Farmers warn Alto high-speed rail could split Quebec fields and threaten livelihoods
Quebec dairy farmer Daniel Legault says the proposed Alto high-speed line would cut his farm in two, jeopardizing operations, while agricultural leaders call the plan disastrous for the region.
Alto’s planned high-speed rail corridor, which aims to cut travel time between Toronto and Quebec City by half, is set to cross the Legault family farm in Rigaud, Quebec, potentially dividing the land and restricting road access. Daniel Legault, who has run Ferme Legault for three decades, says he refused a land-study notice and now worries about daily detours that could make feeding his livestock impossible. The project is projected to affect roughly 1,700 properties, including at least 500 farms across the Ottawa-Montreal corridor, according to Jérémie Letellier, president of the Fédération de l'UPA de la Montérégie.
Letellier describes the impact as catastrophic for farming communities, with some operators considering reorienting or ending their activities. Alto’s spokesperson Caroline Des Rosiers asserts the company will strive to limit agricultural disruption by following existing infrastructure where possible and building overpasses or underpasses, though specific locations remain unclear. The firm also promises fair compensation and plans a second round of public consultations in Pointe-Fortune after a detailed route is released in the fall, but the Legault family remains unconvinced.
