By Drew Spoelstra, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ontario farmers understand the importance of infrastructure. Strong transportation networks help move food, goods and people efficiently across the province, the country and around the world. Farmers rely on roads, rail and trade corridors every day to support our businesses and help feed Canadians.
But infrastructure projects must also be carefully planned — especially when they have the potential to permanently affect farmland, farm businesses and rural communities.
That is why the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is raising significant concerns about the proposed Alto high-speed rail project linking Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City.
At first glance, high-speed rail may sound like a positive investment in Canada’s future. But for many farmers and rural landowners along the proposed corridor, the project raises serious questions that, so far, have remained largely unanswered.
The proposed rail line would cut through some of the most productive farmland in Ontario and Quebec. These are not empty spaces waiting for development – they are working businesses producing food, fuel, fibre and flowers, supporting local economies and contributing to Canada’s food security.
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