Ontario Premier Doug Ford backs high-speed rail along Highway 401, but local opposition grows over land use and environmental impacts.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford endorsed a high-speed rail line along Highway 401 between Toronto and Ottawa, proposing a stop in Kingston to balance regional access. The federal-led Alto project, aiming to connect Toronto to Quebec City with a $60–90 billion budget, faces growing local opposition over land expropriation, environmental concerns, and disruption to rural communities and farmland. While Alto is evaluating two routes—one along Highway 7 and another through eastern Ontario—residents and officials in Belleville and Stormont Dundas Glengarry express unease over unclear communications, potential wildlife barriers, and impacts on emergency services and existing rail lines. Federal MPs acknowledged limited knowledge of the southern route and urged public engagement, as consultations continue until April 24.