Municipality to host March 8 open house at Portland Hall with South Frontenac spokesperson on Alto high speed rail
RIDEAU LAKES — Alto Rail has cancelled a planned delegation to Rideau Lakes Township council that was scheduled for the March 2 meeting.
Chief Administrative Officer Shellee Fournier confirmed with Hometown News on Feb. 26 that the high speed rail proponent withdrew from the agenda, citing the township’s previously adopted position opposing the project.
According to Fournier, the township “had already passed a motion opposing it so she wasn’t sure what the objective was.”
The cancellation by Alto followed recent council action opposing a potential southern route that could pass through Rideau Lakes. Councillors raised concerns about impacts to farmland, environmentally sensitive areas, waterfront properties and rural communities.
As part of that decision, council directed staff to increase public awareness through direct mail, outreach to lake and road associations, and the creation of an online petition to allow residents to formally register their views before the federal consultation period closes later this month.
Council also voted to ask the City of Kingston to reconsider its support for the project and to oppose a route that would bypass that municipality.
Fournier said Alto has offered to hold a separate briefing with herself and the mayor, and efforts are underway to arrange that meeting.
Deputy Mayor Sue Dunfield posted on Facebook that the municipality will host an open house at Portland Hall on March 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. to hear from Gord Boulton, a spokesperson from South Frontenac, who she said has maps and information and is not associated with Alto.
“Your municipal township will be sending out a letter to every taxpayer on Tuesday, March 3 with information about the high-speed rail project so that no one should be left out in the dark,” Dunfield wrote. “As well, a petition against building through Rideau Lakes will be available for your signature on March 3.”
In the same post, she urged residents to attend the town hall meeting or visit Alto’s website to review project information and maps.
“Above all reach out to your MP Michael Barrett, to Prime Minister Mark Carney, MP Stephen MacKinnon, Minister of Transport, MP Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, and anyone else you can think of,” she stated.
Several eastern Ontario municipalities have recently taken formal positions opposing the proposed southern corridor as public consultation on the project continues through March.For more information on the high speed rail project, there will be an Alto open house in Perth at the Lions Club Hall on March 4 beginning at 5 p.m.
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