Daniel Legault comes from a long line of farmers, with his family’s farming tradition dating back to 1929. Over the past three decades, he has managed Ferme Legault, a dairy and cereal farm in Rigaud, Quebec, together with his wife and son. However, the future of the farm is now uncertain due to a proposed high-speed rail project that could potentially divide his land and disrupt operations.
The proposed train project aims to reduce travel times between Toronto and Quebec City by half but poses a threat to Legault’s farm. The planned route may cut through his property, separating the farm and hindering access to essential resources. This development would force Legault to take lengthy detours multiple times a day, impacting the efficiency of the farm’s operations significantly.
Legault expressed his concerns about the project, emphasizing the logistical challenges it would create for his farm, particularly in terms of feeding the livestock effectively. The potential impact extends beyond Ferme Legault, as Alto, the organization behind the high-speed rail project, estimates that around 1,700 properties, including at least 500 farms between Ottawa and Montreal, could be affected.
Jérémie Letellier, the president of the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie, Quebec’s largest agricultural federation, echoed Legault’s worries, stating that the rail project could have disastrous consequences for farming communities in Ontario and Quebec. He highlighted the concerns of numerous farms along the proposed train path and the potential need for these businesses to reconsider or cease their operations due to the project’s impact.
Letellier criticized the lack of transparency and communication from Alto regarding the project, emphasizing the need for thorough evaluation and consideration of alternative options. Meanwhile, Caroline Des Rosiers, a spokesperson for Alto, assured that the organization is committed to minimizing the project’s impact on agricultural communities, including implementing measures like overpasses and underpasses to maintain access and prevent isolation.
Despite Alto’s promises of fair compensation and consultations, the Legault family remains apprehensive about their farm’s future, which has been their livelihood for almost a century. The uncertainty surrounding the project has stalled their plans and cast a shadow over their farming legacy.
