Rail Transportation

During question period, members raised the Alto high-speed rail project planned for Quebec and Ontario after farmers from the Mirabel area protested on Parliament Hill against the loss of their land. The Bloc Québécois said the government has not met conditions including consultation, respect for landowners facing expropriation, and an independent financial review, and asked the minister to meet with the farmers. Conservatives said the project threatens farming communities, questioned spending over $100 billion on it when many Canadians face food insecurity and financial strain, and asked the government to stop it. Liberal ministers said they respect farmers and will seek a middle ground, and argued the project would create jobs, connect major cities, boost trade between Quebec and Ontario, and reduce pollution.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

12 statements

Jean-Denis Garon, Mirabel

Bloc Québécois
“Farmers from Mirabel protested on Parliament Hill today because they oppose the high-speed train project. They do not want the government to take their land. The minister should meet with them and answer their questions.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, hundreds of farmers from Mirabel braved the rain today on Parliament Hill. They came to tell the Liberals that they are not happy with Alto’s high‑speed train project in its current form. It is too bad that the minister did not come out to meet with them. He could have answered all the questions that Alto has been refusing to answer since January. If the Liberals think they are going to be able to forcibly expropriate land in Mirabel yet again, our farmers proved today that they have another think coming. Will the government finally respect our farmers, meet with them and answer their questions?

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal
“I talk to farmers often and understand them. We will listen to their concerns as we build this rail project. The Bloc Québécois broke its promise to support the project, but trains need tracks on the ground.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure the member that I do not need his help to meet with farmers. I come from a farming family myself. I visit farmers often. I talk to farmers all the time. It is out of this respect for the agricultural community that we will carry out this project with the highest regard for the concerns of farmers. It is unfortunate that the Bloc Québécois is now breaking its promise to support this project. I do not know what the Bloc members were thinking. Did they think these trains would fly? Trains run on tracks that have to be on the ground.

Jean-Denis Garon, Mirabel

Bloc Québécois
“The government has failed to meet our conditions for the high-speed train project, including consulting people and respecting landowners' rights. Farmers are protesting because testing is already happening on their land without their consent. I want the minister to come to Mirabel with me to answer their questions.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this proves that the debate on high‑speed rail is not over; in fact, it has only just begun. We had set out four conditions: social licence, an independent financial assessment, no infringement of people’s rights in the event of expropriation, and genuine consultations. They have scored zero out of four. It is no wonder that farmers are protesting. Alto is already on their land, carrying out tests, and when the landowners say no, Alto wants to send in drones. I am offering to drive the minister to Mirabel so that he can come and answer their questions. He can even choose what music we listen to in the car. When do we leave?

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal
“I do not need the member to introduce me to farmers. I respect farmers and listen to them as we build this train project connecting major cities in Quebec. We will respect everyone's views.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reassure the member that we have freedom of movement in Canada. I can get from my riding of Gatineau, in the Outaouais region, to his riding pretty quickly. I do not need him to introduce me to farmers. I have great respect for them, I listen to them carefully and I am fully considering their views while implementing this wonderful, major project, which will link the four largest cities in Quebec, as well as Trois-Rivières, among other destinations. This project will be carried out with the utmost respect for everyone’s views.

Jacques Gourde, Lévis—Lotbinière

Conservative
“Farmers do not want the high-speed train cutting across their land. I want the Prime Minister to listen to them and stop this project.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, hundreds of people gathered on Parliament Hill today to make their voices heard about the Alto train, which is threatening the survival of our communities. These people included many farmers facing the prospect of not being able to cross their land because of the Liberal government’s threat to split it in two. I have not met a single farmer who wants a high‑speed train cutting across their land. Will the Prime Minister listen to the farmers and stop work on this project, which is totally off track?

Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant

Liberal
“We want to work with farmers on this high-speed train project. European countries run fast trains through farmland successfully. Canada can do this too, and the Conservatives should support it.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

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    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have the utmost respect for farmers, and we want to work with them to find a middle ground on this project. What saddens me is seeing the Conservatives try to keep us decades behind the times at every turn and with each project. In Europe, especially in France, Spain and the United Kingdom, high‑speed trains exist alongside agricultural activities and cross through fields. I think that we, in Canada, are just as capable of doing things well and building infrastructure that will revolutionize and transform this country. It would be nice if the Conservatives could get on board.

Jacques Gourde, Lévis—Lotbinière

Conservative
“The minister should meet with farmers to explain why the government is taking their land for this rail project. Experts say the project is a waste of money and will not make a profit. We should spend this money on useful infrastructure instead.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if the minister believes that this project is sound, he should go and meet with farmers himself to explain the expropriations. Experts are unanimous: This ideologically motivated project is completely irresponsible when it comes to our public finances. There is no evidence that it will be cost-effective. The Liberals want to leave us with a white elephant that runs purely on subsidies. With $90 million, we could refurbish nearly all of our infrastructure in Canada and become a global agricultural powerhouse. When are the Liberals going to invest in projects that will actually create wealth in Canada?

Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Liberal
“We want to build high-speed rail to create wealth and 51,000 jobs. It will connect major cities in Quebec and Ontario.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we are the party that wants to create wealth in Canada. In this tariff war, we must control what we can at home, given that we are in a world where we cannot control what lies beyond our borders. What we can control is how we build. High‑speed rail will allow us to create 51,000 jobs. We will be able to connect Quebec’s biggest cities, including Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, Gatineau and Trois‑Rivières. We will also be able to connect to Ontario, to Toronto. In short, we will be able to do what the major countries and industrial powers of the world are doing. We are capable of building at home, and that is what we are doing.

Pierre Paul-Hus, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to buy food and pay their bills. Why is the government spending more than $100 billion on a high-speed train?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, a United Way report released today reveals that Canadians are increasingly concerned about their financial situations. According to the report, 60% of Canadians are anxious about their finances, and 38% of Canadians are experiencing food insecurity. While families are struggling to build a future for themselves, the government wants them to foot the bill for a high-speed rail project that could cost more than $100 billion. Just this morning, the Liberals admitted that they have no idea how much it is going to cost. If Canadians can no longer afford to put food on the table, why do the Liberals think they can afford to spend over $100 billion on a train?

Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature)

Liberal
“This train project will make it easier to travel between Quebec and Ontario. It will help business and reduce pollution. I want us to work together on it.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, an extremely interesting question is being raised today. This means of public transportation will allow everyone to travel more easily between our provinces. It is an important structural element of our economy that will boost trade and economic exchanges between Quebec and Ontario. What is more, it will be sustainable transportation and represents a positive step towards achieving net zero. This project will have a major positive impact on several fronts. We are taking a collective approach. We can get it right. It would be great if we could work together.

Pierre Paul-Hus, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles

Conservative
“Many Canadians cannot afford food right now. The government should not spend over $100 billion on a fast train that people cannot afford to ride. I want an answer.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I think the Secretary of State for Nature did not understand what I said in my first question. Sixty per cent of Canadians are feeling anxious, and 38% of Canadians are experiencing food insecurity. The government wants to embark on a high-speed rail project costing over $100 billion while people are going hungry. How can anyone think that these people can afford a ticket to ride the high-speed train when they cannot even afford groceries? Can she answer that?

Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature)

Liberal
“We sent out benefit payments on Friday to help Canadians buy food and essentials. We are also investing to help people in the long term.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the challenges Canadians are currently facing, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit payments were sent out on Friday. We are fully aware of the current situation. However, if we really want to turn things around, we need to invest and give ourselves a way to do things differently, and that is exactly what we are doing. We are helping Canadians put food on the table, and they are seeing the results, but we are also helping Canadians in the long term.

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