Lanark Highlands Council Does Not Support Alto High Speed Rail Proposal

At the March 10, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting, Council for the Township of Lanark Highlands discussed the proposed Alto High Speed Rail project, following correspondence received from MP Scott Reid outlining concerns about the proposal and its potential impacts on communities along the proposed corridor.

The proposed Alto High Speed Rail network is a federally supported project that would establish a new high-speed rail line between Toronto and Québec City, with trains travelling up to 300 km/h on approximately 1,000 km of new passenger-dedicated track.

During the discussion, members of Council raised concerns about the potential impacts on rural communities, active farmland, environmentally sensitive areas, and future land use within the Township. Members also discussed the potential long-term economic implications for residents, including impacts on property values and agricultural viability, particularly given that the proposed line would pass through the region without a local stop.

Following discussion, the Committee of the Whole supported a motion expressing that the Township of Lanark Highlands does not support the proposed Alto High Speed Rail project and supports efforts to prioritize reinvestment in Canada’s existing rail infrastructure. The motion will be brought forward to Council for formal consideration.

Learn More About the Project
Residents interested in learning more about the proposed project can review information provided by the project team on the Official project website:https://www.altotrain.ca/en/shaping-canadas-future-high-speed-train

Information Shared by Member of Parliament Scott Reid
Council’s discussion was prompted by correspondence from Scott Reid outlining concerns about the proposed rail corridor, including potential project costs, environmental impacts, and the possibility of property expropriation along the route.
Residents interested in reviewing the information shared by the Member of Parliament can learn more here: https://scottreid.ca/lets-stop-alto/

Petitions to the House of Commons
The MP Reid has also provided links to a paper petition and an e-petition. These are provided below for awareness:
• Paper Petition – requesting that no property expropriations west of Ottawa occur until the Ottawa–Montréal portion of the project is completed.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DOld8gEpNT_UfKRRRmkLrElJHoKvzPHe/view

• Electronic Petition (e-7203) – open for signatures until May 28, 2026.
https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-7203

Those interested in learning more about the project or participating in the federal review process are encouraged to review the available information.