations on the British Columbia economy

In 1992, VIA's expenditures in B.C. amounted to $27 million. This

contributed $37 million to B.C.'s GDP. Also, our passengers spent $18

million off of the trains, contributing $24 million to B.C.'s GDP.

Consequently, the total contribution to B.C.'s GDP by VIA generated

activity was $61 million.



There were 1,178 full-year jobs in B.C. dependent on VIA's operations and

related off-train passenger spending with wages and salaries of $34

million. Total economic activity generated in B.C. by VIA related activities was

$94 million. Taxes collected by the federal government as a result of these

activities were $10 million. The provincial government collected $5

million and the municipal governments collected $3 million. Also, VIA related

activities made a positive contribution of $8 million in B.C. to Canada's

international trade balance in 1992.



The impact of VIA's operations on the Alberta economy

In 1992, VIA's expenditures in Alberta amounted to $3 million. This

contributed $4 million to Alberta's GDP. Also, our passengers spent $13

million off of the trains, contributing $15 million to Alberta's GDP.

Consequently, the total contribution to Alberta's GDP by VIA generated

activity was $19 million.

There were 442 full-year jobs in Alberta dependent on VIA's operations and

related off-train passenger spending with wages and salaries of $9

million. Total economic activity generated in Alberta by VIA related

activities was $32 million. Taxes collected by the federal government as a

result of these activities were $3 million.

The provincial government collected $1 million and the municipal

governments collected $1 million. Also, VIA related activities made a positive

contribution of $7 million in Alberta to Canada's international trade

balance in 1992.



The impact of VIA's operations on the Saskatchewan economy

In 1992, VIA's expenditures in Saskatchewan amounted to $3 million. This

contributed $3 million to Saskatchewan's GDP. Also, our passengers spent

$1 million off of the trains, contributing $1 million to Saskatchewan's GDP.

Consequently, the total contribution to Saskatchewan's GDP by VIA generated

activity was $4 million.

There were 49 full-year jobs in Saskatchewan dependent on VIA's operations

andrelated off-train passenger spending with wages and salaries of $1

million. Totaleconomic activity generated in Saskatchewan by VIA related

activities was $5million. Taxes collected by the federal government as a

result of these activitieswere $0.4 million. The provincial government

collected $0.2 million and themunicipal governments collected $0.2 million.

Also, VIA related activities made apositive contribution of $0.3 million in

Saskatchewan to Canada's internationaltrade balance in 1992.

The impact of VIA's operations on the Manitoba economy

In 1992, VIA's expenditures in Manitoba amounted to $38 million.

Thiscontributed $48 million to Manitoba's GDP. Also, our passengers spent

$7 million off of the trains, contributing $8 million to Manitoba's GDP.

Consequently, thetotal contribution to Manitoba's GDP by VIA generated

activity was $56 million.

There were 1,194 full-year jobs in Manitoba dependent on VIA's operations

andrelated off-train passenger spending with wages and salaries of $34

million. Totaleconomic activity generated in Manitoba by VIA related activities

was $79 million. Taxes collected by the federal government as a result of

these activities were $8million. The provincial government collected $4 million

and the municipalgovernments $3 million. Also, VIA related activities made a

positive contributionof $2 million in Manitoba to Canada's international

trade balance in 1992.



The impact of VIA's operations on the Ontario economy

In 1992, VIA's expenditures in Ontario amounted to $141 million. This

contributed $192 million to Ontario's GDP. Also, our passengers spent

$217 million off of thetrains, contributing $265 million to Ontario's GDP.

Consequently, the totalcontribution to Ontario's GDP by VIA generated

activity was $457 million. There were 10,086 full-year jobs in Ontario

dependent on VIA's operations and related off-train passenger spending with

wages and salaries of $261 million. Total economic activity generated in

Ontario by VIA related activities was $733 million. Taxes collected by the

federal government as a result of these activities were $74million. The

provincial government collected $49 million and the municipal governments

collected $30 million.

 

Also, VIA related activities made a positive contribution of $69 million

in

Ontario to Canada's international trade balance in 1992.



The impact of VIA's operations on the Quebec economy

In 1992, VIA's expenditures in Quebec amounted to $290 million. This

contributed $372 million to Quebec's GDP. Also, our passengers spent $88

million off of the trains, contributing $106 million to Quebec's GDP.

Consequently, the total contribution to Quebec's GDP by VIA generated

activity was $478 million. There were 9,471 full-year jobs in Quebec

dependent on VIA's operations and related off-train passenger spending with

wages and salaries of $283 million. Total economic activity generated in

Quebec by VIA related activities was $767 million. Taxes collected by the

federal government as a result of these activities were $61 million.

The provincial government collected $74 million and the municipal

governments collected $23 million. Also, VIA related

activities made a positive contribution of $11 million in Quebec to

Canada's international trade balance in 1992.



The impact of VIA's operations on the New Brunswick economy

In 1992, VIA's expenditures in New Brunswick amounted to $12 million.

This contributed $15 million to New Brunswick's GDP. Also, our passengers

spent $9 million off of the trains, contributing $9 million to New Brunswick's

GDP.

 

Consequently, the total contribution to New Brunswick's GDP by VIA

generated activity was $24 million. There were 477 full-year jobs in New

Brunswick dependent on VIA's operations and related off-train passenger spending

with wages and salaries of $12 million. Total economic activity generated in

New Brunswick by VIA related activities was $34 million. Taxes collected by

the federal government as a result of these activities were $3 million. The

provincial government collected $2 million and the municipal governments

collected $1 million.

The impact of VIA's operations on the Nova Scotia economy

In 1992, VIA's expenditures in Nova Scotia amounted to $18 million. This

contributed $22 million to Nova Scotia's GDP. Also, our passengers spent

$6 million off of the trains, contributing $6 million to Nova Scotia's GDP.

Consequently, the total contribution to Nova Scotia's GDP by VIA generated

activity was $29 million.

There were 645 full-year jobs in Nova Scotia dependent on VIA's operations

and related off-train passenger spending with wages and salaries of $17

million. Total economic activity generated in Nova Scotia by VIA related

activities was $42 million. Taxes collected by the federal government as a

result of these activities were $4 million. The provincial government

collected $3 million and the municipalgovernments collected $1 million.