WHERE DO I STAND ON ALTO?

Alto is certainly an issue (and why I have identified it on my website as an important local issue) however it is a Federal project. It's unclear what role if any the municipality will play and if municipalities will even be involved in the planning process without signing an NDA (which Marmora and Lake did not). They have not shown any engagement based on our feedback to date - or honestly even responsiveness. Our Federal MP is really collectively our best voice as they have channels to the federal govt/minster/committees and can ask questions directly to the Federal govt and minister leading the file. A refined route through this part of the province has not yet been proposed and any confirmation on if it will even pass through Marmora and Lake. Council 's role and obligations are to focus on what they do have control/jurisdiction over and are primarily responsible for- and that is the local operation and services of the municipality. Ignore Alto, certainly not - but don't get distracted or consumed and let the pressing municipal issues here go without much needed attention.

In my past term I have brought forward strong wording in official council opposition to the project via MOTION2026-143 as well as MOTION2026-124 requesting Alto hold a local public information session or come before council publicly. On Sept 15th I also put forward a motion that passed asking for the municipality to create a webpage on the municipal website and share documentation on the project to keep the public informed, to make public all staff/alto meetings with a report and ensure information is brought to council in a timely manner, which also then allows public feedback and helps create better transparency and access to information. If elected, I will continue to advocate for residents related to the project.

Here is how I have been engaged to date:

Attended the Nov 2025 Alto delegation at council in person, asked questions of Alto
Supported the study and Identification of a Madoc station on the proposed potential northern route
Attended both Alto hosted public engagement sessions in Eldorado and Stirling
Attended 2 online Alto engagement sessions during the consultation period.
Attended the public information meeting held by a local community group in Marmora and Lake
Identified and marked areas of Issue on the map in the Alto engagement portal
Submitted written feedback in the Alto engagement portal
Encouraged the public several times under the announcement section of council meeting to share feedback through engagement portal
Submitted questions to Marmora and Lake CAO to forward to Alto
Read the entire feedback report, Alto "Public Consultation Report" when published.
Brought forward 5 motions at Council related to Alto regarding opposition and public information (SEE THESE BELOW)
Put the motion to not sign Alto NDA/Confidentiality Agreement on council floor, passed unanimously
Follow several Alto community pages, stay engaged, and watch other council meetings related to Alto in other communities

When I supported (yes, I did) signing the support letter from Centre Hastings (which is now dead with CH council opposition) it was from the perspective of including a local Madoc station in the study. There were two asks in the Centre Hasting Support resolution. 1) identify 62/7 as future stop. 2)consider that need in planning/study phase. Information on the overall Alto project was very limited when this came forward. Our council had only been presented one route (assumed northern based on points). Even if a stop was considered that doesn't mean support for the project - it just would have then been a proposed project that included a local stop. It may have been the only lasting local benefit of this project at all.

When the Centre Hasting support resolution came forward the municipality did not yet have a position and public engagement had not yet begun. Alto was ready to begin the study - and that study was going ahead regardless. This was an ask to include that stop in the study along the potential route. They didn't. If they had, local councils and the public would still have had an opportunity to provide feedback, oppose or support the project.

If Alto and the federal govt is going to do what they want anyway and proceed, regardless of opposition or feedback, the tools for the municipality are limited to stop that. Local municipal council can not stop this federal project. All rural municipalities across the proposed northern route have opposed it - but Alto continues work. So, if the project is forced onto us I believe it then becomes a fight of for what's in it for us, how to best protect our infrastructure and to advocate for residents/property rights. It's possible just like residents, that the municipality has land in the path that could be at risk. Council has unanimously opposed the Alto project at this time.

If this gets steamrolled ahead, Council and the Public will have to fight for benefits and push for "what local benefit will we receive?" Future councils will have to be strong advocates on this front. Keep in mind this is a Federal project - we have federal representation via our MP with direct channels to the Federal govt - at the local municipal level we don't. The reality of an ask for a Madoc station was extremely unlikely in my opinion but we were talking long term. In 20 years would it make sense? In 30 years? Could 5 of 25 daily trains stop? If this is forced ahead via the northern route and is one day up and running, would a stop have been better than no stop?

In my opinion, it's the responsibility of councils to advocate for local benefits for their community. A station would have had local benefit. Now, would that have outweighed the risk, costs, and effects this project would bring to residents? This request was dead before it got to that question.

Councils have to think beyond a 4 year term. Decisions they make can affect 20+ years into the future. If this whole project gets pushed ahead (regardless of feedback) will the future community not look back and ask why they didn't push for a stop here?

To be clear: Personally, I am against the project as presented. Alto has failed at communication and engagement. They have not provided clear honest answers and have not shown they are listening. I do not see ANY local benefit at this time and the financial feasibility appears unachievable and irresponsible.

MOTION2026-122
Moved by Councillor Eric Daoust
THAT Council receive the letter for information;
AND FURTHER THAT Council direct the CAO to provide a staff report to be presented at the April 7th Council meeting based on the stakeholder "roundtable" meeting scheduled for March 24th that includes details of the information presented, a copy of the presentation, and a list of any questions asked on behalf of the Municipality and the answers provided by Alto.
Carried

MOTION2026-124
Moved by Councillor Eric Daoust
THAT Council receive the letter for information;
THAT Council direct staff to make a request to Alto to host a public engagement session within the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, in advance of the April 24, 2026, consultation feedback deadline;
AND FURTHER THAT, should a public engagement session not be possible, Council direct staff to ask Alto to return as a delegation at a regular or special meeting of Council by April 21st, in advance of the April 24, 2026, consultation feedback deadline, as the information provided by Alto at the November 4, 2025, meeting has significantly changed.
Carried

MOTION Sept 15th, 2026:
Moved by: Councillor Eric Daoust

WHERAS the Municipality of Marmora and Lake is located within a corridor study area which is being considered by the Federal Government’s Alto high speed rail project for a route between Toronto and Quebec City;
WHEREAS the Council of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake passed MOTION2026-144 on April 7, 2026, formally opposing the proposed Alto high speed rail project;
WHEREAS residents of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake do not have a consolidated source of information, access to all documentation or records of interactions between Alto, the public and the Municipality;
AND WHEREAS Council desires to improve communication, transparency, awareness, and public access to information regarding the proposed Alto project and its potential impacts on the Municipality of Marmora and Lake;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to create and maintain a dedicated Alto information page on the Municipality of Marmora and Lake’s website;
THAT the page be used to provide residents with current and chronological information related to the Alto project, including Council decisions/resolutions, staff reports, public notices and announcements, public and internal meeting dates, links to Federal Government and Alto resources and information, and any other related information deemed appropriate by staff;
THAT any correspondence received by the Municipality from Alto shall be included on a regular agenda under Correspondence forDirection, to be received for information, in a timely manner;
AND FURTHER THAT that any meetings held between staff and Alto shall be reported on at a regular meeting of Council under Staff Reports, in a timely manner.
Carried

MOTION Sept 15th, 2026:
Moved by: Councillor Eric Daoust
THAT Council accept this “Confidential Information Sharing Agreement (NDA) Alto High-Speed Rail Project” report (MARMORA AND LAKE STAFF REPORT), dated September 15, 2026;
THAT Council DECLINE to execute the proposed Confidential Information Sharing Agreement (NDA) with Alto;
AND FURTHER THAT Council direct staff to advise Alto that the Municipality remains willing to participate in public consultation and request that all non-confidential project information relevant to Marmora and Lake be provided as it becomes available.
Carried

MOTION2026-143 (to amend the main motion)
Moved by Councillor Eric Daoust

THAT the main motion be amended to remove the following from the final clause: "and that staff be directed to provide a report on the April 21, 2026, agenda, providing a summary of Council's interests and concerns regarding the Alto High Speed Rail Project, to be submitted by the April 24, 2026, commenting deadline;"

THAT the following be added between the second to last and last clauses:

"WHEREAS the preliminary study corridor mapping released by Alto indicates that a potential route could pass through and impact the Municipality of Marmora and Lake;

WHEREAS there was no public consultation within the Municipality of Marmora and Lake and there was insufficient promotion to advise residents of opportunities to do so in other communities;

WHEREAS Alto was unwilling to hold an engagement session directly within the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, or appear before the Council of Marmora and Lake as a delegation with updated proposal changes and project developments;

WHEREAS Alto is, at this time, unable to provide complete and satisfactory answers to questions brought forward by Council, the public and municipal staff;

WHEREAS the currently identified study corridor would have significant potential long-term economic consequences within the Municipality of Marmora and Lake for local residents, including reduced property values, constraints on future land use, and impacts on agricultural land;

WHEREAS the proposed corridor raises serious concerns regarding impacts to agricultural operations and established farmland, crucial local waterways and environmentally protected areas, municipal roads, infrastructure and utilities, private property and recreational trails; WHEREAS the proposed corridor would bring additional costs and negative effects to the levels of service provided by the Municipality, local organizations and businesses, including road plowing and maintenance, school busses and emergency vehicles, farming and agriculture, and local recreational trail networks;

WHEREAS both the short- and long-term local economic and socioeconomic benefits have not been made clear, nor has a community benefit agreement been presented or proposed;

WHEREAS there has been no timeline provided on release of a refined study corridor for the northern route passing through the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, leaving the Municipality and its residents in uncertainty;

AND WHEREAS the Municipality of Marmora and Lake supports responsible transportation infrastructure that strengthens regional connectivity while respecting and supporting the needs of local rural Ontario communities;"

AND FURTHER THAT the following be added after the final clause: "THAT this resolution be circulated to Alto, the Minister of Transportation, the local Member of Parliament, the local Provincial Member of Parliament, the Member Municipalities in Hastings County, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Rural Ontario Municipalities of Ontario (ROMA), and Hastings County;

AND FURTHER THAT this resolution be submitted to the Alto engagement portal on behalf of the Council of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake." Amendment Carried

MOTION2026-144 - FINAL MUNICIPAL OPPOSITION MOTION
THAT Council accept this “ALTO High Speed Rail Project Update” report, dated April 7, 2026; AND WHEREAS Council at its regular meeting of March 17, 2026, received letters of concern for information and passed MOTION2026-122 and MOTION2026-124; WHEREAS the CAO and Mayor attended Public Information Sessions on March 5th in Madoc Township and March 25th in Stirling; WHEREAS the CAO and Mayor attended an invitation-only Corridor Panel Discussion Roundtable on March 24th in Madoc Township and the invitation only included municipal representatives, stakeholders and Hastings County participants; WHEREAS the details of these meetings, the Alto presentation from November 4th, 2025, and the Alto presentation "Panel Discussion" are included in the CAO's report from April 7, 2026; WHEREAS the response received by Alto to date to the list of questions provided are general in nature and speak more to process and next steps, and do not provide the detailed information that Council and members of the Marmora and Lake community are seeking; and, at this time, there is no obvious benefit to the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, only negative impact to the infrastructure, the environment and increased service delivery demands on already strained resources; WHEREAS resolutions of opposition to the Alto High Speed Rail by the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus, Hastings County Council and surrounding municipalities have been passed; WHEREAS there has been considerable opposition by residents and the public through social media, petitions and letters to Council, MPs and MPPs; WHEREAS the preliminary study corridor mapping released by Alto indicates that a potential route could pass through and impact the Municipality of Marmora and Lake; WHEREAS there was no public consultation within the Municipality of Marmora and Lake and there was insufficient promotion to advise residents of opportunities to do so in other communities; WHEREAS Alto was unwilling to hold an engagement session directly within the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, or appear before the Council of Marmora and Lake as a delegation with updated proposal changes and project developments;
WHEREAS Alto is, at this time, unable to provide complete and satisfactory answers to questions brought forward by Council, the public and municipal staff; WHEREAS the currently identified study corridor would have significant potential long-term economic consequences within the Municipality of Marmora and Lake for local residents, including reduced property values, constraints on future land use, and impacts on agricultural land; WHEREAS the proposed corridor raises serious concerns regarding impacts to agricultural operations and established farmland, crucial local waterways and environmentally protected areas, municipal roads, infrastructure and utilities, private property and recreational trails; WHEREAS the proposed corridor would bring additional costs and negative effects to the levels of service provided by the Municipality, local organizations and businesses, including road plowing and maintenance, school busses and emergency vehicles, farming and agriculture, and local recreational trail networks; WHEREAS both the short- and long-term local economic and socioeconomic benefits have not been made clear, nor has a community benefit agreement been presented or proposed; WHEREAS there has been no timeline provided on release of a refined study corridor for the northern route passing through the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, leaving the Municipality and its residents in uncertainty; AND WHEREAS the Municipality of Marmora and Lake supports responsible transportation infrastructure that strengthens regional connectivity while respecting and supporting the needs of local rural Ontario communities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake pass this resolution to oppose the proposed Alto High Speed Rail Project; THAT this resolution be circulated to Alto, the Minister of Transportation, the local Member of Parliament, the local Provincial Member of Parliament, the Member Municipalities in Hastings County, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Rural Ontario Municipalities of Ontario (ROMA), and Hastings County; AND FURTHER THAT this resolution be submitted to the Alto engagement portal on behalf of the Council of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake. Carried as Amended