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February 24, 2026 As a group of ecologists and conservation scientists based at Carleton University in eastern Ontario, we felt it important to provide an environmental perspective on the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail Project. The proposed Alto Project presents both environmental benefits and harms. Benefits include potential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions, while harms include wildlife habitat loss, reduced ecological and hydrological connectivity, pollution, and disruption of...

When the federal government introduced Alto in February 2025 as the Crown corporation spearheading the Toronto–Québec City high-speed rail project, the announcement promised a leap forward in Canadian transportation. Yet, months after the reveal, public focus shifted from the trains themselves to the project's branding efforts. This shift raises important questions about priorities and accountability in a major public infrastructure initiative. The High Cost of a New Name Before any detailed...

Before Bill C-15 rewrites expropriation rules, Parliament must reconsider. Buried within Bill C-15 is a set of provisions that could permanently reshape federal expropriation powers in Canada — all to advance the proposed ALTO high-speed rail corridor between Toronto and Quebec City. While the promise of modern rail may sound progressive and nation-building, the legislative path chosen to advance it raises serious concerns. The project’s enabling clauses, tucked into a federal budget...