Growing opposition to high speed rail prompted Rideau Lakes to defer alliance support
A proposed Rideau Lakes Township endorsement and financial contribution to the Corridor Train Alliance was deferred Monday after councillors debated not only the route of Alto’s proposed high speed rail project, but whether high speed rail should be supported at all.
During the May 25 committee of the whole meeting, councillors considered a draft resolution from the Corridor Train Alliance (CTA), a coalition advocating for any future high speed rail line between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal to follow the Highway 401 corridor with a stop in Kingston.
The proposed resolution argued the 401 corridor would create less disruption than the “northern” or “southern” routes currently under study by Alto, the federally backed high speed rail project.
The motion also included a proposed municipal donation of $5,000 to support the alliance’s lobbying and advocacy efforts.
However, the discussion shifted after members referenced correspondence from the Rideau Lakes Against Alto High-Speed Rail Working Group, which opposed high speed rail entirely and urged consideration of alternatives such as high frequency rail or improved VIA Rail service.
Coun. Paula Banks said the issue was no longer about choosing between a northern, southern or 401 corridor route.
“The route isn’t the problem,” Banks said. “The fencing and the connections are the problem.”
Banks argued the working group wants the CTA to reconsider support for any rail model requiring fencing, saying that would effectively remove high speed rail from consideration while still allowing discussion around other rail improvements.
“We don’t support high speed rail just for clarification,” she said.
Banks introduced a motion to defer the CTA resolution and send feedback back to the alliance for reconsideration.
Coun. Sue Dunfield supported the deferral, but said she personally does not support high speed rail and may bring forward a future motion opposing the project outright.
Coun. Debbie Hutchings also voiced opposition to the project, citing concerns about environmental impacts, emergency access, farmland and government spending priorities.
The original CTA resolution stated that if high speed rail proceeds, it should be routed along the existing 401 transportation corridor and include a stop in Kingston, which the alliance describes as an important regional military, health care, educational and economic hub.
According to documents circulated to council, the Corridor Train Alliance argues the federal government appears committed to pursuing high speed rail and that municipalities must act quickly to influence route selection before final decisions are made in 2026. The organization says routing rail infrastructure through the existing 401 corridor would reduce impacts on rural communities and environmentally sensitive areas.
Meanwhile, the Rideau Lakes Against Alto High-Speed Rail Working Group told the alliance it supports improved passenger rail service, but opposes high speed rail along any corridor in Ontario or Quebec.
The working group instead advocated for high frequency rail service on dedicated tracks alongside existing rail corridors and raised concerns about fencing, farmland fragmentation, wildlife barriers and community division.
Committee voted in favour of the deferral motion, making the original support resolution redundant for now.
Staff will forward the working group’s letter to the CTA. “We’re not against improving a train system,” Banks said. “We are against high speed rail.”
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