Ottawa Construction News staff writer
As planning continues for a proposed high-speed rail corridor connecting Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, Canadian farm organizations are urging governments to suspend the project.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and l’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) say the proposed rail line would cut through some of the most productive farmland in Ontario and Quebec and are calling for a cautious, transparent approach.
“Ontario’s farmland is a strategic provincial and national asset, and the highest and best use of our arable land is for agriculture,” OFA President Drew Spoelstra said in a news release. “Agriculture and agri-food contribute $51 billion annually to the provincial economy and employ about 10 per cent of Ontario’s workforce.”
UPA President General Martin Caron added that projects deemed of “national interest” must not threaten the viability of rural communities, agricultural businesses, maple and forestry production, or food security. He pointed to Mirabel Airport as an example of development with lasting negative impacts.
The farm groups are asking federal and provincial authorities, as well as rail proponent Alto, to:
- Avoid prime agricultural areas
- Keep farms whole and prevent fragmentation
- Protect drainage systems essential for crop production
- Address construction impacts and ongoing costs, including fencing and safe farm crossings
- Ensure agricultural impact assessments are independent, thorough and publicly available
The call for a pause follows a resolution passed at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s annual general meeting on Feb. 25, urging the federal government to halt the project for a full economic, social and environmental review and meaningful consultation with affected communities.
The resolution, put forward by Caron and seconded by Spoelstra, emphasizes that if the project moves forward, it must maintain access to farmland, maple groves and woodlands and provide properly sized agricultural and forestry crossings. It also calls for fair, proportional compensation for farmers affected by the permanent impacts of the rail corridor.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture represents 38,000 farm families across the province, many of whom are farming within one of the proposed rail corridor pathways.
