Hundreds of protesters descended on Parliament Hill on June 10, demanding the federal government scrap the proposed Alto high-speed rail project before it cuts a path through Ontario and Quebec farmland.
Why it matters: Farmers and rural residents are concerned about the financial and physical impacts of high-speed rail on their community and agricultural operations, including the availability of affordable, productive farmland and the downloading of infrastructure costs to municipalities.
The Alto high-speed rail project would connect Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, traversing more than 1,000 kilometres through rural communities and productive farmland. Photo: Jonah Grignon
The protest, led by l’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), attracted farmers, rural residents, community groups and industry leaders from across both provinces to voice concerns over the privately operated rail line, owned by the federal Crown corporation Alto.
The proposed route would connect Toronto and Quebec City, crossing more than 1,000 kilometres of rural communities and productive farmland.
With an estimated cost of $120 billion and a target completion date of 2043, the project has faced growing opposition since it was unveiled in February 2025.
Protestors are asking the federal government to cancel the project, which they fear will result in land expropriation, cut them off from markets and hurt sensitive ecological sites. Photo: Jonah Grignon
Farm groups argue the rail line threatens farmland through potential land expropriation, could disrupt access to markets and farm operations, and raises significant environmental concerns for rural communities along the route.
Protest organizers say the demonstration marks the beginning of a broader campaign to ensure farmers and rural communities have a strong voice in the future.
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