Farmland, cost and community concerns underscore why Tay Valley opposes Alto
TAY VALLEY — Tay Valley Township has become one of the latest eastern Ontario municipalities to formally oppose the proposed Alto high speed rail project, with council delivering a blunt message on March 24.
“No,” Reeve Rob Rainer said during debate, summing up the mood around the table as councillors weighed the massive rail proposal and its possible impact on the rural township.
The issue drew a full gallery, with residents filling the chamber as council moved the Alto item to the top of the agenda because of public interest. After a lengthy discussion, council passed a motion expressing its “total opposition” to the proposed high speed rail project through eastern Ontario. Applause broke out from the gallery at the end of the debate.
Planner Noelle Reeve presented a report outlining six areas of potential impact, including the project’s business case, route location, natural heritage, farmland, wells and septic systems, and possible community benefits.
But councillors made it clear they were not looking for tweaks or mitigation language. They were looking to shut the door.
Coun. Marilyn Thomas said she was “dead set against it.”
“I don’t care what alterations they make or anything else,” Thomas said. “There’s nothing that’s going to make us agree to this.”
She said the project would damage farmland, wildlife and rural communities, while questioning the federal price tag.
“The amount of money they say they’re going to spend on it, when we all know, $90 billion is only going to be double by the time it’s done,” she said.
Deputy Reeve Fred Dobie also spoke against the proposal, framing it as part of a broader erosion of Ontario farmland.
“This is the time I’m going to stand up and support the farmers and the rural people,” Dobie said.
Dobie said farmland loss in Ontario is already happening at an alarming pace and argued that large infrastructure projects can permanently disrupt agricultural land, even when topsoil is stripped and replaced.
“When you disturb nature, it’s never, ever the same,” he said.
Coun. Korrine Jordan said she attended Alto’s public information sessions in Perth on March 4, where she said she spent hours speaking with residents.
“I spoke to hundreds of people,” Jordan said. “I spoke to one person who was on the fence and another person who was for it, and everybody else was against.”
Jordan said she was disappointed the initial staff report did not take a stronger position against the project and urged council to pass a firm resolution of opposition.
Coun. Wayne Baker questioned why the federal government would pursue a new high speed rail corridor instead of improving existing rail service.
“Just abandon this project and look at maybe that as an alternative,” Baker said, suggesting investment in existing VIA Rail infrastructure would make more sense and cost far less.
Other councillors echoed concerns about expropriation, road closures, emergency response delays, environmental damage, fire risk, pressure on local infrastructure and the lack of any clear long-term economic benefit for Tay Valley.
Rainer told council the township had little to gain and a great deal to lose.
“The magnitude of impact is just so severe,” he said. “The negative consequences are so severe. I just can’t see any benefit.”
He also referenced a recent resolution from the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus formally opposing the Alto project in its current form, saying it was a significant sign of regional concern.
Council ultimately passed a short but unequivocal motion stating that Tay Valley Township expresses its total opposition to the proposed high speed rail project through eastern Ontario.
The township will circulate the resolution to the same list of recipients included in the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus resolution, including senior levels of government.
Council also indicated it may return to the matter with additional comments at a future meeting.
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