LONGUEUIL, QC – As planning advances for Alto, the proposed high-speed rail corridor linking Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, Canadian farm leaders are urging to suspend the project.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and l’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) are calling for an immediate suspension of the high-speed rail project in pursuit of a cautious, transparent approach. The proposed rail alignment is currently planned to be built through areas that include some of the most productive farmland in Ontario and Quebec.
“Ontario’s farmland is a strategic provincial and national asset, and the highest and best use of our arable land is for agriculture – and let’s not forget that agriculture and agri-food is a cornerstone of Ontario’s economic prosperity,” says OFA President Drew Spoelstra. “This sector, which is built around productive agricultural land, contributes $51 billion annually to the provincial economy and employs about 10 per cent of Ontario’s work force.”
“Projects deemed to be of ‘national interest’ must not compromise the vitality of rural communities, the long-term viability of agricultural businesses and farmland, maple and forestry potential, or the food security of the population, which should be the true priority,” says UPA President General Martin Caron. “Mirabel Airport is an example that should not be repeated. We must take the time to properly assess the relevance and impacts of the high-speed rail project and conduct thorough public consultations before moving forward.”
OFA and UPA are urging provincial and federal governments and Alto to:
- Stay out of prime agricultural areas
- Avoid breaking farms into smaller pieces and keep fields and farm operations whole
- Protect farm drainage systems that are essential for crop production
- Address farmers’ concerns about construction impacts and ongoing costs, including fencing, and the building, upgrading and long-term maintenance of safe farm crossings for equipment and livestock
- Ensure agricultural impact assessments are independent, thorough and publicly available
This call for a pause follows the passing of a resolution at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) on February 25 that urges the Government of Canada to immediately halt the proposed project to allow for a thorough economic, social and environmental impact assessment and meaningful consultation with affected agricultural, forestry and rural communities.
After discussion between farm leaders earlier in the week, the resolution was put forward by Caron and seconded by Spoelstra.
The resolution states that if the project ultimately proceeds, it must ensure full access is maintained to farmland, maple groves and woodlands and establish properly sized (minimum 10-metre) agricultural and forestry crossings as required.
It further states that farmers must receive fair, proportional compensation in recognition of the permanent and more significant impact of the rail corridor compared to highways or transmission lines.
Source : OFA