In a united stand, the mayors and reeves of municipalities along the proposed southern corridor of the ALTO High-Speed Rail (HSR) project have expressed their strong opposition to the proposed route passing through their communities. The township of Rideau Lakes, along with other municipalities, speaking on behalf of 215,000 residents in our region, is raising serious concerns regarding the project’s business case, its local impact, and the lack of clear benefits for rural communities.

The ALTO HSR, with an estimated cost of $90 billion, lacks a transparent and credible business case, according to local leaders. With no clear data on ridership or demand, the mayors and reeves question the justification for such a massive financial undertaking, especially when more viable options, such as utilizing the existing 401 corridor, have not been explored.

“We are not opposed to high-speed rail in principle,” said Arie Hoogenboom, Mayor of Rideau Lakes Township. “However, we are deeply concerned that the ALTO project will bring significant disruption to our communities with little to no benefits for local residents.”

Key concerns include:

• Expropriation Threats: Local residents face the prospect of losing private land for the project under Bill C-15, without clear compensation.
• Loss of Property Value: Property values will be significantly impacted, diminishing wealth for landowners and reducing the local tax base.
• Disruption to Local Development: Uncertainty about the ALTO corridor’s alignment has already led to delays in building permits and construction projects.
• Environmental Impact: The project threatens to destroy rural landscapes, agricultural lands, and UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Rideau Canal and Frontenac Arch Biosphere.
• Community Fragmentation: The proposed route risks dividing rural communities, weakening the social fabric that holds them together.
• Lack of Local Access: The proposed route fails to include stops for residents of the southern corridor, undermining any potential local benefit.

The letter, signed by the mayors and reeves of 12 municipalities, calls for the suspension of any further development plans for the ALTO HSR project. The group is calling for a more comprehensive consultation with rural municipalities, as well as a re-evaluation of the project’s feasibility and its environmental and economic impacts.

“We urge Prime Minister Carney to reconsider the proposed route, halt any further development, and engage in a dialogue that takes into account the needs and concerns of rural Ontario,” said Mayor Hoogenboom. “The livelihoods of our residents and the future of our communities are at stake.”

A copy of the letter has been sent to:

• Steve MacKinnon, Federal Minister of Transportation
• All Federal Members of Parliament representing the proposed Southern Corridor

The letter was signed by the following mayors and reeves:

• John Logel, Mayor of Alnwick/Haldimand Township
• Claire Kennelly, Mayor of Tyendinaga
• Jim Harrison, Mayor of City of Quinte West
• Arie Hoogenboom, Mayor of Rideau Lakes Township
• John Wise, Mayor of Stone Mills Township
• Ron Vandewal, Mayor of South Frontenac Township
• Brant Burrow, Mayor of Elizabethtown-Kitley Township
• Michael Cameron, Mayor of Merrickville-Wolford
• Robin Jones, Mayor of the Village of Westport
• Stephen Fournier, Reeve of Township of Drummond/North Elmsley
• Karen Jennings, Reeve of Township of Montague
• Corinna Smith-Gatcke, Mayor of Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands