The Member of Parliament (MP) for the region has made it plain now that she will not support any blanket expropriation of land for a proposed high-speed rail project .
“I wish to be clear that I do not support widespread expropriation in Prescott-Russell-Cumblerland,” stated MP Giovanna Mingarelli, in a news release issued to regional media April 24. “It is my expectation that Alto will undertake the necessary due diligence and engage in careful conversation with landowners in order to secure the support of the majority of our community as the Alto high-speed rail project continues.”
Mingarelli’s office issued the press release to noted that Alto finished the first phase of its public consultation process about the high-speed rail link it proposes to building connecting Toronto and Québec City, with five other designated stops that include Ottawa and Montréal. The Crown corporation held more than 70 public information events about the project, including several virtual information sessions, and collected comments, criticisms, and concerns from more than 12,000 people.
Alto will publish a “What We Heard Report” compilation document that will include a summary of the feedback and the key themes of concerns and issues raised during the consultation sessions. Mingarelli noted that she also met with residents, municipal leaders, representatives for stakeholder groups, and federal government officials about the project during the consultation period “to ensure that our community’s voice is heard” about the project.
During the past week, Mingarelli noted, she hosted three roundtable sessions in her Prescott-Russell-Cumberland riding: one with local farmers and other representatives of the agricultural community at the St-Isidore Community Centre, one with residents of the riding at the Hammond Community Centre, and one with business leaders at Ivaco Rolling Mills in L’Orignal. That session included federal transport minister Steven MacKinnon as a special guest.
Mingarelli also hosted a meeting last Friday in L’Orignal between MacKinnon, Warden Mario Zanth of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR), Bonnie Clark, chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus (EOWC), and Champlain Township Mayor Normand Riopel. The EOWC issued a resolution earlier this year opposing the proposed high-speed rail project until both the federal government and Alto take steps to ensure that the final route does not impact local communities in Eastern Ontario, involve loss of farmland or wildlife habitats, and that both the federal government and Alto make use of existing infrastructure corridors for the final route plan to reduce or eliminate the need to expropriate private lands.
In the UCPR there has been growing opposition to the proposed high-speed rail project, starting with a January resolution from East Hawkesbury Township council opposing the project because of fear for the impact on local farmlands and the lack of clear information to municipalities about where the route will go and how it will affect communities. Other municipalities in Prescott-Russell have since approved similar resolutions.
Mingarelli stated that one reason she organized the April 24 face-to-face session between the federal transport minister and representatives for the UCPR, EOWC and Prescott-Russell municipalities was “to ensure the voices of our local and regional leadership are firmly anchored in Alto’s public consultation process.” The MP indicated that the recent discussions have now “reinforced a clear message” from her riding demanding “a process that is transparent, respectful, and grounded in meaningful consultation” so that residents and community leaders know what will happen.
“Families, farmers, property owners, and municipalities wish to be heard,” stated Mingarelli, “and they need clear information about what this project could mean for their homes, land, livelihoods, and communities.”
Mingarelli affirmed she will keep in contact with Alto and the transport minister about issues raised in her riding over the proposed high-speed rail project.
“The community has been clear they are open to alternative solutions for the path of the train,” stated Mingarelli. “Wherever there are opportunities to avoid the most serious consequences for property owners and families, those options should be fully explored.”
