[PODCAST] Railroaded by the Government of Canada and Alto: Why has the High-Speed Rail Consultation Gone Off the Rails in Rural Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec?

In this podcast I discuss my experience with the Alto High-Speed Rail consultation as a person living in the study corridor between Ottawa and Montreal. In this area, Alto and the Minister of Transportation have promised immediate expropriations this fall. This episode was recorded in a single cut and has not been edited due to the urgency at which I wished to release it. Given that survey planes are flying low over my house, there are markings on the nearby roads, and several of my neighbours are receiving letters asking for permission to study their property, this is impacting me very personally and deeply. I have sent several letters to politicians and have written about this pretty much daily over the past several weeks. People still are not understanding the extent of the anger in my community and the reasons for it (hint: it has little to do with the project itself, and much to do with being ignored). Here are the links to my main letters to Alto and politicians as well as my more detailed writing: * Letter to Alto and Politicians in Response to the Consultation* Follow up email to Politicians on What Communities Need Coming Out of the Consultation* Politician Email re Research into Mental Health Impacts of Alto Consultation Methods and Lessons Learned from other Jurisdictions* Travel and hospitality spending data* “Rural” on Alto WebsiteHere are the links to materials referenced in the Podcast: * Transportation Committee Study recommending High Frequency Rail (not high speed rail) and recommendations (including recommendations that benefit rural communities). * VIA HFR Study - 150 page study that actually mentions the existence of small communities between stations. Study contains in-depth analysis of the project and leaves one feeling like there is a well-developed plan. * Alto 29 page informational brochure - this document is linked to the VIA HFR Study document as the equivalent document to review for accurate information about the HSR project. No other document exists. None of the numbers published in this document have been backed up by the release of any studies or calculations. * Citizen Research Website that is more helpful than Alto website. I would appreciate if you could listen to the podcast, share it with your communities and send it to your politicians. I also ask that you perhaps show some empathy towards rural communities dealing with this situation. This is not a NIMBY issue. This is a respect issue. Rural communities often feel as if government does not work for or care about them. This “national-building project” has proved them right. We would also like to see some evidence that this project is actually capable of happening before the government destroys our communities and livelihoods. I really do not think that is too much to ask. Get full access to Durant’s Rants at durantbarristers.substack.com/subscribe