THE NEWS N EWS AN UPDATE REGARDING ALTO’S HIGH SPEED TRAIN PROJECT BENOIT CASTONGUAY nouvelles@eap.on.ca
In recent weeks, the ALTO high-speed rail (HSR) project, aimed at connecting Quebec City and Toronto, has drawn significant interest from multiple stakeholders. Between the independent review by the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), the newly elected Quebec govern- ment’s firm opposition, and Alto’s 2026 annual public meeting, the future of the rail corridor remains contested. A revised price tag On October 1, 2026, Parliamentary Bud- get Officer (PBO) Annette Ryan released an independent report assessing the construc- tion costs and economic impacts of the baseline route proposed by Alto. While the federal government initially estimated the work between $60 billion and $90 billion (in constant 2024 dollars), the PBO’s analysis concluded that actual costs will more likely range between $75 billion and $113 billion. This estimate does not include the poten- tial addition of a route serving Kingston that is currently under study. Drawing from an analysis of 94 inter- national projects, the study highlights that procedural hurdles, litigation, or manage- ment challenges similar to those seen in the United States or the United Kingdom could substantially increase costs. However, the PBO notes that Canada has put measures in place to limit such
In recent weeks, the ALTO high-speed rail (HRS) project, which aims to connect Quebec City to Toronto, has generated significant interest among many stakeholders. (ALTO)
cost escalations with the adoption of Bill C-5 and Bill C-15. These laws declared the project to be in the national interest, unified environmental assessments under a single review process, and amended the federal Expropriation Act to grant Alto a right of first refusal along with an expedited land acquisition process. According to the report, each additional kilometer of tunneling incurs a median cost increase of $169 million, while an elevated kilometer adds $153 million. Furthermore, each year of construction delay would lead to an estimated cost inc- rease of approximately $1.5 billion. For the initial segment linking Ottawa and Montreal, planned for construction between 2029 and 2033, the PBO projects a cost of $20.9 billion. The works would support roughly 4,300 jobs in 2029 and up to 9,000 by 2033. Unlike the segment between Ottawa and Peterborough, which crosses the Cana- dian Shield, the Montreal–Ottawa route is considered far simpler, running primarily across flat terrain through the Ottawa River lowlands. Opposition Takes Shape in Quebec This upward cost revision aligns with statements made by Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who was elected on October 5 to lead a minority government in Quebec. In a campaign press release, Plamondon warned that the project could spiral toward $200 billion, and announced his intention to withdraw Quebec from the initiative. «At the Parti Québécois, we have been fighting against waste for years,» he sta- ted.» I cannot justify to Quebecers that their money be invested in a pharaonic project that, according to studies, will have little
impact on road congestion and carries a high risk of becoming a massive financial fiasco, The sums involved are so immense that we could instead refurbish nearly all our aging infrastructure: schools, hospitals, roads, and public transit networks.» For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, questioned during an October 8 press conference in Sherbrooke, reaffirmed Ottawa’s intent to proceed with the project. «This is a project that will create more than 50,000 jobs during construction, half of them here in Quebec, and it is a project that has the support of a majority, both in the polls and in the federal votes of Quebecers. So we are going to continue,» he insisted, advocating for a collaborative approach with the governments of Quebec and Ontario. ALTO Project Update On Wednesday, October 7, ALTO held its 2026 annual public meeting to review the past year, outline next steps, and answer questions from the public. Crown corporation executives maintain that high-speed rail will alleviate road congestion while stimulating regional eco- nomic growth. ALTO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Martin Imbleau noted that this corridor aims to serve a region accounting for 40 per cent of Canada’s GDP, markets that, in his view, operate in silos. According to the CEO, the train will transform regional integration by offering seamless, fast, and affordable service, with departures running as frequently as every 20 minutes. «The opportunity does not lie solely in what Alto enables once operational; it lies in what Canada gains by building it, and what Canadians gain by using it,» he said. «Construction will support roughly 50,000
PUZZLE NO. 860
HOW TO PLAY:
ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 860
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.
Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.
See ALTO page 9
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