Alto has purchased a property as it continues to study a high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City. The Crown corporation confirmed it has acquired one property to date but would not say where the land is located along the proposed corridor. “It was already on the market and was of strategic interest to the project,” Alto spokesperson Caroline Des Rosiers told CTV News Ottawa in an email. “We do not have additional details to communicate currently regarding the property.” Alto is studying a high-speed rail line connecting Toronto and Quebec City, with stops in Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval and Trois Rivieres. The first section would be built between Ottawa and Montreal. Last month, Alto signalled it was going to issue a request for proposals for a company to provide Alto with real estate appraisal services as it continues planning for the high-speed corridor. Des Rosiers says Alto’s purchase of the property is separate from its main acquisition program. “Alto may assess the possibility of proceeding with an early acquisition when a property is already on the market and may be of potential interest to the project,” Des Rosiers said. “This approach remains separate from the main land acquisition program, which will be guided by a sufficiently defined alignment and by the identification of the properties and land rights required for the project.” According to Alto’s website, once the route for the high-speed rail line is “sufficiently defined,” it will identify “specific properties and property rights likely to be required for the project.” Alto has been working with Cadence to study a potential high-speed rail line between Ottawa and Montreal, including conducting drone surveys in several communities for planning and environmental assessment work. In May, Alto said it would be conducting drone surveys in several communities in eastern Ontario and western Quebec until the end of the year within the City of Ottawa, the townships of East Hawkesbury and North Glengarry, and the Nation Municipality. In Quebec, the surveys will be conducted in Boisbriand, Mirabel, Saint‑André‑d’Argenteuil, Pointe‑Fortune, and Rigaud. There has been opposition to the high-speed rail plan from residents, farmers and politicians in Ontario and Quebec. In July, 11 eastern Ontario Progressive Conservative MPPs raised concerns that “too many questions remain unanswered” about the project, and called on the government to ensure the line “minimizes impacts on farmland and is supported by the people affected.” The United Counties of Prescott-Russell council passed a resolution in June to refuse to grant Alto access to county land for the studies and decline to sign a non-disclosure agreement with Alto. A rally is planned for Rigaud, Que. on Saturday to protest the Alto project. “It’s all about sharing views, raising voices, and supporting our communities and our farmers,” organizers said.
