Discussion · Oral Questions
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Québécois
“A new high-speed train route between Montreal and Ottawa will cut through 1,700 properties and ruin 500 farms. The company is taking this land without really listening to farmers. I want the Prime Minister to make them get the farmers' permission first.”
“Mr. Speaker, Alto has confirmed that the section of high-speed rail between Montreal and Ottawa will go through 1,700 properties. With no input from the owners, 500 of our best pieces of farmland will be cut in half. When the Alto people tell us that they are consulting towns and farmers, it is all for show, because they already know exactly where they want to go and what land they want to expropriate. Alto is steamrolling our farmers. Will the Prime Minister finally ask it to get the farmers’ consent, instead of running roughshod over them?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, Alto has confirmed that the section of high-speed rail between Montreal and Ottawa will go through 1,700 properties. With no input from the owners, 500 of our best pieces of farmland will be cut in half. When the Alto people tell us that they are consulting towns and farmers, it is all for show, because they already know exactly where they want to go and what land they want to expropriate. Alto is steamrolling our farmers. Will the Prime Minister finally ask it to get the farmers’ consent, instead of running roughshod over them?