MPP Billy Denault has signed his name to a statement that puts him at odds – at least officially – with many of the municipalities he represents.
Renfrew County council, with representatives from the 17 municipalities that make up the county, voted earlier this spring in support of the proposed Alto high-speed rail line from Toronto to Quebec City.
But as a member of the Conservative government’s Eastern Ontario caucus, Denault was one of 11 MPPs who signed a statement recently questioning the project.
The statement says that investments that “strengthen Ontario’s economy, improve transportation and create jobs need to reflect the priorities and needs of rural communities, farmers, families, and local businesses.”
“Public confidence in major infrastructure projects depends on meaningful consultation. In the case of Alto, too many questions remain unanswered. Too many voices have been ignored,” the statement says.
“If Alto is to proceed, local voices impacted by this project deserve to see their feedback reflected in the project’s planning, route selection, and delivery.
“The federal government must ensure that any potential future rail project minimizes impacts on farmland and is supported by the people affected. We will continue to stand with our municipalities, farmers, landowners, and residents.”
The statement was released after the federal government rejected Premier Doug Ford’s plan to expand the Billy Bishop airport on Toronto Island, and is a far cry from a motion passed by county council back in April which expressed “strong support” for the venture and other “nation-building projects.”
The motion, drafted by Deep River Reeve Glenn Doncaster, called on “all relevant levels of government to prioritize funding, planning, and timely implementation of the project,” while also calling for “continued community engagement and transparent decision-making to ensure the project reflects public needs and concerns.”
“High-speed rail offers a cleaner alternative to car and air travel, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and supporting climate goals,” the motion stated.
“Investment in modern rail systems strengthens national competitiveness and aligns with global advancements in transportation innovation.”
The county’s motion came after it previously rejected a resolution from the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus (EOWC) that called on the federal government and Alto to “fully explore train route options along existing infrastructure corridors, such as VIA Rail and/or Highway 401.”
The motion noted that EOWC “formally opposes the ALTO project in its current form.”
EOWC said its opposition is based on “concerns related to insufficient municipal consultation, unclear rural and small-urban impacts, potential environmental effects, and alignments with existing eastern Ontario planning and infrastructure priorities.”
“EOWC is eastern Ontario’s united advocacy voice representing 103 communities who value and will advocate for the region’s beautiful lands that hold deep agricultural and cultural roots, and that are home to our rural and small-urban communities that will be impacted by Alto.”
The high-speed rail project was announced by former prime minister Justin Trudeau in February 2025.
Trudeau announced that the federal government will invest $3.9 billion over the next six years to help develop a high-speed rail service under Alto, a Crown corporation created in 2022.
The full cost of the project is expected to hit $60-90 billion.
By Vance Gutzman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Aug 12, 2026 at 12:25
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