Quebec's new PQ government challenges Alto's $75-$113 billion high-speed rail plan

Alto, the crown corporation behind the proposed Toronto-Quebec City high-speed railway, declared that the 15-year megaproject will proceed regardless of political opposition. The newly elected Parti Québécois, led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, campaigned on withdrawing from the plan and reallocating the $75-$113 billion budget to aging provincial infrastructure such as hospitals and roads. Alto’s board chair J. Robert S. Prichard said the company will focus on preparation and expects construction to begin in 2029, while CEO Martin Imbleau assured that no major highways will be severed.

Federal transport minister Steven MacKinnon reiterated the government’s commitment to cooperative federalism and highlighted the project's long-term benefits. Political scientists like André Lecours doubt the venture can survive without Quebec’s backing, and the Conservative Party of Quebec and the Fédération de l'UPA de la Montérégie have voiced concerns about the impact on farming communities.