‘Too many voices have been ignored’: Eastern Ontario MPPs raise concerns about federal high-speed rail project

A group of provincial leaders from eastern Ontario have expressed unease about the largest federal transportation infrastructure project in many decades.

An assemblage of Ontario Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) produced a joint statement raising concerns about the federal government’s proposed high-speed rail project.

The 11 MPPs, all Progressive Conservative (PC) members of the Ford government, stressed local voices need to be heard by Alto, the Crown corporation overseeing the $60- to $90-billion rail project.

“Public confidence in major infrastructure projects depends on meaningful consultation. In the case of ALTO, too many questions remain unanswered. Too many voices have been ignored,” said the Wednesday, Jul. 29, 2926, joint statement.

The MPPs said the high-speed rail (HSR) project needs to reflect the priorities of rural communities, families, farmers, and local businesses.

It is signed by MPPs Tyler Allsopp (Bay of Quinte), Ric Bresee (Hastings-Lennox & Addington), Steve Clark (Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes), George Darouze (Carleton), Billy Denault (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke), John Jordan (Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston), David Piccini (Northumberland-Peterborough South), Nolan Quinn (Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry), Stephane Sarrazin (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell), Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock), and Dave Smith (Peterborough-Kawartha). The MPPs represent the eastern Ontario PC caucus.

The two-paragraph statement went on to say that “If ALTO is to proceed, local voices impacted by this project deserve to see their feedback reflected in the project’s planning, route selection and delivery. The federal government must ensure that any potential future rail projects minimizes (sic) impacts on farmland and is (sic) supported by the people affected.”

“We will continue to stand with our municipalities, farmers, landowners and residents,” the MPPs pledged.

Among the 11 MPPs behind the statement are three cabinet ministers: Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security; David Piccini, Labour Minister; and Steve Clark, Government House Leader.

The proposed 1,000-kilometre fully electrified HSR line would run between Quebec City and Toronto with seven core stops, and another potential station in Kingston that is currently under review.

There has been growing community and municipal opposition to the eastern Ontario section of the HSR line as it would require land expropriation by the federal government, which many fear could cut off communities, farms, and roads, and impact environmentally sensitive areas.

Many of the concerns raised by the Ford government politicians echo those of residents and municipal leaders across the region.

This week, the City of Belleville City Council passed a motion calling on Alto for meaningful consultation and a more transparent process that does not involve signing non-disclosure agreements with impacted municipalities.

Alto’s final route selection for eastern Ontario has not yet been decided, but three corridors are being considered between Ottawa and Peterborough.

A proposed northern route would run roughly parallel along Highway 7, a southern route would dip further south and cut through several rural townships just north of Kingston and Belleville, and a third alternative, one supported by Kingston, could see the HSR line run closer to Highway 401.