Alto - High-Speed Rail Project

The proposed route through rural eastern Ontario could result in:

• Loss of valuable agricultural land
• Impacts on environmentally sensitive areas
• Fragmentation of local road networks
• Long-term pressures on municipal services
• Uncertainty for property owners and families

These impacts are significant and long-lasting, while offering limited direct benefit to local communities.

The Township supports the exploration of lower-impact options, including:

• Using existing transportation corridors (Highway 401, Autoroute 40, Highway 50)
• Minimizing impacts on rural communities
• Exploring regional rail connections linking Ottawa to nearby urban centres

Residents have also expressed openness to alternative routes that reduce impacts on landowners and communities.

Whereas the Government of Canada has identified the ALTO high-speed rail project as a major initiative within the Quebec City–Toronto corridor, with an estimated cost of up to $90 billion; and

Whereas the proposed routing through rural eastern Ontario would impose significant impacts, including loss of agricultural land, disruption to environmentally sensitive areas, and fragmentation of local road networks; and

Whereas these impacts would create long-term financial and service delivery challenges for municipalities, while providing limited local benefit; and

Whereas municipalities and residents have not been provided with sufficient consultation or transparent information regarding these impacts; and 

Whereas existing transportation corridors, including Autoroute 40 and Highway 401, as well as Highway 50 in the Province of Québec, provide a logical and less disruptive route between major urban centres; and

Whereas a regional rail link connecting Ottawa to urban centres along the Highway 401 corridor, including Prescott, Brockville, or Kingston, represents a practical, cost-effective, and lower-impact alternative to connect residents to high-speed rail; and

Whereas municipalities have a responsibility to protect their communities and quality of life.

Now therefore be it resolved that the Council of the Township of Champlain formally opposes the routing of the ALTO high-speed rail project within its municipal boundaries; and

That Council calls on the Government of Canada and project proponents to suspend advancement of such routes until meaningful consultation and full impact disclosure are completed; and

That Council advocates for the use of existing transportation corridors, including Autoroute 40 and Highway 401, as well as Highway 50 in the Province of Québec, and for alternatives that minimize impacts on rural communities; and

That the interests, safety, and quality of life of residents remain paramount in all decisions related to this project; and

That Council does not give permission to ALTO to carry out environmental and geotechnical studies on municipally owned land;

That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada; the Honourable Steve MacKinnon, Minister of Transport; Martin Imbleau, President and CEO of ALTO; Premier Doug Ford; MP Giovanna Mingarelli (Prescott–Russell–Cumberland); MPP Stéphane Sarrazin (Glengarry–Prescott–Russell); the Federation of

Canadian Municipalities; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario; the Rural Ontario Municipal Association; the Ontario Federation of Agriculture; the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus; and all municipalities within the United Counties of Prescott and Russell to support a coordinated regional response.