Concerns about farmland and rural impacts raised during the Rideau Lakes high speed rail route debate
RIDEAU LAKES — Rideau Lakes council has voted to support a motion urging the federal government to study a potential high speed rail route along the Highway 401 corridor rather than through rural areas of the township.
The motion, introduced by Coun. Paula Banks during the March 2 council meeting, calls on the Government of Canada to include the 401 corridor in its current studies of potential high speed rail routes in southeastern Ontario.
The resolution states that large infrastructure projects should unite communities rather than divide them and argues the existing 401 transportation corridor would serve more people while reducing impacts on farmland, natural areas and rural communities. The motion also highlights concerns from local residents and landowners about a potential rail route cutting through agricultural land, wildlife corridors, rural roads and environmentally sensitive areas.
Banks told council the request originated from a regional group advocating for the 401 corridor option.
“This motion was sent by Gord (Boulton) from the South Frontenac group,” Banks said. “They’re asking us to support it. It’s basically saying to the government that if you’re going to put high speed rail in, they would prefer the 401 corridor.”
During debate, several councillors raised questions about the wording and timing of the motion.
Coun. Linda Carr said the resolution did not reference key environmental designations in the area, including the Frontenac Arch Biosphere and the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“That should be there,” Carr said. “Those are two very, very important issues.”
Coun. Dustin Bulloch also pointed out an inaccuracy in the motion stating Kingston has no air service.
“There is a fully functioning regional airport there, so that line could be taken out,” Bulloch said.
Council accepted a friendly amendment removing the reference to Kingston having no air service.
Mayor Arie Hoogenboom said he was not prepared to support the motion, arguing council should gather more information before endorsing a specific alternative route.
“I believe it’s premature,” Hoogenboom said. “We’ve agreed to send out a petition and a mailout, and I think we need to let that take place and get that feedback before we start to say the 401 route is the only one that we want.”
Hoogenboom added that discussions with representatives from Alto suggested the public consultation period may be extended beyond its current end date of March 29.
“This project is probably eight to 10 years down the road in the best case scenario,” he said.
Coun. Ron Pollard also questioned whether the township should advocate for the rail line to be placed in another community.
“If we don’t want this, should we be pushing it onto somebody else?” Pollard said.
Banks argued council should act quickly to ensure local voices are heard.
“Anybody that has been knee deep in this realizes we only have a couple weeks to take action,” Banks said. “If we do not go full force on this in the next couple weeks, we’re not going to have any say in it.”
Council approved the motion in a recorded vote.
Voting in favour were councillors Jeff Banks, Paula Banks, Dustin Bulloch, Linda Carr, Debbie Hutchings and Deputy Mayor Sue Dunfield.
Voting against were Mayor Arie Hoogenboom and Coun. Marcia Maxwell and Ron Pollard.
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