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CENTREVILLE — Wednesday’s planned protest on Parliament Hill is an opportunity for opponents of the Alto high-speed rail proposal to bring their message directly to the country’s leaders, local activists said.
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On Wednesday, residents from the rural areas around Kingston are planning to join agricultural producers from Mirabel, Argenteuil and Deux-Montagnes in Ottawa for a peaceful protest against the Alto project.
Local groups, including Save South Frontenac, Save Stone Mills and Rideau Lakes Against Alto have organized buses to transport local residents to Ottawa.
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“Many people living along the proposed corridor feel there are still significant unanswered questions surrounding the project and want an opportunity to ensure those concerns are heard directly by federal decision-makers,” said Heather Levy of Save Stone Mills.
“There is no question that better passenger rail is something many Canadians would support. The question is whether support for the idea of high-speed rail is being mistaken for informed support of this specific project as more details emerge and more Canadians become aware of its potential costs, impacts, and trade-offs,” Levy added.
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“Our goal is to encourage a broader national conversation about what the best rail solution for Canada actually looks like. We hope decision-makers will be willing to listen not only to concerns, but also to the growing number of Canadians asking whether there may be better ways to achieve the same goals.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and eastern Ontario Conservative MPs, including Scott Reid and Michael Barrett, are expected to speak at the three-hour event.
“This is not a partisan issue, nor is it just an Ontario-Quebec issue,” said Katie Koopman of Save South Frontenac. “We are concerned that Canadians have been kept from the truth, distracted by Alto’s flashy media campaign that lacks nuance and factual details, as well as the government’s continued ethical breaches within this project.
“This is not a time to wait. Save South Frontenac, specifically, has committed to a significant community outreach strategy over the next few months because we understand that there is a whole new population — seasonal residents — who will return for respite from their urban centres,” Koopman added.
Koopman said opponents of the project all along its proposed route need to show support for residents living between Ottawa and Montreal, where the first phase of the high-speed rail line is to be built.
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