Ontario farmers are urging the federal government to pause the proposed Alto high-speed rail project, warning it could have permanent impacts on some of Canada’s most productive farmland.
They’re calling for a comprehensive economic, environmental and agricultural assessment to be completed, and meaningful consultation with affected landowners and communities.
At a news conference with farm leaders from l’Union des producteurs agricoles and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) president Drew Spoelstra said Ontario farmers support infrastructure investments but remain deeply concerned about the potential impacts of the proposed rail corridor on some of the province’s most productive agricultural land.
“Farmers are not opposed to progress, but progress cannot come at the expense of the people and farmland that feeds our communities and this country,” said Spoelstra. “The questions farmers are asking are reasonable, and they deserve clear answers.”
The proposed high-speed rail network would connect Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. While the final route has not yet been confirmed, farmers and rural communities along the proposed corridor have raised concerns about the permanent loss and fragmentation of farmland, impacts on farm access and drainage systems, safety considerations, and the long-term effects on agricultural businesses.
Prime farmland – land suitable for growing a wide range of crops from grains, oilseeds and forage to fruits, vegetables and flowers – is a finite resource. While Canada is geographically large, only about five per cent of the country’s land area is considered prime agricultural land, making its protection a matter of both food security and economic priority.
“This is bigger than a rail line. Once prime farmland is lost, we cannot replace it so protecting the land that feeds Canadians must be part of any discussion about major infrastructure projects,” added Spoelstra. “Many farmers along the proposed corridor feel they have not been adequately consulted despite the project’s potential long-term impacts on their farms and communities.”
If the project proceeds, OFA wants assurances that agricultural impacts will be minimized, farm access maintained, drainage systems protected, independent agricultural assessments made public, and affected landowners fairly compensated for permanent impacts on their properties and businesses.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture represents 38,000 farm families across the province and serves as the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and rural communities.
Source : OFA