Council calls for public session with Alto regarding high-speed rail route
RIDEAU LAKES — Rideau Lakes council has unanimously rejected a proposed high-speed rail corridor that could pass through the municipality, voting instead to seek more public consultation.
Council voted against the project during its Feb. 9 committee of the whole meeting to support a motion brought forward by Deputy Mayor Sue Dunfield calling on the township to formally oppose the southern corridor identified by Alto, a federal Crown corporation tasked with establishing a high-speed rail network between Toronto and Quebec City.
The motion cites limited information and consultation to date and emphasizes Rideau Lakes’ rural character, environmentally sensitive areas, agricultural lands, and natural features, including the Frontenac Arch Biosphere and the Rideau Canal.
Council also formally endorsed the view that a more suitable corridor and potential stop should be located within the boundaries of Kingston, describing it as the region’s urban centre, economic hub, and transportation node for southeastern Ontario.
In addition, staff were directed to arrange a public information session with Alto representatives in attendance to answer questions from Rideau Lakes ratepayers.
Mayor Arie Hoogenboom said he would support the motion, noting he had received many emails from residents expressing concern about the southern route.
“I’ve received many, many emails from residents on this issue, and they’ve been consistently one hundred percent concerned about the southern route,” Hoogenboom said.
While supporting the motion, the mayor suggested that it could be strengthened by referencing alternative corridors, including an alignment closer to existing transportation infrastructure such as Highway 401, and by ensuring local federal and provincial representatives were included among those notified of council’s position.
Coun. Debbie Hutchings spoke against the prospect of a high-speed rail line crossing rural and agricultural lands, raising concerns about access for farmers and impacts on wildlife.
“If you’re a farmer and you’ve got property on both sides, how are you going to get your equipment across,” Hutchings said, adding she was also worried about the effect on wildlife and environmentally sensitive species. “I think it’s a big destruction to wildlife. I just can’t fathom why they’d come through here.”
Coin. Dustin Bullock encouraged residents to engage directly in the consultation process.
“I would just suggest everyone take time to visit the Alto website, read up on this, and get involved in their public consultation process,” Bullock said. “There is a lot of information that is there, and there is a platform for everyone to leave comments and to engage in this.”
Coun. Paula Banks said high-speed rail projects she has seen elsewhere can divide communities and farmland.
“This actually cuts communities in half,” Banks said. “You have to drive miles and miles to cross these high-speed trains. It doesn’t just divide farms, it divides communities.”
Banks requested a recorded vote on the motion.
The recorded vote saw all members of council vote in favour, with the chair declaring the motion unanimously carried.
As part of the resolution, staff were also directed to forward council’s position to federal and provincial officials, Alto leadership, the City of Kingston, and neighbouring municipalities within the proposed high-speed rail corridors.
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