[milomilo]

If the objective is to reduce the total value of the subsidy provided to VIA, then cancelling services will achieve that, sure. However if you follow that rabbit hole all the way down then you will just end up scrapping the whole VIA network - mission accomplished, no subsidies!

However if you accept the notion that transporting more people by rail is a good thing for a number of reasons, then we have a good shot of reducing the per rider subsidy by increasing services. That will of course cost some money, but it could also save money if fewer roads need to be built etc.