Stone Mills residents sound the alarm over proposed high speed rail line route

Momentum is growing in the fight against Alto’s proposed southern route for its high-speed rail project. Canada’s first high-speed rail service is a federally backed project that would transport people from Toronto to Quebec City.

The impetus for the rail project is, at least, two-fold. As per their website, Alto notes the Toronto-Quebec City corridor is home to 44 per cent of the nation’s population. Current rail options, they state, can’t keep up with increasing transit demands.

On the other hand, the new rail line is set to beef up the economy and “free up space for freight trains, facilitating better movement of goods and supporting economic growth.”

As per Alto, once completed, the project is expected to generate an annual GDP uplift of 1.1 per cent. By today’s standards, this would be equivalent to $ 24.5 billion.

Stops will include Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval, Trois-Rivieres, and Quebec City.

Alto’s route is not confirmed, as of yet. They are currently deliberating the merits of a northern route, which would follow Highway 7, versus a southern route, which would dip south toward Belleville, Napanee, Kingston, and surrounding areas.

While the benefit for urban commuters is clear, what happens to the landowners in between has some questioning the new project.

Montreal-based think tank MEI argues Canada’s first high-speed rail project will have disproportionately negative repercussions for landowners. 

According to MEI, the High-Speed Rail Network Act, buried in the federal budget omnibus bill, introduces sweeping changes to the Expropriation Act, allowing the government to fast-track the project by overriding long-standing expropriation steps.

Changes include eliminating public hearings. Previously, if an objection was received, the Minister of Transport could call a public hearing to consult with the wider community about the impacts of the proposed expropriation. 

With the new bill, this type of recourse has been eliminated.

Still, while public hearings may no longer be possible regarding expropriation, the public, along with several municipal governments, is decrying the proposed southern route that would see large swathes of land expropriated.

Recently, the Township of Stone Mills passed a motion opposing this. There, citizens spoke openly and loudly about their concern.

“Residents feel they do not have enough clear, accessible information about what is being proposed in their area,” said resident Heather Levy. “They are struggling to understand the purpose and scope of public consultation.”

Levy noted residents are concerned about damage to existing residences and farmlands, impacts on ecologically sensitive areas, and access issues where roads may be cut off or rerouted. 

“Residents are asking how essential services would reach communities if rail infrastructure created dead-end roads,” said Levy.

Yet other residents voiced concern regarding the rail line's intersection with an important ecological area.

“I don’t believe it’s any coincidence the southern route parallels the Catarqui Trail,” said resident Ted Darby.

A representative from the Frontenac Arch Biosphere, Susan Maswell, explained the route would cut through important ecological lands that stretch from the Adirondacks to Algonquin. And, while some conservation groups along the proposed route have been contacted, she noted the Biosphere was not.

South Frontenac Township and Rideau Lakes Township have also officially opposed the southern route for the high-speed rail. 

Upcoming public consultations hosted by Alto include one on March 5th at the Madoc Township Recreation Centre, and one on March 25th at the Stirling and District Lions’ Club.