The Union of Agricultural Producers Urges Federal Government to Halt Quebec-Toronto High-Speed Rail Project
The Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) has escalated its long-standing opposition to the high-speed rail (TGV) project that aims to link Quebec City and Toronto. In a recent move, the UPA formally reached out to the federal Minister of Transport, Steven MacKinnon, calling for a suspension of the project.
In a letter sent to Minister MacKinnon last Friday, UPA’s president general Martin Caron raised doubts about the potential benefits and raised concerns about the project’s cost. Caron proposed an alternative high-frequency train (HFT) that could offer improved reliability, frequency, and travel time at a lower cost compared to the TGV.
According to the UPA, the federal government should halt the project immediately and cease all activities related to it on the ground. They suggest conducting an independent comparison between the TGV and HFT that covers various aspects such as costs, ridership, time savings, and economic impacts.
The UPA recently conducted a survey in Quebec, revealing a shift in public support for the high-speed rail project based on detailed information. Support dropped from 69% to 59% after a presentation, but rose from 67% to 73% after a thorough overview.
Caron emphasized the need for the Canadian government to thoroughly assess the costs and implications of the project before proceeding further. The UPA’s stance is supported by concerns that the estimated project cost of $60-90 billion by Alto, the Crown corporation involved, may be underestimated.
The Synopsis survey conducted among 1100 Quebec respondents highlighted varying levels of support for the project based on informed opinions. The survey indicated a need for a more in-depth evaluation of the project’s viability and alignment with public priorities.
Keyphrase: High-Speed Rail Project
