Ottawa has a costly plan for the country’s future: a 300-kilometre-per-hour bullet train linking Toronto to Quebec City in just two hours. Branded as ALTO, the high-speed rail line promises 18 million riders annually, thousands of jobs and a greener commute.

But the fine print tells a far different story, one that includes land expropriation, fractured farmland and a price tag that could soar tens of billions more than the $90 billion currently projected.

The Liberal government’s plan would carve out a new, dedicated corridor stretching roughly 1,000 kilometres through some of Ontario and Quebec’s most productive agricultural regions. The corridor is set to span up to 60 metres in width, fenced off and cutting through private property, including land that has been in families for generations.

For many rural residents, the concern isn’t faster travel between major cities; it’s losing their livelihoods with little to no benefit in return. There are currently no rural stations planned along significant stretches of the route despite the massive implications for those regions.

One only has to look to cautionary tales both abroad and at home to see the disaster this project could wind up being.

In 2008, California approved a high-speed rail project with an estimated $33 billion price tag and a targeted completion date of 2020. Today, the cost of the California High-Speed Rail has ballooned to more than $135 billion, with portions still under construction, and full operation still years away.

Closer to home, Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown LRT was initially budgeted at $4.6 billion, with a 2020 launch date. Costs have since climbed past $13 billion, and the project was plagued by delays and legal disputes. Most devastatingly, local businesses along the route have closed following years of construction disruption.

It finally began operating earlier this month on Feb. 6. 

Meanwhile, Canada’s existing passenger rail provider, VIA Rail, struggles with service reliability. In early 2025, on-time performance dropped significantly amid disputes and speed restrictions imposed by freight rail operator CN.

Despite those challenges, Ottawa is full steam ahead.

MP Michael Barrett @MikeBarrettON speaks to media on some of the problems with the Alto High Speed Train Project.https://t.co/BEBwTtWMSe pic.twitter.com/bXe89pHkvk

— Lynne Brooks 🇨🇦 (@LynneBr37562004) February 25, 2026

Estimates for ALTO hover around $90 billion, though full costing will likely soar past that.

The project is being advanced by a consortium that includes AtkinsRéalis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin, a firm best known to Canadians for scandal and corruption before rebranding.

That alone raises concerns about oversight and accountability.

Mirabel: Manifestation contre le projet de TGV entre Québec et Toronto.
24 février 2026
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Mirabel, Qc: Protest against the high-speed rail project between Quebec City and Toronto.
February 24, 2026 pic.twitter.com/RDgLwzYk0n

— Guillaume Roy (@guillaum3roy) February 25, 2026

ALTO is also unfolding against the backdrop of Bill C-15, federal legislation aimed at accelerating major infrastructure projects. There’s mounting concern that this added measure only serves to streamline approvals and expropriation processes, effectively limiting avenues for public opposition.

Public consultations on the rail proposal have been underway, but the timeline is tight, concluding by the end of March, with some landowners claiming that they were unaware of any of this.

The government is framing ALTO as nation-building infrastructure — a long-term investment in economic growth and emissions reduction. Others see the risk of another megaproject mired in cost overruns, delays and unintended consequences.

As consultations continue, does the promise of speed and modernization outweigh the potential cost — financial, environmental and personal — for those along the proposed route?

Sign the petition to stop the Alto rail line!

6,560 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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