Ontario farmers are urging the federal government to pause the proposed Alto high-speed rail project, warning the rail corridor could permanently damage some of Canada’s most productive farmland.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) said a full economic, environmental and agricultural assessment should be completed before the project moves ahead. The group is also calling for meaningful consultation with affected landowners, farmers, and rural communities along the proposed route.
At a news conference Monday in tandem with farm leaders from Quebec’s l’Union des producteurs agricoles and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, OFA president Drew Spoelstra said farmers support infrastructure investment but are deeply concerned about the potential impact of the rail line on prime agricultural land.
“Farmers are not opposed to progress, but progress cannot come at the expense of the people and farmland that feeds our communities and this country,” Spoelstra said in a release. “The questions farmers are asking are reasonable, and they deserve clear answers.”
The proposed Alto high-speed rail network would connect Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. Although the final route has not been confirmed, farm groups and rural residents have raised concerns about the permanent loss and fragmentation of farmland, reduced farm access, impacts on drainage systems, safety issues, and long-term effects on agricultural businesses.
Farm leaders said the stakes are high because prime farmland is a limited resource. While Canada has a large land base, only about 5% of the country’s land area is considered prime agricultural land, suitable for producing a wide range of crops including grains, oilseeds, forage, fruits, vegetables and flowers.
“This is bigger than a rail line. Once prime farmland is lost, we cannot replace it so protecting the land that feeds Canadians must be part of any discussion about major infrastructure projects,” added Spoelstra. “Many farmers along the proposed corridor feel they have not been adequately consulted despite the project’s potential long-term impacts on their farms and communities.”
If the project proceeds, the OFA said it wants firm assurances that agricultural impacts will be minimized, farm access will be maintained, drainage systems will be protected, independent agricultural assessments will be made public and affected landowners will be fairly compensated for permanent impacts on their properties and businesses.
