Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre joined local MP Philip Lawrence at the Indian River Cattle Company to declare unequivocal opposition to the Liberal government’s proposed $90 billion Alto high-speed rail project.

Speaking at the generational cattle farm in Indian River, just east of Peterborough, Poilievre was unequivocal: “This is another example of a ridiculous pie-in-the-sky Liberal spending initiative that only got worse under Prime Minister Carney.”

The Alto plan has been advanced by the Liberals, aiming to link Toronto to Quebec City with a high-speed line with a mandate of five stops along the corridor.

Pristine and ecologically sensitive areas, prime farmland, private property rights, and rural communities are all being put at risk by this mega-project that will saddle taxpayers with massive costs for a project expected to run perpetual losses.

“The Carney Liberals are forcing every family in Canada to spend $8,000 tax dollars on a project that two-thirds say they will never use,” Poilievre said, vowing to axe the project altogether should the Conservatives form government.

“If it ever gets built… the Carney Liberals plan to force families to pay higher taxes every single year into eternity because it is expected to lose money forever,” he added, noting that the project would see the Liberals “confiscate farmland and private property, disrupting communities and harming the quality of life of local residents who will not even get to use the train because it won’t have any stops near their homes.”

Poilievre pledged that a future Conservative government would cancel the project in favour of lowering taxes, reducing debt, and curbing inflation, while greenlighting self-funding private-sector projects instead.

Local farmer Billie Elmhirst, whose family has stewarded the Indian River Cattle Company land for over 207 years — dating back to 1820 and pre-Confederation — described the uncertainty as devastating for multi-generational operations.

“It could possibly dissect this farm right in half, which would be a disaster,” Elmhirst said.

Even a route north or south would disrupt rented pastures and expansion plans for his children.

“We’re thinking about buying a farm next door and maybe building a house… do we want to invest another million dollars in property? And if the new bill has passed and they can just allocate whatever dollars… we could lose money in four years.”

The farmer continued, cautioning that “Four years when you’re a 23-year-old kid or a 25-year-old boy with a family on its way… there’s some big decisions to be made.” He furthered highlighted the human cost of being left in limbo by the Liberals’ plan.

Elmhirst also pointed to broader government failures: “We have 2.2 million people lined up at food banks because they can’t afford to eat. And [they’re] blowing billions of dollars on a project the Liberals will never even get done… There’s no respect for agriculture or rural [communities] here at all.”

Meanwhile, Northumberland-Clarke Conservative MP Philip Lawrence is committed to fighting the project relentlessly on behalf of affected residents.

“I’m glad that Pierre came out today… and was unequivocal in our opposition to the Alto rail,” Lawrence said. “What I can give [my constituents]… is my commitment to work night and day to make sure that this train is stopped and this $90 billion boondoggle doesn’t go through.”

Lawrence noted constituents’ fears of property expropriation and even delayed emergency medical access, vowing to “fight it tooth and nail.”

The concerns are heightened by recent Liberal moves, including changes to the Expropriation Act via Bill C-15, which makes land seizure for government projects easier, while weakening private property owner protections.

“Your private property is not safe under this Liberal government… Property rights are human rights,” Poilievre said, urging mainstream media to go around to communities and farmers to ask them if they’re prepared to pay $8,000 in taxes just to build a project that will require higher taxes to pay for every year.

The press conference ultimately emphasized a clear Conservative message: prioritize fiscal responsibility, protect family farms and private property, and end costly Liberal megaprojects that deliver little for ordinary Canadians.

Sign the petition to stop the Alto rail line!

8,630 signatures

Goal: 10,000 signatures

Ottawa is advancing ALTO — a proposed 300 km/h rail line from Toronto to Quebec City — with a projected cost of $90 billion and no guarantee that'll be the end of it.

The plan would carve a 1,000-kilometre corridor up to 60 metres wide through productive farmland and private property, dividing communities and affecting families who receive little to no benefit. In many stretches, there are no rural stations planned at all.

Other megaprojects have spiralled in cost and delay. Meanwhile, consultations are closing quickly, and concerns remain about expropriation, oversight, and accountability.

Before billions more are committed and land is permanently disrupted, Canadians deserve transparency and a full public debate.

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