Hastings – Lennox & Addington – Tyendinaga MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman announced she will not back the proposed ALTO high-speed rail (HSR) project. The decision follows consultations with constituents, local municipalities, stakeholders, and ALTO representatives.
She released the following statement:
“After taking appropriate steps to educate myself on the proposed ALTO project, including meeting with constituents, stakeholders, municipalities, and ALTO representatives, I cannot support the development of the HSR (high speed rail) project via either the North or South route, as currently proposed.”
“The feedback I have received from residents across Hastings-Lennox and Addington-Tyendinaga has been of overwhelming concern. Issues raised include economic viability of the project, proposed environmental and cultural impacts, federal expropriation of land, logistics over the lack of level crossings, and potential negative effects on emergency services and local transportation routes, among others.”
“Taken together, I believe the concerns of my constituents on both the proposed North and South line are valid and remain unresolved. For the federal government and ALTO to have the agency to proceed responsibly with this project they need to first secure the support and trust of the people and communities most affected. To date, they have fallen well short of that threshold.”
“I want to thank the grassroots organizations and community member groups for letting their voices be heard on this issue.”
